What techniques are used to program a robot? - Well, I have to work closely with the other guys on the team to learn how they are going to build the robot, and how the components work in terms of programming. I use the different sources that Innovation First, the company that built the robot controller, has made available to me. These resources include programming guides, FAQs, and the default source code that is already on the robot. Without these tools, my job would almost be impossible for me to accomplish.

 

What language do you use for the computer? - This year it changed from PBASIC, a dialect of BASIC, to C. The robot can also be programmed in Assembly, if you are skilled enough.
 

What types of programming techniques are used? - Of course, the main loop is essential for any program, but there are two different modes that the robot can be in: user mode, and autonomous mode. The user mode is for the human controller to move the robot around the arena via a joystick. The autonomous mode is where I step in. This is during the first 15 seconds of the match where the robot goes only on its own programming. Last year, the autonomous mode was not important, but this year it is essential. Without the autonomous mode, I cannot see us getting past the initial stages of the competition. The auto. mode is controlled with a While loop. The main form of techniques I use are Conditional statements, testing for light sensor inputs, as well as joystick inputs, to do the appropriate actions. Arrays really aren't needed, nor are pointers necessary. The greatest technique I use is thinking about how to interpret the data given, not any real programming technique.
 

Roughly how many lines of code are there? - Most of the code is already written to handle movement of the robot and different input mapping. So far, I think that I have written 75 to 80 lines of new code, but more is on the way. Overall, I would say that there is at least 1000 or more lines of code in all.
 

What types of maneuvers does the robot have to perform? - It has to perform a variety of tasks. First, it must be able to get the 'bonus ball' off its tee in the autonomous mode. That releases other balls to be moved towards a special area where a human would shoot the balls into a goal. I must be able to move a portable goal around the arena so that it would be easier to score points. It must be able to grab a big ball to top a filled goal to double the amount of points awarded for a filled goal. And lastly, it must be able to pull itself off the ground from a pull-up bar in the center of the arena to score an additional 50 points at the end of the match.