-
Notifications
You must be signed in to change notification settings - Fork 0
Robot Development w FlashLib
This wiki page is still a work in progress
Do you need to create an amazing robot but want to do so quickly? Do you need a framework for you robot software so you won't have to create everything from scrach? Do you need your robot to do complicated tasks but don't know how?
If any of these are true (or any other reason...) you have come to the right place! FlashLib is not just a simple library, it provides a framework and a huge array of features and tools for any robot or just software in general.
To help you get start, we will be reviewing what you can do with FlashLib and how to use it to create your robot software. We assume that you do know a thing or two when jumping into this place, such as: what are motors, robots, sensors, etc.
Before we start, FRC programmers should refer to the FlashLib in FRC page to learn about using FlashLib with FRC robots because here we will be mostly discussing FlashLib for non-FRC robots.
Before starting with our robot software, we need to learn how our robot software is going to be managed and controlled.
A robot software contains a main class, which is resposible for integrating all the robot code into a single manageable place. The class will contain the objects which control our electronics, or perform algorithms and methods which use those objects.
FlashLib builds it robot framework on the bases of operation modes: a robot has several operation modes, in each mode the robot is controlled and performs different operations. A robot must have atleast 1 mode:
- disabled: This mode is a safety mode where the robot should remain idle and do nothing. This mode is a must.
Other than disabled mode, users can decide which modes the robot has. If the robot only has one operation type, the it would have a disabled mode and an operation mode.
An example for user defined operation modes can be:
- Manual: user manually controls the robot using controllers and joysticks, etc.
- Automatic: the robot executes pre-programmed instruction for performing and action, without user interaction.
Each mode is defined by an integer which is used to identify the mode. Disabled mode is identified as 0, user-defined modes can choose their own mode value. No 2 modes can should use the same value.
To select which operation mode is currently used, FlashLib uses the ModeSelector interface. This interface has a single method: getMode() which returns the current mode value. A robot can have only one ModeSelector.
There are several build-in mode selector types:
- Manual: the robot software manually selects which operation mode is used
- Flashboard: a control on the flashboard where users can choose the operation mode from the mode selector window.
Unlike desktop programs or applications, robot software is built iteratively, meaning that our robot is managed by a loop. FlashLib provides robots with a loop which runs while the robot is operational, and from this loop user code is called. The loop takes care of different operation modes and allows our robot to operate without a stop.
FlashLib provides a package for working with controllers and joysticks, allowing users to manual control the robot. However the problem is that there are many ways data from those controllers could be sent to our robot software. So to allow flexibility, FlashLib uses the HIDInterface interface which connects between the hid package and the actual controllers.
There are several built-in implementations:
- Empty: basically acts like no controller is actually connected.
- Flashboard: a controller which sends data about controllers connected to the Flashboard.
Robot bases are classes which our main robot class should extend. Those classes contain the main method and are responsible for initialization and shutdown of the robot. FlashLib provides several robot bases.
RobotBase is the most basic base for robots. All other robots bases should extend this base. Here initialization and shutdown of the robot is handled. This class contains the robot's main method which should be called when
starting the robot software. When the robot is started, the user implementation of this class is initialized,
robot and FlashLib systems are initialized and user robot code is then started by calling robotMain().
When the JVM enters shutdown, this class uses a shutdown hook to perform ordered robot shutdown and will
allow custom user shutdown by calling robotShutdown().
RobotBase has initialization parameters. To allow user customization, it is possible to override configInit(RobotInitializer) and customize initialization parameters. This method receives a RobotIntializer object
which holds different variables, each affects initialization. This method has a default implementation that does nothing, so implement it only when custom initialization is wanted.
Initialization parameters include:
- The robot mode selector
- The robot HID interface
- etc...
Using RobotBase is not recommended because it is very basic and doesn't provide a robot control loop. Instead, extend one of the following bases, each an extension of `RobotBase:
A simple robot base, provides a control loop which calls a method when entering an operation mode.
The control loop tracks operation mode data and calls user methods accordingly. When in disabled
mode, disabled() is called and allows user operations in disabled mode. When in any other mode,
onMode(int) is called and the current mode value is passed, allowing user operations for that mode.
Those methods are called only once when in the operation mode. So if they finish execution before the mode is
finished, not further user code will be executed for that mode. If mode was changed and user code did not
finished and the methods did not return, this will disrupt robot operations.
This class provides extended custom initialization. When the robot is initializing, preInit(SimpleRobotInitializer)
is called for custom initialization. The passed object, SimpleRobotInitializer is an extension
of RobotInitializer which adds additional initialization options.
Before the control loop starts, robotInit() is called. In here initialization of robot systems should be done.
When the robot enters shutdown mode robotFree() is called to allow user shutdown operations.
An extended robot base, provides a complex control loop with easier control over operations.
The control loop divides each operation mode into two types:
- init: initialization of the operation mode
- periodic: execution of the operation mode
initis called every time the robot enters a new mode.periodicis called every ~10ms while the robot is in the operation mode.
When the robot enters disabled mode, disabledInit() is called at the beginning and them every ~10ms or so disabledPeriodic() is called. When in any other mode modeInit(int) is called and the mode value is passed and then every ~10ms or so modePeriodic(int) is called and the mode value is passed.
This class provides extended custom initialization. When the robot is initializing, preInit(IterativeRobotInitializer)
is called for custom initialization. The passed object, IterativeRobotInitializer is an extension
of RobotInitializer which adds additional initialization options.
Before the control loop starts, robotInit() is called. In here initialization of robot systems should be done. When the robot enters shutdown mode robotFree() is called to allow user shutdown operations.
While the control loop is running, FlashLib's scheduling system is active allowing usage of it. When in disabled the Scheduler runs only Runnable objects and when in other modes both Runnable and Action objects are executed. When the robot switches operation modes, all Action objects are interrupted and stop running.
In addition, the control loop uses the motor safety feature of FlashLib to insure safe motor operations.
Before we can start creating our software, we need to add FlashLib to the development environment we are using. Start by downloading the latest FlashLib release binaries. You will find 3 files of interest:
-
flashlib.jar: The flashlib library. This JAR archive is the necessary file for using the library. -
flashlib-sources.jar: The sources archive. Contains FlashLib source files and not necessary for using FlashLib, just recommanded. -
flashlib-javadoc.jar: The Javadoc archive. Contains FlashLib Javadoc files and not necessary for using FlashLib, just recommanded.
We recommend creating a specific folder where FlashLib files will be placed, just for organization.
We now need to create a User Library in our IDE for FlashLib. This will allow us to easily use FlashLib in multiple projects. Depending on your IDE, this step will differ.
Now we can create a project for our robot. We can use a simple Java project, all we need is to import our FlashLib user library and create a main robot file.
The project is ready for use, so now we need to create the main robot class. This class will be the center of our robot, here we will integrate all the robot systems and run everything. Create a package for the main class file, the name does not affect the robot, so choose an appropriate name. Then create a class file in the package (not with the main method), we recommend calling it Robot.
With the main robot class ready, all that we need to do is choose a base for our class which the main class will extend.
A robot base contains the main method and is responsible for initialization of background operations and the robot operation loop. After choosing the robot base, extend the class with you main robot class and implement all necessary methods. Then we can start working on the robot software.