2008 FIRST Robotics Conference Prototyping Autonomous Operation of FRC/FTC Robots Presented by: Marc...

2008 FIRST Robotics Conference

Prototyping Autonomous Operation of FRC/FTC Robots

Presented by:Marc Center, FRC47, GM Hybrid

Powertrain2008 Chief Delphi Engineering [email protected] 248-255-7377

mailto:[email protected]


Autonomous Problem and Solution

– Because of common software (Easy-C Pro), similar microprocessor architecture between the VEX controller (Microchip PIC18F8520) and FRC controller (Microchip PIC18F8722), a typical robotics team can compete against more established robotics team by successfully prototyping the 15 second autonomous period operation with a VEX robot.


Introduction - Small team issues

– Smaller teams must normally wait on their team to build the FRC (full-sized) robot before effective prototyping of autonomous period

– Small teams often finish their FRC robot a few hours before shipment.

– The programming team can use small, VEX robot to begin development of the autonomous period in a parallel path during week one of FIRST season.


Introduction – IR board & Primary Goal

• This 2008 FIRST Conference presentation will focus on the process used at FRC Team 47, Chief Delphi, this year to accomplish this goal with the FIRST supplied Kit of Parts (KOP) IR board.

• Primary goal of the presentation is to "raise the bar" on autonomous operation for all FRC teams.


Biographical Info – Marc Center

• GM Hybrid Powertrain System Engineer for Gen2 RWD next generation of hybrid transmission products, 2007 - forward

• Undergraduate degree – BEEE – General Motors Institute (Kettering University) – 1982

• Graduate degree – MSECE – Oakland University Rochester Michigan – 1986

• 25 years plus of embedded engine/transmission controls experience at General Motors

• Team 1286, Oakland Technical Campus-SE, mentor 2005,2007

• Paul Center, son, award $24,000 FIRST scholarship to Lawrence Technological University

• Oakland County Competitive Robotics Association VEX Mentor, Oakland County, Michigan 2008

• Team 47, Chief Delphi, Pontiac Central High School Engineering Mentor for 2008


Outline Parts 1-7

1. Autonomous period implementation timeline2. CD47 Initial Autonomous Operation Strategy3. CD47 Programming Team Responsibilities4. FIRST supplied KOP IR Board and schematic5. IR Board Basic Operation 6. IR Board operating issues (range, jamming,

brain-dead)7. IR Board CD47 modifications (7805 voltage

regulator, reverse polarity diode, TSOP34856 IR receiver, green/yellow/blue LED’s)


1 - Autonomous period implementation timeline

Week 1 – Build VEX Robot to model FRC Robot, obtain remotes, Chief Delphi website study, IR operation familiarization

Week 2 – Order more KOP IR Boards, 2x5 pin Molex Connectors

Week 3 – Order Vishary TSOP IR receivers, Install 5V, 7805 regulators, build switch harness, build LED harness, VEX IR code development begins – debug code

Week 4 – CD47 FRC practice Robot completed, VEX IR code development continues – diagnostic code

Week 5 – Install VEX Easy-C IR Code to FRC Robot – complete Easy-C VEX IR Code development

Week 6 – Complete Easy-C FRC IR Code integration for Detroit Regional


1A – VEX robot prototype of FRC robot


1B – VEX robot prototype of FRC robot


1C – VEX robot prototype of FRC robot


1D – VEX robot prototype of FRC robot


2 - CD47 Initial Autonomous Operation Strategy


3 - CD47 Programming Team Responsibilities

Pontiac Central High School StudentsSam Spade and James Kiefer – both students have programmed all non-autonomous operation functions using Easy-C Pro

Chief Delphi – Programming Team Mentors Rob Jenkins (teacher) – Programming Lead /

former FIRST student participant Curtis Sharif (engineer) – Programming Team MemberMarc Center (engineer) – IR Board Integration Lead


4 - FIRST KOP IR BOARD - 2008 KOP IR

Sensor Workshop - Mark McLeod Advisor Hauppauge Team 358


4 – IR Board Schematic - TauntekVishay TSOP

3483878L05 5V 100mA

regulator

5 – Red 5mm LED’s

ICSP Connector

2 x 5 ,0.1 header


5 - IR Board Basic Operation

1. Program IR remote with selected code2. Hold down “training switch” while turning on

power to IR board.3. LED error light flashes then LED 0 is steady.4. Aim remote LED at IR receiver, press/hold

desired button, LED 0 flashes, repeat step 45. Repeat step 4 for 3 more sequences to train

buttons two, three and four. 6. Light 0 should now light when button 1

pressed, and same for next three remote buttons.


6 – IR Board operating issues

1. Range – In classroom setting, IR receiver delivered good response to the small sample of IR remotes

2. Jamming – Big Problem. Whenever two remotes are pressed at the same time, the signal is not received

3. Chief Delphi website – reports of “brain-dead” IR remotes have surfaced – monitor for solution

4. Two CD-47 IR boards went bad – one from known issue, other unknown.


7- IR Board CD47 modifications

1. Reverse polarity diode was added to input power line. This causes a 0.7 volt drop. Powering from 12V fuse panel selected in conjunction with this diode addition.

2. 78L05, 5V, 100 mA regulator replaced with 7805, 5V, 1000 mA regulator

3. TSOP34856 (56 kHz) IR receiver w/Sony IR code 047 to help prevent outside interference and provide long leads for sensor orientation

4. Red LED’s changed to green/yellow/blue LED’s to easily discern response to IR remote on field


7- IR Board CD47 modifications


Outline Parts 8-14

8. Molex connectors and wiring harness 9. VEX Easy-C software with debug features10.IR Board firmware programming (PicKit2)11.Initial Development on CD47 practice robot12.Differences between VEX and FRC

controllers13.FRC Robot modifications for the FIRST IR

Board (power/ground, spikes plus LED’s)14.VEX Easy-C software with diagnostic

features


Outline Parts 15-21

15.Development versus Integration Philosophy16.Regional #1 Autonomous Operation Strategy

Change to score 8 points17.Software Integration during “Fix-it Window”18.Regional #2 Integration into CD47 FRC Robot on

Thursday practice day – Great Lakes Regional, Ypsilanti Michigan March 27, 2008

19.New and Old Lessons learned so far this year20.CD website /FIRST GP (Gracious Professionalism) 21.Acknowledgements and Thanks


Backup/Additional Reference Material

– FRC Controller Microchip PICmicro® PIC18F8520 for 2005, PIC18F8722 for 2006

– VEX Controller Microchip PICmicro® PIC18F8520

– Variable Space - PIC18F8520 2048 bytes + 1024 bytes EEPROM

– Variable Space - PIC18F8722 3936 bytes + 1024 bytes EEPROM

– Program Space- PIC18F8520 32K– Program Space- PIC18F8722 128K


Using the VEX robot system to prototype the autonomous operation of a FRC/FTC robot

• Because of common software (Easy-C Pro), similar microprocessor architecture between the VEX controller (Microchip PIC18F8520) and FRC controller (Microchip PIC18F8722), a typical robotics team can compete against more established robotics team by successfully prototyping the 15 second autonomous period operation with a VEX robot.

• Smaller teams must normally wait on the team to build the full-sized robot before effective prototyping of autonomous period, but can use small VEX robot to begin development of autonomous period in parallel path during week one.

• Presentation will focus on process used with this year's team to accomplish this goal w/ FIRST KOP IR board.

• Goal is to "raise the bar" on autonomous operation

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2008 FIRST Robotics Conference Prototyping Autonomous Operation of FRC/FTC Robots Presented by: Marc...

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