== 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 ([http://robocode.sourceforge.net/ 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?
  * ([wiki:Setting_Up_Robocode])

=== Skill Level 2: Familiar with simple programming, no embedded/io/robot experience ([wiki:PiBotHardware 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)