Sharon Youth Robotics Association

Highly recommended - a very good tutorial for coding with easyC for the FIRST Vex Challenge was developed by Brad Miller at WPI.  It was created last season, when Master Code V6 was current - this season's version is V7.

High bandwidth video - http://users.wpi.edu/~bamiller/VexProgramming.wmv

Low bandwidth video - http://users.wpi.edu/~bamiller/VexProgrammingLow.wmv

The first step - install easyC!  Only version 2 of easyC can be used in the FVC competition - either 2.nn, 2.nn or 2.nn.  If you have easyC version, it must be upgraded.  The current version of easyC (2.9.0.3) is at http://www.intelitekdownloads.com/easyCV2/.

First, install easyC 1.1, and then use the easyC 2.8 (and 2.9) upgrade disk to bring you to the current FVC competition-legal version.  The install process will validate and register your software, so an internet connection is important.

The second step - load the current Master Code onto the Vex Microcontroller.  The orange cable will connect from your programming computer (USB or serial port) to the Vex microcontroller.  The current Master Code v7 should be used, and is included with the easyC 2.x upgrade CD. 

The procedure to properly download the Master Code is in the easyC Version and Template Information document, pages 2-7.  Remember, it is assumed that you have already connected the orange cable, and that the Vex microcontroller is on.

The third step - load this season's competition template into easyC.  The current FVC 2007-2008 Competition Template should be used, and is included with the easyC 2.x upgrade CD..

The 2007 Quad Quandary Programming Guide describes how to load the competition template, on pages 4 and 5.

The fourth step - make your modifications to the current competition template.

Loading this template is the beginning of the programming process.  Add to or modify the code in this template for your robot, and save it as a different filename.

The 2007 Quad Quandary Programming Guide gives a brief explanation of the Autonomous and Operator-Control parts of the template.

Sample of code logic from the 2005-6 season - the Half-Pipe Hustle.  Team Unlimited developed two alternate programs for the challenge.  The more complex one would move forward, picking up balls from the field, backup, turn 90 degrees and backup to the wall and square off, move forward, turn toward the center goal, move forward to the center goal until on the platform (5 points), raise the ball collector and score the balls previously collected (2 points each).  The simpler and more reliable code moved forward to the platform (5 points) and scored a ball previously loaded (2 points).

Sample of code logic from the 2006-7 season - Hangin'-A-Round.  Team Unlimited developed a single autonomous program - to raise one or two pre-loaded softballs to the 24" side goal (3-6 points), and score them.  Our program could then gather additional softballs from a close-by pile, and score them as well (0-9 points), totaling up to 15 points.

The fifth step - load the code modified from the current competition template onto the Vex microcontroller.  Remember, you must have already connected the orange cable, and the Vex microcontroller must be on.

If the PGRM LED is lit, a problem with the code or the download is indicated (only if the button on the programming module is pressed).

If the PRGM LED is not lit, the download was successful.

If the "Eye" is flashing, the microcontroller is in autonomous mode.

If the Rx1 LED is lit, data is being received from the receiver connected to the Rx1 port.

If the Rx2 LED is lit, data is being received from the receiver connected to the Rx2 port.

The sixth step - test your custom code, and reiterate from step four with any needed modifications.

If no jumper is on interrupt pins 5 or 6 of the Vex microcontroller, the whole competition code will run - 20 seconds for autonomous mode, and 120 seconds for operator-control mode.  If a jumper is present on pin 5, only autonomous mode code will run.  If a jumper is present on pin 6, only the operator-control code will run.

Last modified: 11/04/11     All Rights Reserved, © 2011 by Team Unlimited [FTC 0001]