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Unread 30-11-2010, 18:16
linuxboy linuxboy is offline
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What is Classmate

Quick intro as this is my first post. I am team lead for a rookie team and am really excited to do FRC (I did FTC my freshman year, I'm now a sophomore). Anyway I was trying to educate myself on FRC especially it's control system and programming since it seems a lot more complicated (read interesting) than RobotC plus I'm my teams programmer. So on the kit of parts I saw a USB drive that had a Classmate image and then I saw some forum posts about Classmate. Naturally I started to wonder what Classmate is. I did a search on the forum with the terms what is classmate but i couldn't find any threads on it (if I missed one please point me to it). So my question is what is classmate and what purpose does it serve?

Thanks in advance
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Unread 30-11-2010, 18:19
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Re: What is Classmate

Quote:
Originally Posted by linuxboy View Post
Quick intro as this is my first post. I am team lead for a rookie team and am really excited to do FRC (I did FTC my freshman year, I'm now a sophomore). Anyway I was trying to educate myself on FRC especially it's control system and programming since it seems a lot more complicated (read interesting) than RobotC plus I'm my teams programmer. So on the kit of parts I saw a USB drive that had a Classmate image and then I saw some forum posts about Classmate. Naturally I started to wonder what Classmate is. I did a search on the forum with the terms what is classmate but i couldn't find any threads on it (if I missed one please point me to it). So my question is what is classmate and what purpose does it serve?

Thanks in advance
It's a netbook computer.

It runs the Driver Station software which communicates with the robot.



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Unread 30-11-2010, 18:20
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Re: What is Classmate

The Classmate is the driver's station provided by FIRST. It's a portable computer.

You'll get one in your kit of parts, as you're a rookie team. Take good care of it; it's supposed to last until another driver's station is chosen...
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Unread 30-11-2010, 18:21
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Re: What is Classmate

Thanks! (boy that was quick)
So if it's a netbook why is there a usb drive with an image of it? Is that an install image incase a reinstall is neccesary? If so would it be able to (and useful to) install it on other hardware/a vm so that we have multiple computers that can run the driver station?
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Unread 30-11-2010, 18:26
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Re: What is Classmate

Quote:
Originally Posted by linuxboy View Post
Thanks! (boy that was quick)
So if it's a netbook why is there a usb drive with an image of it? Is that an install image incase a reinstall is neccesary?
Yes.


Quote:
If so would it be able to (and useful to) install it on other hardware/a vm so that we have multiple computers that can run the driver station?
You cannot use the Classmate image on any arbitrary computer. It is specific to the Classmate.

You can however install the Driver Station software on any computer you choose.



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Unread 30-11-2010, 18:27
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Re: What is Classmate

Quote:
Originally Posted by linuxboy View Post
Thanks! (boy that was quick)
So if it's a netbook why is there a usb drive with an image of it? Is that an install image incase a reinstall is neccesary?
Exactly. Sometimes the classmate can go a little crazy and needs to be reimaged.
Quote:
If so would it be able to (and useful to) install it on other hardware/a vm so that we have multiple computers that can run the driver station?
There is a version of the driver's station software for other computers out there somewhere--I'm sure someone knows where that is. No need for the Classmate image for that.

Also, it looks like the Classmate will not be the only legal computer to use as a driver's station this year, but restrictions on other computers have yet to be announced.
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Unread 30-11-2010, 18:30
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Re: What is Classmate

Quote:
Originally Posted by EricH View Post
There is a version of the driver's station software for other computers out there somewhere--I'm sure someone knows where that is.
Here.


Quote:
Also, it looks like the Classmate will not be the only legal computer to use as a driver's station this year, but restrictions on other computers have yet to be announced.
The restrictions Eric is referring to apply to competitions. You can use any computer you like for non-competition practice, demos, etc.


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Unread 30-11-2010, 18:35
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Re: What is Classmate

Awesome!
Thanks for the info, I'm sure I'll be needing that link, and that info about the image since i manage to have to reinstall plenty even on OSs that don't go crazy by themselves (*nix doesn't like it when you delete /lib)

I'll be sure to let my team know about all the info youve given me
Thanks again
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Unread 01-12-2010, 18:09
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Re: What is Classmate

This coming year you are NOT restricted to using the classmate but any laptop you prefer subject to restrictions.

It will be addressed in the game manual. Please see 'Bill's Blog' for more information.

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Unread 01-12-2010, 18:27
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Re: What is Classmate

Quote:
Originally Posted by ebarker View Post
This coming year you are NOT restricted to using the classmate but any laptop you prefer subject to restrictions.
Just to be clear: it is unlikely there will be any restrictions for non-competition use such as practice and demos, etc etc.

For competition use, restrictions have yet to be announced.



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Unread 02-12-2010, 19:17
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Re: What is Classmate

If you haven't found this already, FIRST's control system page is a good place to learn about the sort of thing you're researching (in general).

usfirst.org/frccontrolsystem
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Unread 03-12-2010, 00:18
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Re: What is Classmate

The classmate will be your best friend. It does have the DS software on it, which is extremely useful, but our team found it much more practical for LabView (or whatever language you use). We always get caught on a lack of laptops for competition, so the classmate was what we used this year. I used it more than my computer!
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Unread 03-12-2010, 02:41
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Re: What is Classmate

Quote:
Originally Posted by mattiej View Post
The classmate will be your best friend. It does have the DS software on it, which is extremely useful, but our team found it much more practical for LabView (or whatever language you use). We always get caught on a lack of laptops for competition, so the classmate was what we used this year. I used it more than my computer!
Really? That sounds uncomfortable.

I guess the fact that you didn't have to type as much (due to using LabView) helped. If I had to do Java or C++ on that keyboard, I'd go insane.
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Unread 03-12-2010, 12:33
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Re: What is Classmate

No, it's painful with LabVIEW too. For your eyes. That screen is not very big, and it will work for coding, but not if you use just the Classmate. Remember, LabVIEW is graphical programming. And there's no way to zoom (for a reason). I highly recommend you get some other programming laptop with a screen that's of decent size. It doesn't have to be a big 'ol powerhouse machine of a beast, just a laptop that's decent enough.
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Unread 03-12-2010, 12:45
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Re: What is Classmate

Quote:
Originally Posted by RoboMaster View Post
LabVIEW is graphical programming. And there's no way to zoom (for a reason).
What is that reason ?



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