We are pleased to announce that the free online version of Modkit for VEX has just been updated with numerous new features and stability improvements. These new improvements are available now at modkit.com/vex/editor.
The list of all improvements in version 2013.12.09.0 is:
Improved Modkit Link installation and upgrade process
Updated Component Settings for Smart Motor to allow for reversed motor direction, added new graphics to indicate forward and reverse.
Fixed bug that prevented Smart Motor from reaching full velocity.
Changed all Smart Motor speed blocks to allow negative velocity.
Added new Percent unit to Motor velocity blocks.
Added new Spin To [ANGLE] block for Smart Motor.
Fixed bug that allowed impossible speed values to be sent to Smart Motor.
Improved Controller mapping to Smart Motors.
Added new LCD functions, including Clear LCD, Clear Line, New Line, and Set LCD Row and Column.
Added Square Root and Absolute Value block to Operator list.
Fixed bug that would cause Unknown Error for specific variable and broadcast event names.
Revised program download experience through a new interface with separate buttons to Select Program Slot, Download, Play, and Stop programs.
Improved support for low resolution screens of 1024x768 or higher.
Improved Gyro Sensor Calibrate block.
Fixed bug that caused Touch LED to ignore some Set Color commands.
Improved Distance Sensor support.
Fixed several bugs related to saving and reopening programs.
Numerous other bug fixes and stability improvements.
To access all of these new features, visit modkit.com/vex/editor and follow the on screen directions to install and/or upgrade the version of Modkit Link installed on your computer.
If you have any questions about Modkit for VEX or would like to report a bug, please contact [EMAIL="[email protected]"][email protected][/EMAIL].
I think the Modkit update has caused more bugs than it has helped. Our driver control is fine but I have attached our initial autonomous code. We are finding that motors are not in sync and our code is bouncing around as it is running. For instance, in the picture, the robot arm will lower then the robot moves forward. After it moves forward the arm should go up. After the wheel motors come to a stop, one of the two will continue to spin backwards for a second or two. Occasionally, we will run this and the left motor will move reverse first (for 500 degrees), then the right one will follow suit before the arm raises. As you can see, the arm and the wheels should never move at the same time (as these are written independent of each other in the blocks screens under the motors). Often, the wheels and the arms will move simultaneously. Any advice?? #frustrating.
My students do one thing diffrent, we brocast the next event in the “motor screen” not in the “brain screen” (see attached pic) when you do this you will not have to put the wait 1sec between each event and will only need to brocast one time in the “brain screen” I think this will fix your problem, also you only need to broadcast the next step one time.
Unfortunately, it still does it. I broadcasted the forward ball (and tried my reverse ball) in the motor screen (once) and one motor still likes to move an extra couple of seconds…grrrrrr (it moves reverse the extra seconds regardless if it’s forward or reverse). I am going to swap motors and/or ports and try that. Driver control is fine though.
When programming driver control before the current update the holding or “motor brake” default was on. After the update my students were programming and found that it the “motor brake” or hold is not on and have to go into block view and program it to be on. This took us an hour to figure out and was a little frustrating when raising an arm…
The fix is to turn on holding in “block view” for the motors you want holding “motor brake” to be on, this is helpful for lifting objects. When (start) Set Holding (on)
We are currently working on updates to the online version of Modkit for VEX that we hope to be able to release soon. We are aiming for more frequent, smaller updates so you can use new features sooner.
