03-15-2018 08:21 AM

ToddF

Re: paper: Driver Station Best Practices

Since the topic is the driver station in general, here are a few lessons learned the hard way:
- Use game controllers or other input devices that are hardwired, not with micro USB ports in the controllers.
- Your drivers will be most efficient if they never are required to remove their eyes from the robot during the match to look down at the driver's station. Use tactile feedback, if your controllers have that function, or status lights (LED light strips work well) on the robot as visual indicators.
- Enable software logging for everything you can, including controller inputs, feedback devices, limit switches, motor currents, etc. This can be invaluable when troubleshooting unexpected controllability issues or hardware failures during a match.
- Be sure your driver station and controllers are treated with care, and not abused, between matches. Build a protected spot on your robot cart if you have to.
- Use velcro to attach the drivers station to the shelf.

03-15-2018 11:18 AM

Doug Frisk

Re: paper: Driver Station Best Practices

Here are the powershell snippets I made last weekend. Start Powershell as an administrator on the driver's station and cut/paste the appropriate bits.

# Turn off the currently enabled firewall profile, 
$CurrentProfile = Get-NetFirewallProfile
Set-NetFirewallProfile -Profile $CurrentProfile.Name -Enabled False

#disable WiFi and Bluetooth
$adapters = Get-NetAdapter
foreach ($adapter in $adapters)
{
    if ($adapter.PhysicalMediaType -like "*802.11" -or $adapter.PhysicalMediaType -like "*BlueTooth")
    {
        Disable-NetAdapter -name $adapter.Name -Confirm:$false
    }

}

#Pause Windows updates
Set-Service -Name wuauserv -Status Stopped




# Turn on the currently enabled firewall profile, 
$CurrentProfile = Get-NetFirewallProfile
Set-NetFirewallProfile -Profile $CurrentProfile.Name -Enabled True

#enable WiFi and Bluetooth
$adapters = Get-NetAdapter
foreach ($adapter in $adapters)
{
    if ($adapter.PhysicalMediaType -like "*802.11" -or $adapter.PhysicalMediaType -like "*BlueTooth")
    {
        Enable-NetAdapter -name $adapter.Name -Confirm:$false
    }

}

#start Windows updates
Set-Service -Name wuauserv -Status Running

03-15-2018 05:50 PM

MrRoboSteve

Re: paper: Driver Station Best Practices

Thanks, Doug.

I know the quality of the driver station is kind of a boring topic when compared to robots and game strategy. At week 1 and 2 events I saw/heard about enough bad driver station situations that teams should really pay more attention. It's particularly sad when the FTA has to bypass a team because of their driver station not working well.

03-25-2018 10:10 PM

frcguy

Re: paper: Driver Station Best Practices

Just had a chance to browse through this. Great document, thanks for compiling.

03-26-2018 01:40 PM

GreyingJay

Re: paper: Driver Station Best Practices

Apparently in the driver station USB configuration screen, once you've scanned for your USB controller devices, you can double-click them to lock their assignments?

03-26-2018 01:47 PM

Tom Line

Re: paper: Driver Station Best Practices

If you are looking for cheap but solid drivers stations, I use arrow direct. They are mostly business computers coming of leases. I strongly prefer the business class lenovos with real (not the collapsible) Ethernet ports.

03-26-2018 02:09 PM

MrRoboSteve

Re: paper: Driver Station Best Practices

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreyingJay Apparently in the driver station USB configuration screen, once you've scanned for your USB controller devices, you can double-click them to lock their assignments?

03-26-2018 10:34 PM

AriMB

Re: paper: Driver Station Best Practices

I’ll add that it’s fine fine to use a reputable* USB hub if you need more ports for joysticks or Ethernet dongles if you need. If you do use one, be sure to tie it down and properly strain relieve it so if you take a hit you don’t lose all of your joysticks.


*Don’t use one you found in a dollar store, spend a good $10-15 in an electronics store for one you know you can trust. It should have a built-in cable, not a separate micro USB port and cable.