Addition of Tech Tips archive (#232)

* Addition of Tech Tips portion of ftc-docs
* Link check fixes

docs/source/conf.py

@@ -275,7 +275,10 @@
    r'https://github.com/.*#',
    r'https://www.solidworks.com/',
    r'https://sketchup.com/',
-   r'https://april.eecs.umich.edu/'
+   r'https://april.eecs.umich.edu/',
+   r'https://www.autodesk.com/',
+   r'https://knowledge.autodesk.com/',
+   r'https://www.3dflow.net/'
 ]
 
 latex_documents = [

docs/source/index.rst

@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ to see why.
    :hidden:
 
    game_specific_resources/blog/blog
+   tech_tips/tech-tips
    manuals/game_manuals/game_manuals
    Game Q&A Forum <game_specific_resources/ftcqa/ftcqa>
    game_specific_resources/playing_field_resources/playing_field_resources
@@ -110,12 +111,6 @@ to see why.
    :hidden:    
 
    faq/faqs
-
-.. toctree::
-   :caption: Team Freebies and Discounts
-   :maxdepth: 1
-   :hidden:
-
    Team Complimentary Software<sponsors/software/software>
    Team Discounts<sponsors/discounts/discounts>
 

docs/source/tech_tips/tech-tips.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+*FIRST* Tech Challenge Tech Tips
+================================
+
+Started in the 2023-2024 season, Tech Tips are a weekly segment released in the
+*FIRST* Tech Challenge `Team E-mail Blast
+<https://www.firstinspires.org/resource-library/ftc/team-blast-archive>`__.
+Sometimes the Tech Tips are included in whole in the email blast, but sometimes
+there is more content than is reasonable in the email blast so partial content
+is included in the blast with the rest of the content here. Blasts are ordered
+on this page chronologically, with the newest content at the bottom of the page.
+
+Just click to expand the Tech Tip you'd like to read.
+
+.. dropdown:: Week of 09/04/2023 "Battery Charging"
+
+   The *FIRST* Tech Challenge Tech Tip of the week this week is all about Battery
+   Charging. There are :ref:`three robot main batteries
+   <control_hard_compon/rc_components/power_distr/power-distr:robot main battery>` 
+   that are legal to use in FIRST Tech Challenge, and they are all
+   3000mAh NiMH batteries with an attached 20A fuse. However, the manufacturers
+   of the batteries have different battery chargers and different recommended
+   charging settings for the batteries. When charging the `TETRIX MAX 12-Volt
+   battery
+   <https://www.pitsco.com/TETRIX-12-Volt-Rechargeable-NiMH-Battery-Pack>`__,
+   on the battery the manufacturer recommends charging at the 0.9A charge rate
+   (the lowest setting on most selectable battery chargers) using the `Global
+   NiMH battery pack charger
+   <https://www.gobilda.com/battery-charger-nicad-nimh-12-1/>`__.  The `Matrix
+   12-Volt battery
+   <https://www.gobilda.com/matrix-12v-3000mah-nimh-battery/>`__ with the same
+   form factor is recommended to be charged with the `goBILDA 12V battery
+   charger <https://www.gobilda.com/battery-charger-nicad-nimh-12-1/>`__, which
+   does not have a user-selectable charge rate switch but has a max charge rate
+   of 1.0A.  However, the `REV 12-Volt Slim Battery
+   <https://www.revrobotics.com/rev-31-1302/>`__ is recommended to be charged
+   with the `REV Battery Charger <https://www.revrobotics.com/rev-31-1299/>`__
+   using the 1.8A charge rate setting. To ensure safety, proper charging, and a
+   long battery life, make sure you’re charging your batteries at the
+   manufacturer’s recommended charge rates!
+
+.. dropdown:: Week of 09/11/2023 "Updating the Robot Controller App"
+
+   This week’s Tech Tip of the week is all about updating software on your
+   Control Hub. If you use :ref:`Android Studio
+   <programming_resources/android_studio_java/Android-Studio-Tutorial:android studio programming tutorial>`, 
+   did you know that you’re not supposed to use the `REV Hardware Client
+   <https://docs.revrobotics.com/rev-hardware-client/>`__ to update the Robot
+   Controller (RC) App? Blocks and OnBot Java programs are stored on the Robot
+   Controller (SmartPhone or Control Hub) differently than Android Studio
+   programs, and this has a major effect on how updates can be managed on the
+   device. Read more about this at :ref:`Updating the Robot Controller (RC) App
+   <ftc_sdk/updating/rc_app/Updating-the-RC-App:Updating the Robot Controller (RC) App>`.
+
+.. dropdown:: Week of 09/18/2023 "Technical Update video by AJ Foster"
+
+   This week’s Tech Tip of the Week is a Video Tech Tip of the Week from AJ
+   Foster, *FIRST* Tech Challenge World Championship FTA and Orlando Robotics
+   League All-Star Volunteer. AJ gives a great synopsis on many of the key
+   technical updates for the CENTERSTAGE presented by RTX season and some
+   background on those changes. Watch his video on the *FIRST* Tech Challenge
+   YouTube Channel here: https://youtu.be/uOcVGwdhG3E.
+
+.. dropdown:: Week of 09/25/2023 "3D Printing Resources on FTC-Docs"
+
+   Do you wish you knew more about 3D printers, filament, and choosing and
+   maintaining a 3D printer? This week’s Tech Tip of the Week highlights
+   ftc-docs community contributions from *FIRST* Tech Challenge teams 16461 and
+   1002 introducing :ref:`3D printing in FIRST Tech Challenge
+   <manufacturing/3d_printing/index:3D Printing>`. Once you’ve got a 3D
+   printer, be sure to check out :ref:`Computer Aided Design (CAD)
+   <cad_resources/index:CAD Resources>` also on ftc-docs to find a CAD package
+   and start designing and printing parts for your robots!
+
+.. dropdown:: Week of 10/02/2023 "Choosing the right Webcam and Calibration Crowd-sourcing"
+
+   When using AprilTags, choosing the right webcam can save you from having to
+   :ref:`perform your own calibration
+   <apriltag/vision_portal/apriltag_camera_calibration/apriltag-camera-calibration:AprilTag
+   Camera Calibration>` before being able to use it for obtaining
+   :ref:`AprilTag Pose information
+   <apriltag/vision_portal/apriltag_pose/apriltag-pose:AprilTag Pose>`.
+   This week’s Tech Tip of the Week explores the new :ref:`Webcams for
+   VisionPortal
+   <apriltag/vision_portal/visionportal_webcams/visionportal-webcams:Webcams
+   for Vision Portal>` document that highlights several commonly used webcams
+   that have calibration data built-in to the SDK itself. Maximum frame rates,
+   field of view, and supported resolutions with calibration data are all
+   covered for each of the most common webcams in *FIRST* Tech Challenge.  Short
+   on time? Be sure to check out the handy :ref:`quick summary
+   <apriltag/vision_portal/visionportal_webcams/visionportal-webcams:quick summary>` 
+   at the bottom of the page! Did you calibrate your own camera and
+   determine lens intrinsics for it? Please check out `this FTC-Community post
+   <https://ftc-community.firstinspires.org/t/sticky-camera-calibration-crowdsourcing/577>`__
+   to contribute to the crowd-sourcing effort for calibration data!
+
+.. dropdown:: Week of 10/09/2023 "Hardware Connection Diagrams"
+
+   Have you ever asked, “How does that get connected?” when working with
+   *FIRST* Tech Challenge control system components? This Tech Tip of the Week
+   highlights Stefen Acepcion of *FIRST* Robotics Competition Team 3161 - he
+   has graciously compiled several connection diagrams that demonstrate
+   different ways that common components can be connected within the *FIRST*
+   Tech Challenge control system.  :ref:`Driver Station connection diagrams
+   <control_hard_compon/ds_components/index:Driver Station Overview>` (both
+   Driver Hub and Android Smartphone configurations) and :ref:`Robot Controller
+   connection diagrams
+   <control_hard_compon/rc_components/index:Robot Controller Overview>` 
+   (both Control Hub and Android Smartphone
+   configurations) can be found on ftc-docs. Stefen has contributed additional
+   diagrams this season, including a new `Advanced REV Control Hub connection
+   diagram
+   <https://ftc-docs.firstinspires.org/en/latest/_downloads/4b186ff4e86995d4783883bf72a90474/B2.pdf>`__
+   and a new `Advanced Smartphone connection diagram
+   <https://ftc-docs.firstinspires.org/en/latest/_downloads/27dafd353271695f59d8b103142de605/A2.pdf>`__.
+   These diagrams are chock full of helpful tips, connection techniques, and
+   information you otherwise can’t find in one place - check them out! 
+
+.. dropdown:: Week of 10/16/2023 "Battery Maintenance Tips"
+
+   This week’s Tech Tip of the Week is an extension to our first-ever Tech Tip
+   of the Week regarding battery maintenance. Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH or
+   Ni-MH) batteries, like those used in FIRST Tech Challenge, do require
+   periodic maintenance to keep them healthy! Every day, NiMH batteries lose on
+   average 1% of their charge capacity at normal room temperature - at colder
+   temperatures this decline slows a bit but does not stop it. This means that
+   every 2-3 months it’s important to recharge your batteries to keep them
+   healthy - there is no off-season for batteries! It’s also recommended to
+   mark your batteries with tape and a sharpie to mark (1) Your team number
+   (never lose a battery at a competition!), (2) What year the battery was
+   purchased, (3) Give your batteries names so you can differentiate batteries
+   easily, and (4) optionally provide a tick mark each time the battery is
+   recharged. NiMH batteries can generally last 200-300 recharge cycles before
+   their internal resistance declines to the point where it’s time to replace
+   them, and keeping track of charge cycles is an easy way to track how “used”
+   the battery is before needing to have its internal resistance checked.
+
+.. dropdown:: Week of 10/23/2023 "Control and Expansion Hub Tips"
+
+   This week’s Tech Tip of the Week provides useful tips when using Control and
+   Expansion Hubs.  
+
+   - The RS485 data cable ports that provide data between Control and Expansion
+     Hubs are redundant - you can use two data cables utilizing both ports to
+     ensure that if one cable fails communications aren’t lost.  
+
+   - Encoder ports 0 and 3 are hardware-counted, but ports 1 and 2 are
+     software-counted. This means higher counts-per-revolution encoders (like
+     the REV Through-Bore Encoder) should be placed on Ports 0 or 3 to ensure
+     counts aren’t missed, and lower counts-per-revolution encoders (like the
+     goBILDA Odometry Pods or most motors) can be connected to any port.  
+
+   - Servo port pairs (0,1), (2, 3), and (4,5) each share a common power
+     supply, so if you’re using higher-current servos (like a goBILDA torque
+     servo) directly on the Control or Expansion Hub you should only use ports
+     (0, 2, 4) or (1, 3, 5) in order to maximize the power available to each
+     servo. If you need to use more than 3 high-current servos per hub,
+     consider using a `REV Servo Power Module
+     <https://www.revrobotics.com/rev-11-1144/>`__.  
+
+   - Each Digital and Analog sensor connector on the Control and Expansion Hub
+     each have 2 signal channels. Some REV sensors are only designed to be
+     configured and used on the N or N+1 channels. Read the documentation for
+     each sensor carefully!  
+
+   - The USB 2.0 port shares the same USB bus as the internal Control Hub
+     radio. ESD or other electrical interference that affects devices (like
+     webcams) plugged into that port may cause a loss of communications. When
+     using a USB webcam, use the USB 3.0 port first.  
+
+   - USB C-to-C cables do not work properly with the Control Hub, only USB
+     A-to-C cables do.  
+
+   - If you’re utilizing the onboard IMU, Do not plug I2C devices into Port 0
+     unless absolutely necessary. Port 0 shares an I2C bus with the IMU, and
+     misbehaving devices (or devices that don’t “play well with others”)
+     plugged into Port 0 can cause the IMU to stop communicating.
+