In my class we are using vex code blocks. One of my robots can’t have anything downloaded onto it because the firmware on the brain needs to be updated. However, the micro usb port seems to have wore out, so I can’t download the firmware onto it. I have treid several cords, and several laptops. None will connect to the brain. I have searched the posts, and I have switched to the magnetic tip micro usb’s, but that doesn’t help for this brain as the port is already wore out. I am guessing I will need to send this to vex to have repaired at some point, but does any one know a way that I can updated the firmware so that I can still use this robot in my class? Or at lease bypass the need to updated the firmware so I can still use it?
I mean… you can RMA it of course. If it’s not for competition, and you’re good with tech repair you could open it up and put in a new micro-usb port yourself, but I don’t recommend that. Really you should just get it replaced
9 Likes
Sure, but that doesn’t help me with my current students right now. I was hoping there was some sort of work around where we can still use the robot now. It works perfectly fine, it’s just that the vex code blocks won’t allow them to download a new program onto it until the firmware is updated, but we can’t update it.
I am not aware of a software workaround. If one exists, @jpearman would be the one to ask.
You could try wirelessly connecting from the controller and updating it that way
1 Like
You can’t update firmware wirelessley. I presume they were already downloading programs in this way.
That’s strange, I have the latest firmware and I havent wired my brain to my computer in the last year or something
1 Like
yea, we do not allow firmware update via the controller, although technically it could work.
but you can program via the controller, VEXcode will not block program download that way.
3 Likes
If you are running 1.0.12, then you must have used a direct connection at some stage in the last 12 months.
4 Likes
(or a teammate that saw a warning on the brain screen and fixed it themselves)
When was 1.0.12 released? If it was at the beginning of the season then I probably connected the brain and forgot
Jokes on you, I dont have teammates
I probably connected the brain and forgot. Thanks!
Thanks. I will RMA it. I have a class set of 15 clawbots that we only use for my middle school class, and not for competitions. So we haven’t used them in a while. I have 6 different groups that work with this robot. Luckily, it’s only effecting one group. All of my classes connect their chromebooks to the remotes, and download to the brain wirelessly. But for this one group, the brain icon will show orange, and the download button is grayed out, and it says that we need to update the brain and it requires direct usb connection. But of course the usb connection port is wore down, so it doesn’t let us connect it. I think the brain currently has 1.0.8 on it. I was hoping there was a way that group could still download their programs onto it, but vex code blocks won’t let them until its updated. What is weird, is that 5 other groups use that same robot, and the icons just appear green and never have that problem. I will just let that group use my teacher demo robot, and RMA it as soon as I can.
Thanks everyone for the feedback!
We had this happen to us at a comp last year after the USB port came off/desoldered its connections.
Wait, are you saying other computers could talk to the suspect brain and only one of the computers fails to do that?
The RMA is going to replace bad brain, but could you simply downgrade software on that specific computer to the same version that other groups have?
This topic was automatically closed 365 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.