P loop back left wheel won't move

Hello.

This year we are trying to use a P-loop with slew control. We more or less based it off of This thread, and made it for an x drive and added some other (kind of unnecessary) things.

When we run the code it will accelerate like it should, but at the end the left side stops like normal, while the right side keeps going and doesn’t stop. Anyone know why? Thanks!

Sorry in advance for the sloppy code. Neither of us are great coders. The issue may be something really simple and stupid that I missed.

Code
// ---- START VEXCODE CONFIGURED DEVICES ----
// Robot Configuration:
// [Name]               [Type]        [Port(s)]
// LeftFrontDrive       motor         13              
// RightFrontDrive      motor         20              
// LeftBackDrive        motor         12              
// RightBackDrive       motor         11              
// ---- END VEXCODE CONFIGURED DEVICES ----

#include "vex.h"

using namespace vex;

	
//FL=Front left wheel, FR=Front right wheel, BL=Back left wheel, BR=back right wheel
	
//This variable is the voltage limit for the motors during acceleration	
 double  slew=0;
//These are the targets that the wheels need to finish at
double targetFL=0;
double targetFR=0;
double targetBL=0;
double targetBR=0;
	
	
//These variables are the direction the wheels are turning, 1 for forward, -1 for backward
int dirFL;
int dirFR;
int dirBL;
int dirBR;

//This indicates the type of movement the robot is doing, true for forward/backward/strafe, false for turning
bool dir;

//This indicates whether the p loop has finished the current movement, true for finished, false for incomplete
bool finish=false;	


	
//These are tuned in order to convert the auton code numbers to motor ticks, so we can code in inches rather than in ticks.
//Calculation: 10*moveTick=number of motor ticks to move 1 inch
 double moveTick=1;
//Calculation: 1*turnTick=number of motor ticks to turn 1 degree
 double turnTick=1;
	
	
	



//Define the P loop
void PLoop ()
{	
	LeftFrontDrive.spin(forward); 
  RightFrontDrive.spin(forward);
  LeftBackDrive.spin(forward); 
  RightBackDrive.spin(forward);		    


//This variable controls how fast/slow the acceleration is
 double slewConstant=0.5;

//These variables are tuned to control how fast the deceleration is
//This one is for forward/backward/strafe
 double moveConstant=0.5;
//This one is for turning
 double turnConstant=0.5;

//These variables are the distance until the robot meets it's target
double errorFL=0;
double errorFR=0;
double errorBL=0;
double errorBR=0;

//These variables are the final speed output to the motors
static double speedFL=0;
static double speedFR=0;
static double speedBL=0;
static double speedBR=0;

//Start motors turning



//Create an infinite loop
while(true)

{
	
	//Set the error variable to the targfet minus the distance already traveled
	errorFL = targetFL - LeftFrontDrive.position(degrees) ;
	errorFR = targetFR - RightFrontDrive.position(degrees);
	errorBL = targetBL - LeftBackDrive.position(degrees);
	errorBR = targetBR - RightBackDrive.position(degrees);	
	
	//This if statement is used for deceleration...
	//If the direction is forward/backward/strafe...
	if(dir==true)
	{
		//...Set the speed to the error times the constant. 
		//Usually this will set the speed to the max, however as the error begins to decrease, it will begin to decelerate.
		//Additionally, if the error switches direction (I.E. the robot overshoots the target), 
		//the speed will also switch direction, moving back to the target
		speedFL=errorFL * moveConstant;
		speedFR=errorFR * moveConstant;
		speedBL=errorBL * moveConstant;
		speedBR=errorBR * moveConstant;
		
	}
	
	//If the robot is turning...
	else{
		//ditto with turnConstant
		speedFL=errorFL * turnConstant;
		speedFR=errorFR * turnConstant;
		speedBL=errorBL * turnConstant;
		speedBR=errorBR * turnConstant;
	}
	
	//Increase the slew variable by the constant. (I.E. the slew variable will slowly increase as the PLoop loops)
	slew=slew+slewConstant;

	//The following if statements are used for acceleration...
	//If the wheel is turning forwards, and the speed is greater than the slew variable
	if(speedFL > slew && dirFL==1)
	{
		//...The speed variable equals the slew limit times direction (-1 or 1)
		//(I.E. the slew variable wil limit the speed of the wheel if the speed is greater than that of the slew variable)
		speedFL=slew*dirFL;
	}
  	//If the wheel is turning backwards, and the speed is less than the slew variable
  if(speedFL < slew && dirFL==-1)
	{
		//...The speed variable equals the slew limit times direction (-1 or 1)
		//(I.E. the slew variable wil limit the speed of the wheel if the speed is greater than that of the slew variable)
		speedFL=slew*dirFL;
	}
		//Ditto for FR
		if(speedFR > slew && dirFR==1)
	{
		speedFR=slew*dirFR;
	}
  if(speedFR < slew && dirFR==-1)
	{
		speedFR=slew*dirFR;
	}
		
    
    //Ditto for BL
			if(speedBL > slew && dirBL==1)
	{
		speedBL=slew*dirBL;
	}
  if(speedBL < slew && dirBL==-1)
	{
		speedBL=slew*dirBL;
	}
		
    
    //Ditto for BR
				if(speedBR > slew && dirBR==1)
	{
		speedBR=slew*dirBR;
	}
  if(speedBR < slew && dirBR==-1)
	{
		speedBR=slew*dirBR;
	}
	
	//If all motors have a very small error...
	if(-100<errorFL && errorFL<10 && -10<errorFR && errorFR <10 && -10<errorBL && errorBL<10 && -10<errorBR && errorBR<10)
  {
	
		
speedFL=0;
speedFR=0;
speedBL=0;
speedBR=0;

break;
     
	}
	//Set the motors to their intended speed


LeftFrontDrive.setVelocity(speedFL, rpm); 
RightFrontDrive.setVelocity(speedFR, rpm);
LeftBackDrive.setVelocity(speedBL, rpm); 
RightBackDrive.setVelocity(speedBR, rpm);
 
	
	
}

	
}




//Define the drive control function (forward/backward)
void Drive (double driveDistance)
{

 
//Set the direction bool to true (Forward/Backward/Strafe)
dir=true;
//Reset the slew limit because this is a seprate movement
slew=0;
//Increase/decrease targets by the amount that the robot is moving (times the constant)
targetFL= targetFL+ driveDistance*moveTick;
targetFR= targetFR- driveDistance*moveTick;
targetBL= targetBL+ driveDistance*moveTick;
targetBR= targetBR- driveDistance*moveTick;

//If the robot is moving backwards...
if(driveDistance<0)
{
	//...Set direction variables accordingly
	dirFL=-1;
	dirFR=1;
	dirBL=-1;
	dirBR=1;
}
//If the robot is moving forwards...
else{
	//...Set direction variables
	dirFL=1;
	dirFR=-1;
	dirBL=1;
	dirBR=-1;	
}


PLoop(); 
}




//Define the strafe control function (left/right)
 void Strafe (double strafeDistance)
{

	//Set the direction bool to true (Forward/Backward/Strafe)
dir=true;
//Reset the slew limit because this is a seprate movement
slew=0;
//Increase/decrease targets by the amount that the robot is moving (times the constant)
targetFL= targetFL+ strafeDistance*moveTick;
targetFR= targetFR+ strafeDistance*moveTick;
targetBL= targetBL- strafeDistance*moveTick;
targetBR= targetBR- strafeDistance*moveTick;

//If the robot is moving left...
if(strafeDistance<0)
{
	//...Set direction variables accordingly
	dirFL= -1;
	dirFR= -1;
	dirBL= 1;
	dirBR= 1;
}
//If the robot is moving right...
else{
	//...Set direction variables
	dirFL= 1;
	dirFR= 1;
	dirBL= -1;
	dirBR= -1;	
}

PLoop(); 
}







//Define the turn control function
 void Turn (double turnDistance)
{
	
  //Set the direction bool to false (Turning)
	dir=false;
	//Reset the slew limit because this is a seprate movement
	slew=0;
//Increase/decrease targets by the amount that the robot is moving (times the constant)
targetFL= targetFL+ turnDistance*turnTick;
targetFR= targetFR+ turnDistance*turnTick;
targetBL= targetBL+ turnDistance*turnTick;
targetBR= targetBR+ turnDistance*turnTick;

//If the robot is moving counterclockwise...
if(turnDistance<0)
{
	//...Set direction variables accordingly
	dirFL= -1;
	dirFR= -1;
	dirBL= -1;
	dirBR= -1;
}
//If the robot is moving clockwise...
else{
	//...Set direction variables
	dirFL= 1;
	dirFR= 1;
	dirBL= 1;
	dirBR= 1;	
}

PLoop(); 
}




int main() {
 
  vexcodeInit();
 //Start P loop	

//  LeftFrontDrive.spinFor(forward, 90, degrees); 
//  RightFrontDrive.spinFor(forward, 90, degrees); 
//   LeftBackDrive.spinFor(forward, 90, degrees); 
//  RightBackDrive.spinFor(forward, 90, degrees); 

Drive(1000);    
}


P.S. How do I make my code in a box like others do it??

*edited by mods to add code tags

1 Like

before the first line and after the last line of your code, put 3 backticks (backticks look like this: ` and are to the left of the 1 on most keyboards):

this is what it will look like

you can also put the language you are using along with the 3 backticks like this: ```python

Hope this helps!

2 Likes

Ok, so I was able to fix your issue hopefully for you. I went ahead and tested your code on my bot and went through all the code to fix the issue and I only fixed it for the drive I have not tested turning or strafing (I have macanum)

You can see that on your void Drive you have made the right wheels negative and you did the same below that my thought process was that I already have the motors set negative in the robot config

void Drive (double driveDistance)
{

 
//Set the direction bool to true (Forward/Backward/Strafe)
dir=true;
//Reset the slew limit because this is a seprate movement
slew=0;
//Increase/decrease targets by the amount that the robot is moving (times the constant)
targetFL= targetFL+ driveDistance*moveTick;
targetFR= targetFR- driveDistance*moveTick;
targetBL= targetBL+ driveDistance*moveTick;
targetBR= targetBR- driveDistance*moveTick;

//If the robot is moving backwards...
if(driveDistance<0)
{
	//...Set direction variables accordingly
	dirFL=-1;
	dirFR=1;
	dirBL=-1;
	dirBR=1;
}
//If the robot is moving forwards...
else{
	//...Set direction variables
	dirFL=1;
	dirFR=-1;
	dirBL=1;
	dirBR=-1;	
}


PLoop(); 
}

So I went ahead and made them all positive and added stopping commands after Ploop(); is called at the end of the void drive so the wheels stop because they were not stopping for me

here is my code

void Drive (double driveDistance)
{

 
//Set the direction bool to true (Forward/Backward/Strafe)
dir=true;
//Reset the slew limit because this is a seprate movement
slew=0;
//Increase/decrease targets by the amount that the robot is moving (times the constant)
targetFL= targetFL+ driveDistance*moveTick;
targetFR= targetFR+ driveDistance*moveTick;
targetBL= targetBL+ driveDistance*moveTick;
targetBR= targetBR+ driveDistance*moveTick;

//If the robot is moving backwards...
if(driveDistance<0)
{
	//...Set direction variables accordingly
	dirFL=1;
	dirFR=1;
	dirBL=1;
	dirBR=1;
}
//If the robot is moving forwards...
else  {
	//...Set direction variables
	dirFL=1;
	dirFR=1;
	dirBL=1;
	dirBR=1;	
}
PLoop(); 

  Lf.stop(coast);
  Lb.stop(coast);
  Rf.stop(coast);
  Rb.stop(coast);
}

Hopefully this helps you I will be testing strafing and turning and will update if needed

2 Likes

So I put that code in there and 3 wheels work properly and 1 doesnt move. It is the back left motor.

I have swapped Motors, swapped wires, swapped ports plus the wheel works on another code. It is a coding issue.

With this knowledge I tried the old code with the robot on its side and realized that it had the same issue of the back left wheel not moving. To reiterate it is a coding issue not a hardware issue.

Tl;dr the issue is that the rear left wheel will not move.

Thanks again

Update: The issue turned out to be a mistyped line of code where the error variables were defined. It was not there when I uploaded the code.

So now I’m back to the original issue-whenever the wheel is moving backwards, it will never stop. Any ideas?

EDIT: FURTHER UPDATE. OK so I discovered the issue.

The issue is that in the slew control section of the code, the if statement for if the wheel was turning backwards (dirFL=-1), always evaluated to true. This is because the negative wheel speed was being compared to the always positive slew variable. This meant that the if statements were always true, and therefore the wheels were always “accelerating”

Thanks to anyone who tried to help!

2 Likes