pic: The programmer needs some alone time with the robot!

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Bharat Nain

Programmers do need time alone to program autonomous mode. I wish FIRST created a rule to leave programmers alone while they're programming autonomous

But you'd still have to figure out how to prioritize access to the robot. Competition between mechanical/electrical and software tasks is probably our biggest hurdle when trying to get everything done on time.

If the programmer is left alone and if there's something mechanically or electrically faulty, his time will be wasted. Or, worse, he'll try to fix it himself.

This year I wrote an autonomous mode interpreter. It took longer than making a simple autonomous routine, but it paid off. The robot's autonomous actions are controlled by a simple text script, which anyone can write. Once I got the interpreter to make the robot perform repeatably, I stepped aside. The other mentors and team leaders took care of the scripting.

[phillutz]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

But you'd still have to figure out how to prioritize access to the robot. Competition between mechanical/electrical and software tasks is probably our biggest hurdle when trying to get everything done on time.

If the programmer is left alone and if there's something mechanically or electrically faulty, his time will be wasted. Or, worse, he'll try to fix it himself.

This year I wrote an autonomous mode interpreter. It took longer than making a simple autonomous routine, but it paid off. The robot's autonomous actions are controlled by a simple text script, which anyone can write. Once I got the interpreter to make the robot perform repeatably, I stepped aside. The other mentors and team leaders took care of the scripting.

I for one would be interested in seeing the interpeter!
Post the code (after the competition if you are leary).

Phil