We are writing autonomous programs for matches and programming/driver skills and would like suggestions on the easiest and fastest way to switch the program being run by the cortex. We have written three programs: one each for regular matches, programming skills, and driver skills. Should we just re-download the program needed for the next competition or is there an easier way to choose a different program without the use of a laptop? I wondered if that is why some people have LCD screens. Or is it possible to write a program that uses a physical switch (such as a bumper switch) to change programs?
Yes, it is possible to use a bumper switch or similar to select a program. If you can use an LCD though, I would recommend it, because you get feedback.
In my opinion, the easiest way to select programs would be to use a potentiometer because you just need one sensor that can be used as a dial.
I can’t give you an example of how to do this because I don’t know what programming language you’re using.
I would actually argue that the easiest way to do it is with a Jumper. It’s very easy to program (same as a bumper switch/limit switch), doesn’t take up any meaningful additional space on the robot, and is fairly foolproof.
How do jumpers work? We have some sitting in a drawer but I just don’t know what to do with them. I just clicked the link to the product page and there is no information included on how to use them, where to plug them in, or how to program them.
This should be useful, it is for choosing different autonomous programs, but it is the same concept
Jumper Example
Jumpers are the best way to do this. LCD Displays worked wonderfully for us, but we had an incident with the competition field, and our robot didn’t move to driver control after the autonomous.
Jumpers are set up as digital touch sensors, and return a 1 when present, and 0 when not. They are a very simple way to select between autonomous programs – just put each program inside an if statement that checks if a jumper is present in a particular digital sensor port.
Wow! I looked that them and thought they were something really advanced. Thanks for the info!
Jumpers are also a good to chew on. I did that last season when we never needed to change our autonomous as a stress relief.
Yeah, you’re supposed to stop putting stuff in your mouth after you exit toddler-hood!
Stress makes you do weird things sometimes.