Control Systems/ Software Training Curriculum

Guiding Principles

• Students hate lecture style teaching. Better to be hands on. Avoid powerpoint lectures.
• Students have a wide variety of skill levels. Take care not to cater to any one particular level.
• Many students do not attend every meeting (due to conflicts with sports, band, family obligations, etc).
• Make sure to coordinate/ review with software leads

The Plan

There are three technical skill levels that build on their predecessors. Not all students start at level one. Idea: If we come up with 3-5 activities at each level we can mix and match.

Immediate needs

• Identify the challenges and activities for the first 4 weeks.

BoB/IROC competition preparation (experienced students)

Skill Level 1: Students new or beginners at Java programming (​Robocode)

• Software fundamentals.
• Java Programming Basics
• Computer focused.
• Individual Challenges/ Competition
• Learn to compile and run Java
• Eclipse Basics
• For while loops,if statements, functions.
• Emphasis on Individual Challenges/ Competition.
• Supplement with online training resources (on student's own time)
• Zhaozhou/Jill? running point on this skill level.
• Action: Talk to dev lead, identify dependencies (machines?), create a few exercises on Robocode. See something working, change it, create something new.
  • Set up robocode environment.
  • Show idea/walk them through it.
  • Have them make changes.
  • Custom activity/challenge: Battle Royale?
• (Setting_Up_Robocode)

Skill Level 2: Familiar with simple programming, no embedded/io/robot experience (Minibots)

• Pibots
• Bots are fully built up front with OS installed. A bit of risk given timeline.
• Basic bot / hardware familiarization (This is power, this is control, different parts)
• Basic IO manipulation with Java
• Drive manipulation/autonomous without sensors with Java
• Sensor manipulation with Java
• Integration Challenges
• Small Team
• Alan running point on this skill level (Chris D helping).
• Action: Build minibot. Come up with exercises like above.

Skill Level 3: Familiar with embedded java/simple robots (Midbots/ peanut/ roborio/ wpilib)

• Roborio
• Frcsim
• Wpilib
• Jason running point on this skill level.
• Action: Get simulator running, figure out what there is to teach from Student Software Lead.
• Challenges:
  • Autonomous navigation (navigate an increasingly difficult course)
  • PID control (balancing something e.g. on an arm, constant speed despite terrain, etc.)
  • Vision/targeting
  • Shooting/grabbing/lifting/driving

Safety

• All students take safety class.

Software Development

• "Bob taking point on this"
• Git
• Peer reviews
• Testing (Blackbox/ Clearbox)
• Phases of Software Development
• Basic Design
• Problem Solving/ Debugging
• Teambuilding
• All students should take this?
• Student to teach git?
• Block diagrams flow charting
• OOA&D
• Problem Solving/ Broken Code (Fix some code?)

Sensor Deep-Dive

• Can we mesh in the Ardinuo stuff?
• Encoders
• Switches
• IR reflectors/interrupters
• Ultrasonic
• LIDAR
• Accelerometer/9DOF
• Cameras/vision

Student Training/ Activity Ideas

Level 0: Basic Java

• ​http://www.sololearn.com/Play/Java/#

Level 1: Robocode

• Battle Royale: Design own bot to win!

Level 2: Minibots

• Wheres my dinner? Have the minibot transport me a bag lunch in the next room.
• King of the Hill! Stop a robot on a landing on a top of a ramp at specific point.

Level 3: Midbots

• Develop wpilib like interface for midbots
• Go through code of current bot, discuss design
• Figure out FRCSim
• Mobile app to control minibot via Bluetooth

Software Engineering

• Classic OOA&D decomposition
• Find the error. Take turns breaking the code, using git toolset to figure out what happened
• Mock peer review

Sensor Crosstraining

• Study/ Try out common sensors
• Apply minibot ultasonic sensor
• Apply install minibot 9DOF sensor

Electrical Crosstraining

Mechanical Crosstraing

• design and 3D print a carry / table assembly for the minibot
• design and make a simple gripper/manipulator for the minibot (can be done with a single servo motor)