Programming Tips

From Team1370

Note: This is actually a "getting started with the professional method" guide.

There are easier ways to program your robot controller, including Easy C (new for 2006), however, I am far more familiar with the classic, more complicated method using MPLab IDE. This perhaps more complicated system is the one which I desribe below, but do consider that there are other options and other tutorials available on the web. Of course, I suggest the following method. -Pierce Lopez

Collecting Your Tools

The system I use requires the use of a few different tools which work together (more or less). Here's what you'll need:

• A Laptop running Windows A laptop will make connecting to the robot immeasurably easier and more convenient, and most tools I use are only available for windows, and have no counterparts for other OSs (unfortunately).
• ... with a serial port. You're laptop might already have one, it's like a rounded-corner trapeziod with two rows of pin-holes. My newer laptop does not have one, so I got a usb-serial adapter cable for $40 at RadioShack.
• MPLAB IDE v7.20 Newer versions don't work, according to the source code documentation. Download this version here.
• MPLAB C18 Compiler Student Edition v2.40 Newer versions of this will apparently not work either, and this older version is pretty difficult to find online. I found a download link for it here. If that link doesn't still work, search for it.
• IFI_Loader v1.0.12 Can be found at the bottom of this page. But don't get the robot default code from there, if you intend to use the camera with your robot, as we will in this guide.
• The Default Robot+Camera Code Download "frc_camera.zip", the "bells-and-whistles version", from this page.
• CMUcam2_workbook.pdf This document contains very useful diagrams and specific sets of instructions which I'll reference, get it on the same page as the robot code.
• puTTY For later, when we're sending adjustment commands to the camera. You just need "putty.exe", get it here.
• COM/Telnet Bridge For use with puTTY, get the "tsb.exe" package from this page.

Getting it all set up

That was a lot of stuff to download, now let's get it set up.

Work In Progress...