You received your new control system ... Now What?

[Joe Ross]

Over the next 2-3 weeks, close to 500 teams are going to be receiving their new control systems. I know everyone is excited, but I wanted to share some things that will make everyone's life a little easier.

As you may know, I am on one of the 18 beta teams. Over the past two months, we have been reviewing documentation, writing code, testing the hardware and software, and giving demos. We started with version 0.1 of documents, and have helped them go through 3 or 4 or 5 revisions. The software we started with has now been updated 6 times. However, the documentation and software is still not perfect. We've looked at everything 15 times, so now we don't see the problems. That's your job, to find the things everyone's been overlooking. Now the beta team's jobs are to help the 500 teams who now have the control systems. We're the triage unit to help teams with the easy things, and make sure the real problems get addressed.

From the control system manual:

Please remember the primary goal of “early control system shipment” is for you to learn how the system works and to resolve any potential problems before kickoff.

So, where do you start?

I think everyone's first idea will be to either install the programming software (LabVIEW, Windriver Workbench, or both) or to install the cRIO into a robot or test platform. While not the worst thing you could do, you'd be much better off following the guide that FIRST put together in section 1 of the control system manual. You'll notice that of 10 steps, installing the software is step 4 and installing the cRIO on a robot is step 8.

The real place to start is at http://usfirst.org/frccontrolsystem

That is where FIRST has posted the control system manual, along with links to other documentation from NI and WPI.

Read section 1 of the manual all the way through. It will point you to where you need to get anything else you need. It has has the 10 step process for getting everything set up, and eventually into a robot. It leads you along in a logical fashion. No matter what you do, don't miss step 2, inventorying the kit within 3 days. You'll proceed along, first hooking everything up in a benchtop test, then verifying very basic functionality. You'll then progress to loading new "images", setting up the wireless, and finally writing your own code. To quote the manual once again.

The beta test teams followed these steps and found that these tasks
provided them with the information they needed in order to successfully use the new control system. If you follow the steps below, the beta test teams will be better able to provide assistance to your team if you encounter any problems.

So, where do you ask questions?

I know there will be a lot of questions. That can be a good thing, and that can be a bad thing. Many times, people get excited and ask poor questions. Take a little bit of extra time to reread the manual, and look around for the solution. More times then not, someone has already had your problem. Now that I got that out of the way, to quote the manual again:

Please post requests for technical support to the 2009 FRC Control System Beta Test Public Forum
at forums.usfirst.org. Beta test teams will be monitoring the forum to assist you.

One of the requirements for the beta test teams is to monitor and answer questions on the public beta test forums. We are not required to answer questions on chiefdelphi, via email, or via twitter (although some people may choose to do so). I like chiefdelphi as much as anyone (and have over 3000 posts to prove it), however, over the next 2 months, my obligation is to the FIRST beta test forums. If you want my help, you'll get it faster if you post there. I know it's force of habit to hop onto chiefdelphi to ask something, but please consider posting it on the beta test forums instead. Most teams won't be getting their control systems for a few more days, so hop over there, register, and start reading. In case you have trouble navigating through the many forums there, the direct link to the 2009 FRC Control System Beta Test Public Forum is http://forums.usfirst.org/forumdisplay.php?f=743

You'll notice that I quoted quite a bit from the manual. That's because many people at FIRST, NI, BAE, and WPI put a lot of time into the manuals, along with all the beta teams. It's not perfect, but you'll get much farther if you read it.

I'm finishing up a few cool (in my opinion) examples, so keep checking the beta forums for those too.

Here's to a great control system and a great season!