This GitHub repository is used (and will be used) entirely for the upcoming 2016-17 FTC Robotics challenge, for team 3737 (RoboNatick). All code is located in src/main, and all demo code in a nested package within the main package. By following the coding guidelines below, this process should be streamlined.
- Download and open Android Studio from developer.android.com. This application and the combined SDK cannot be fully installed without administrator access, so you will either have to bring your personal laptop to robotics, use the team laptop, only work off of your home PC, or use some sketchy backdoor technique to gain access to admin permissions.
- With the installer open, begin to follow the appropriate prompts (you should avoid installing the virtual device, it will not be necessary). Once complete, allow the installer as much time as it needs to proceed with the installation.
- While the install is proceeding, download either Atlassian SourceTree @ sourcetreeapp.com (my preferred client, a bit more advanced), or GitHub Desktop @ desktop.github.com (simple but effective). Open your chosen application and follow the install instructions. If the install is simply an extraction, drag the application to the /Applications folder.
- Either ask myself or Albert for permission to contribute to the repository (it helps if you bring muffins). Star the repository and return to your preferred Git client.
- Clone the repository. You will have to add your remote account to either client in order to clone.
- Checkout (switch) to the development branch.
- Open Android Studio (which should be done at this point, but keep waiting if it is not). Click "Import Project", and navigate to the directory of the project, then click OK.
- Wait for Android Studio to compile the project. There will be a bunch of dependencies that will pop up as a result of the Gradle defined dependencies, just allow each one and the install should proceed pretty easily.
- At last, we are ... PSYCH! Delete all of the install files in your Downloads and eject the appropriate disk images (the way that OS X installs these applications).
A number of different classes are used in this project in order to keep all aspects of the project organized and running efficiently.
- AutonomousBase - Used as a configuration and timing base for the AutonomousBlue (when the robot starts on the blue side of the field), and AutonomousRed (likewise, but with the red side). Place all code which can and should be used for both the Blue and Red classes HERE, not copying and pasting into each one individually, which cripples any updates that may be made later on. Make sure to keep all classes at a protected security level so that all child classes can access them (especially DC motors, servos, and sensors). AutonomousBase should also have a Drive() method which allows either child class to drive with accuracy without changing its own code.
- Autonomous Red/Blue - Place the appropriate unique code in each one of these classes. Make sure that this code is UNIQUE and ACCURATE - each one will have to be optimized individually.
- Teleop - No base class is required, except in extenuating circumstances where different scoring mechanisms are required for each side (see 2015-16 game). This class should be jam-packed with comments and if statements, providing the drivers with an efficient tool to easily control the robot without dealing with random glitches in the controls. The key here is COMMUNICATION, speak with the drivers about their ideal controls.
- Use camelCase. If you do not know what this is, you should not be coding here.
- Constants must be named in all caps, with underscores for the spaces (e.g. DRIVING_CONSTANT not drivingConstant)
- Try to keep method statements like this: void() (NEW LINE) {}. Helps to define where a method starts and ends.
- Declare multiple variables of the same type with commas. Helps conserve space.
- COMMENTS, COMMENTS, COMMENTS!!!
- Commit/Push when necessary. When you feel that appropriate changes have been made to a branch and that the code is now stable, create a pull request and allow either Albert or myself to check the code before we accept the pull request.
- Make sure that the code is somewhat operational before pushing to the branch. We all contribute to this repo and it is tough when someone breaks something while in the process of creating something larger.
FTC Android Studio project to create FTC Robot Controller app.
This is the FTC SDK that can be used to create an FTC Robot Controller app, with custom op modes. The FTC Robot Controller app is designed to work in conjunction with the FTC Driver Station app. The FTC Driver Station app is available through Google Play.
To use this SDK, download/clone the entire project to your local computer. Use Android Studio to import the folder ("Import project (Eclipse ADT, Gradle, etc.)").
Documentation for the FTC SDK are included with this repository. There is a subfolder called "doc" which contains several subfolders:
- The folder "apk" contains the .apk files for the FTC Driver Station and FTC Robot Controller apps.
- The folder "javadoc" contains the JavaDoc user documentation for the FTC SDK.
- The folder "tutorial" contains PDF files that help teach the basics of using the FTC SDK.
For technical questions regarding the SDK, please visit the FTC Technology forum:
http://ftcforum.usfirst.org/forumdisplay.php?156-FTC-Technology
Version 2.20 (released on 16.09.08)
- Support for Modern Robotics Compass Sensor.
- Support for Modern Robotics Range Sensor.
- Revise device names for Pushbot templates to match the names used in Pushbot guide.
- Fixed bug so that IrSeekerSensorV3 device is accessible as IrSeekerSensor in hardwareMap.
- Modified computer vision code to require an individual Vuforia license (per legal requirement from PTC).
- Minor fixes.
- Blockly enhancements:
- Support for Voltage Sensor.
- Support for Analog Input.
- Support for Analog Output.
- Support for Light Sensor.
- Support for Servo Controller.
Version 2.10 (released on 16.09.03)
- Support for Adafruit IMU.
- Improvements to ModernRoboticsI2cGyro class
- Block on reset of z axis.
- isCalibrating() returns true while gyro is calibration.
- Updated sample gyro program.
- Blockly enhancements
- support for android.graphics.Color.
- added support for ElapsedTime.
- improved look and legibility of blocks.
- support for compass sensor.
- support for ultrasonic sensor.
- support for IrSeeker.
- support for LED.
- support for color sensor.
- support for CRServo
- prompt user to configure robot before using programming mode.
- Provides ability to disable audio cues.
- various bug fixes and improvements.
Version 2.00 (released on 16.08.19)
- This is the new release for the upcoming 2016-2017 FIRST Tech Challenge Season.
- Channel change is enabled in the FTC Robot Controller app for Moto G 2nd and 3rd Gen phones.
- Users can now use annotations to register/disable their Op Modes.
- Changes in the Android SDK, JDK and build tool requirements (minsdk=19, java 1.7, build tools 23.0.3).
- Standardized units in analog input.
- Cleaned up code for existing analog sensor classes.
- setChannelMode and getChannelMode were REMOVED from the DcMotorController class. This is important - we no longer set the motor modes through the motor controller.
- setMode and getMode were added to the DcMotor class.
- ContinuousRotationServo class has been added to the FTC SDK.
- Range.clip() method has been overloaded so it can support this operation for int, short and byte integers.
- Some changes have been made (new methods added) on how a user can access items from the hardware map.
- Users can now set the zero power behavior for a DC motor so that the motor will brake or float when power is zero.
- Prototype Blockly Programming Mode has been added to FTC Robot Controller. Users can place the Robot Controller into this mode, and then use a device (such as a laptop) that has a Javascript enabled browser to write Blockly-based Op Modes directly onto the Robot Controller.
- Users can now configure the robot remotely through the FTC Driver Station app.
- Android Studio project supports Android Studio 2.1.x and compile SDK Version 23 (Marshmallow).
- Vuforia Computer Vision SDK integrated into FTC SDK. Users can use sample vision targets to get localization information on a standard FTC field.
- Project structure has been reorganized so that there is now a TeamCode package that users can use to place their local/custom Op Modes into this package.
- Inspection function has been integrated into the FTC Robot Controller and Driver Station Apps (Thanks Team HazMat… 9277 & 10650!).
- Audio cues have been incorporated into FTC SDK.
- Swap mechanism added to FTC Robot Controller configuration activity. For example, if you have two motor controllers on a robot, and you misidentified them in your configuration file, you can use the Swap button to swap the devices within the configuration file (so you do not have to manually re-enter in the configuration info for the two devices).
- Fix mechanism added to all user to replace an electronic module easily. For example, suppose a servo controller dies on your robot. You replace the broken module with a new module, which has a different serial number from the original servo controller. You can use the Fix button to automatically reconfigure your configuration file to use the serial number of the new module.
- Improvements made to fix resiliency and responsiveness of the system.
- For LinearOpMode the user now must for a telemetry.update() to update the telemetry data on the driver station. This update() mechanism ensures that the driver station gets the updated data properly and at the same time.
- The Auto Configure function of the Robot Controller is now template based. If there is a commonly used robot configuration, a template can be created so that the Auto Configure mechanism can be used to quickly configure a robot of this type.
- The logic to detect a runaway op mode (both in the LinearOpMode and OpMode types) and to abort the run, then auto recover has been improved/implemented.
- Fix has been incorporated so that Logitech F310 gamepad mappings will be correct for Marshmallow users.
Release 16.07.08
- For the ftc_app project, the gradle files have been modified to support Android Studio 2.1.x.
Release 16.03.30
- For the MIT App Inventor, the design blocks have new icons that better represent the function of each design component.
- Some changes were made to the shutdown logic to ensure the robust shutdown of some of our USB services.
- A change was made to LinearOpMode so as to allow a given instance to be executed more than once, which is required for the App Inventor.
- Javadoc improved/updated.
Release 16.03.09
- Changes made to make the FTC SDK synchronous (significant change!)
- waitOneFullHardwareCycle() and waitForNextHardwareCycle() are no longer needed and have been deprecated.
- runOpMode() (for a LinearOpMode) is now decoupled from the system's hardware read/write thread.
- loop() (for an OpMode) is now decoupled from the system's hardware read/write thread.
- Methods are synchronous.
- For example, if you call setMode(DcMotorController.RunMode.RESET_ENCODERS) for a motor, the encoder is guaranteed to be reset when the method call is complete.
- For legacy module (NXT compatible), user no longer has to toggle between read and write modes when reading from or writing to a legacy device.
- Changes made to enhance reliability/robustness during ESD event.
- Changes made to make code thread safe.
- Debug keystore added so that user-generated robot controller APKs will all use the same signed key (to avoid conflicts if a team has multiple developer laptops for example).
- Firmware version information for Modern Robotics modules are now logged.
- Changes made to improve USB comm reliability and robustness.
- Added support for voltage indicator for legacy (NXT-compatible) motor controllers.
- Changes made to provide auto stop capabilities for op modes.
- A LinearOpMode class will stop when the statements in runOpMode() are complete. User does not have to push the stop button on the driver station.
- If an op mode is stopped by the driver station, but there is a run away/uninterruptible thread persisting, the app will log an error message then force itself to crash to stop the runaway thread.
- Driver Station UI modified to display lowest measured voltage below current voltage (12V battery).
- Driver Station UI modified to have color background for current voltage (green=good, yellow=caution, red=danger, extremely low voltage).
- javadoc improved (edits and additional classes).
- Added app build time to About activity for driver station and robot controller apps.
- Display local IP addresses on Driver Station About activity.
- Added I2cDeviceSynchImpl.
- Added I2cDeviceSync interface.
- Added seconds() and milliseconds() to ElapsedTime for clarity.
- Added getCallbackCount() to I2cDevice.
- Added missing clearI2cPortActionFlag.
- Added code to create log messages while waiting for LinearOpMode shutdown.
- Fix so Wifi Direct Config activity will no longer launch multiple times.
- Added the ability to specify an alternate i2c address in software for the Modern Robotics gyro.
Release 16.02.09
- Improved battery checker feature so that voltage values get refreshed regularly (every 250 msec) on Driver Station (DS) user interface.
- Improved software so that Robot Controller (RC) is much more resilient and “self-healing” to USB disconnects:
- If user attempts to start/restart RC with one or more module missing, it will display a warning but still start up.
- When running an op mode, if one or more modules gets disconnected, the RC & DS will display warnings,and robot will keep on working in spite of the missing module(s).
- If a disconnected module gets physically reconnected the RC will auto detect the module and the user will regain control of the recently connected module.
- Warning messages are more helpful (identifies the type of module that’s missing plus its USB serial number).
- Code changes to fix the null gamepad reference when users try to reference the gamepads in the init() portion of their op mode.
- NXT light sensor output is now properly scaled. Note that teams might have to readjust their light threshold values in their op modes.
- On DS user interface, gamepad icon for a driver will disappear if the matching gamepad is disconnected or if that gamepad gets designated as a different driver.
- Robot Protocol (ROBOCOL) version number info is displayed in About screen on RC and DS apps.
- Incorporated a display filter on pairing screen to filter out devices that don’t use the “-“ format. This filter can be turned off to show all WiFi Direct devices.
- Updated text in License file.
- Fixed formatting error in OpticalDistanceSensor.toString().
- Fixed issue on with a blank (“”) device name that would disrupt WiFi Direct Pairing.
- Made a change so that the WiFi info and battery info can be displayed more quickly on the DS upon connecting to RC.
- Improved javadoc generation.
- Modified code to make it easier to support language localization in the future.
Release 16.01.04
- Updated compileSdkVersion for apps
- Prevent Wifi from entering power saving mode
- removed unused import from driver station
- Corrrected "Dead zone" joystick code.
- LED.getDeviceName and .getConnectionInfo() return null
- apps check for ROBOCOL_VERSION mismatch
- Fix for Telemetry also has off-by-one errors in its data string sizing / short size limitations error
- User telemetry output is sorted.
- added formatting variants to DbgLog and RobotLog APIs
- code modified to allow for a long list of op mode names.
- changes to improve thread safety of RobocolDatagramSocket
- Fix for "missing hardware leaves robot controller disconnected from driver station" error
- fix for "fast tapping of Init/Start causes problems" (toast is now only instantiated on UI thread).
- added some log statements for thread life cycle.
- moved gamepad reset logic inside of initActiveOpMode() for robustness
- changes made to mitigate risk of race conditions on public methods.
- changes to try and flag when WiFi Direct name contains non-printable characters.
- fix to correct race condition between .run() and .close() in ReadWriteRunnableStandard.
- updated FTDI driver
- made ReadWriteRunnableStanard interface public.
- fixed off-by-one errors in Command constructor
- moved specific hardware implmentations into their own package.
- moved specific gamepad implemnatations to the hardware library.
- changed LICENSE file to new BSD version.
- fixed race condition when shutting down Modern Robotics USB devices.
- methods in the ColorSensor classes have been synchronized.
- corrected isBusy() status to reflect end of motion.
- corrected "back" button keycode.
- the notSupported() method of the GyroSensor class was changed to protected (it should not be public).
Release 15.11.04.001
- Added Support for Modern Robotics Gyro.
- The GyroSensor class now supports the MR Gyro Sensor.
- Users can access heading data (about Z axis)
- Users can also access raw gyro data (X, Y, & Z axes).
- Example MRGyroTest.java op mode included.
- Improved error messages
- More descriptive error messages for exceptions in user code.
- Updated DcMotor API
- Enable read mode on new address in setI2cAddress
- Fix so that driver station app resets the gamepads when switching op modes.
- USB-related code changes to make USB comm more responsive and to display more explicit error messages.
- Fix so that USB will recover properly if the USB bus returns garbage data.
- Fix USB initializtion race condition.
- Better error reporting during FTDI open.
- More explicit messages during USB failures.
- Fixed bug so that USB device is closed if event loop teardown method was not called.
- Fixed timer UI issue
- Fixed duplicate name UI bug (Legacy Module configuration).
- Fixed race condition in EventLoopManager.
- Fix to keep references stable when updating gamepad.
- For legacy Matrix motor/servo controllers removed necessity of appending "Motor" and "Servo" to controller names.
- Updated HT color sensor driver to use constants from ModernRoboticsUsbLegacyModule class.
- Updated MR color sensor driver to use constants from ModernRoboticsUsbDeviceInterfaceModule class.
- Correctly handle I2C Address change in all color sensors
- Updated/cleaned up op modes.
- Updated comments in LinearI2cAddressChange.java example op mode.
- Replaced the calls to "setChannelMode" with "setMode" (to match the new of the DcMotor method).
- Removed K9AutoTime.java op mode.
- Added MRGyroTest.java op mode (demonstrates how to use MR Gyro Sensor).
- Added MRRGBExample.java op mode (demonstrates how to use MR Color Sensor).
- Added HTRGBExample.java op mode (demonstrates how to use HT legacy color sensor).
- Added MatrixControllerDemo.java (demonstrates how to use legacy Matrix controller).
- Updated javadoc documentation.
- Updated release .apk files for Robot Controller and Driver Station apps.
T. Eng November 5, 2015
Release 15.10.06.002
- Added support for Legacy Matrix 9.6V motor/servo controller.
- Cleaned up build.gradle file.
- Minor UI and bug fixes for driver station and robot controller apps.
- Throws error if Ultrasonic sensor (NXT) is not configured for legacy module port 4 or 5.
T. Eng October 6, 2015
In this latest version of the FTC SDK (20150803_001) the following changes should be noted:
- New user interfaces for FTC Driver Station and FTC Robot Controller apps.
- An init() method is added to the OpMode class.
- For this release, init() is triggered right before the start() method.
- Eventually, the init() method will be triggered when the user presses an "INIT" button on driver station.
- The init() and loop() methods are now required (i.e., need to be overridden in the user's op mode).
- The start() and stop() methods are optional.
- A new LinearOpMode class is introduced.
- Teams can use the LinearOpMode mode to create a linear (not event driven) program model.
- Teams can use blocking statements like Thread.sleep() within a linear op mode.
- The API for the Legacy Module and Core Device Interface Module have been updated.
- Support for encoders with the Legacy Module is now working.
- The hardware loop has been updated for better performance.
T. Eng August 3, 2015