{"id":1204,"date":"2024-06-19T17:35:48","date_gmt":"2024-06-20T00:35:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smithlearning.com\/vex\/?page_id=1204"},"modified":"2025-06-01T18:23:59","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T01:23:59","slug":"lesson-8","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/smithlearning.com\/vex\/lesson-8\/","title":{"rendered":"Lesson 8"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>Prev<\/span><\/span>Lesson 7<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Lesson 8: Controller<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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We are going to connect a controller to our robot.  There are many ways to do this, but we will write our own custom code so that we can make each setting exactly what we want.<\/p>\n

Add your controller in the DEVICES menu.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Then add your two motors<\/strong>.\u00a0 You can name them whatever you want, but it is best to give them names that describe what they do.\u00a0 LeftMotor<\/strong> is a good descriptive name.\u00a0 Use CamelCase for names (capitalize each word, but use no spaces or symbols).\u00a0 When you have added both the left and right drive motors, click DONE.<\/p>

There are three ways that we can set up our controller:<\/p>

  • Tank Control<\/li>
  • Arcade Control<\/li>
  • Split Arcade Control<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Each design has advantages and disadvantages.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    TANK DRIVE<\/h1>\n

    This design allows the left joystick to control the left side of the chassis and the right joystick to control the right side of the chassis.\u00a0 Gamers may struggle, but this format can provide more turning options than an Arcade Drive.<\/p>\n

    PROS:<\/span>\u00a0Better control, more turning options<\/span><\/p>\n

    CONS:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Always requires both joysticks, less intuitive for gamers<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    ARCADE DRIVE<\/h1>\n

    This is the most like a video game controller.\u00a0 One joystick will control both the forward-backward AND the turning movement.\u00a0 (You can program either the left or the right stick.)<\/p>\n

    PROS:<\/b>\u00a0Smooth movement, only uses one stick<\/span><\/p>\n

    CONS:<\/b><\/span> Less motor control, less maneuverability<\/span><\/p>\n

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    SPLIT ARCADE DRIVE<\/h1>\n

    This takes the functions of an Arcade Drive and splits it over both sticks.\u00a0 The left stick moves forward-backward while the right stick turns left and right.\u00a0 (You can reverse the sides if you want.)<\/p>\n

    PROS:<\/span>\u00a0Smooth movement<\/span><\/p>\n

    CONS:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Always requires both joysticks<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Before a controller can send information to a robot brain, the two components must be “paired<\/strong>“.<\/p>

    To pair a controller to its brain, you must have a radio attached to the brain.\u00a0 Then temporarily connect the controller to the brain using a smart cable.\u00a0 Once a connection has been established, disconnect the cable.\u00a0 When pairing is successful, the radio will begin flashing red.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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