Programming using Chromebook, iPad, etc.

[Tom Eng]

Hi Folks,

I'm not sure if this is widely known, but one of the cool features of using either the Blocks Programming or OnBot Java Programming tools is that you can create, edit, and build op modes very quickly using a device like a Chromebook, iPad, or even the Driver Station Android Smartphone.

This is a convenient option for teams, particularly if you an extra Chromebook or iPad available.

[4634 Programmer]

Hi Folks,

I'm not sure if this is widely known, but one of the cool features of using either the Blocks Programming or OnBot Java Programming tools is that you can create, edit, and build op modes very quickly using a device like a Chromebook, iPad, or even the Driver Station Android Smartphone.

May I suggest you implement mDNS in the app so that users don't have to type in an IP address?

[Alec]

Hi Tom, Very cool that you can program your OpModes from the Driver Station. If not already planned, it would be great if a couple models of Android tablets were tested and legal for use for the Driver Station so that the Driver Station will have a larger screen for programming. A larger screen on the Driver Station may also facilitate improvements to the Driver Station UI with easier to read telemetry, and perhaps there would be enough room in the Driver Station UI to have status indicators that can be controlled via your OpModes

[TSM FIRST Robotics]

Hello all,

I am the coach of a rookie team this year. My team will be using a samsung chromebook. In the play store, I found an app called picaxe that uses the blockly programming format. Do any of you all know if this would work? I am also having a lot of problems trying to download the FTC programming app on the moto phones that were provided in the robot kit. Are there any alternatives for it?

Thank you

[twlum]

Could a Raspberry Pi be used?

[4634 Programmer]

Could a Raspberry Pi be used?

You *could* use a Pi, but from my own experience, JavaScript really slows them down, so I think it would be very laggy.

[Tom Eng]

Hello all,

I am the coach of a rookie team this year. My team will be using a samsung chromebook. In the play store, I found an app called picaxe that uses the blockly programming format. Do any of you all know if this would work? I am also having a lot of problems trying to download the FTC programming app on the moto phones that were provided in the robot kit. Are there any alternatives for it?

Thank you

Hi TSM,

I'm sorry you are having issues with the apps... If you would like to control an FTC competition robot, then the only allowed software would be the FTC apps.

Have you tried to follow the instructions in the FIRST Tech Challenge Control System instructions? When you say you are having problems installing the apps on the Motorola phones, could you elaborate?

The Control System instructions can be found here:

https://github.com/ftctechnh/ftc_app/wiki/Blocks-Tutorial

Please let me know what kind of issues you are encountering and I'll see if we can help resolve them.

Tom

[Tom Eng]

Hi Folks,

Just to clarify, when I say that you can use a Chromebook, iPad or Android device to create op modes, you still require your Robot Controller Android phone (such as a Motorola Moto G4 Play) to run the FTC Robot Controller app. This app runs on the Android phone and interacts with the REV Robotics Expansion Hub to control the motors, servos and sensors. You can use a device such as a Chromebook, iPad or Android tablet to connect to your Robot Controller and create/edit and save "op modes" (computer programs for your robot) onto the Robot Controller smartphone.

Tom

[Tom Eng]

Hi Tom, Very cool that you can program your OpModes from the Driver Station. If not already planned, it would be great if a couple models of Android tablets were tested and legal for use for the Driver Station so that the Driver Station will have a larger screen for programming. A larger screen on the Driver Station may also facilitate improvements to the Driver Station UI with easier to read telemetry, and perhaps there would be enough room in the Driver Station UI to have status indicators that can be controlled via your OpModes

Hi Alec,

Thanks for the suggestion! Time and resource permitting, we will see if we can find some low cost tablets that could be recommended and added to the official "approved" list.

Tom

[TSM FIRST Robotics]

Hello again,

The main issue I am having is that the motorolla phone will not download the FTC apps.

[TSM FIRST Robotics]

Thanks for that link Tom Eng. It helped me figure out how to get the controller app onto the phones. Now my issue is figuring out how to install a blockly app onto the laptop, which is a samsung chromebook. Is it possible to program on a samsung chromebook?

[Tom Eng]

Thanks for that link Tom Eng. It helped me figure out how to get the controller app onto the phones. Now my issue is figuring out how to install a blockly app onto the laptop, which is a samsung chromebook. Is it possible to program on a samsung chromebook?

Hi TSM FIRST Robotics,

Glad you were able to get the apps installed onto the phones.

If you have a Samsung Chromebook, you should be able to simply use your web browser on the Chromebook to see the Blocks Programming Interface.

What you want to do is connect to the Program and Manage Wi-Fi network that is created by your FTC Robot Controller app. You connect your Chromebook's wireless adapter to this network, and then you launch your Chromebook's browser. Then you type in the address listed on your "Program & Manage" screen to connect to the Blocks Program & Manager server through your Chromebook's web browser.

The following links show you how to do this with a Windows 10 laptop... You'll have to adjust the steps to use your Chromebook instead (and connect to the Wi-Fi network created by your Robot Controller smartphone):

https://github.com/ftctechnh/ftc_app/wiki/Connecting-a-Laptop-to-the-Program-&-Manage-Network

https://github.com/ftctechnh/ftc_app/wiki/Writing-an-Op-Mode-with-FTC-Blocks

I hope this helps. Let us know how it works out for you.

Tom

[TSM FIRST Robotics]

I'm sorry, but what wireless adapter do you mean? Did it come in the robot building kit?

[Tom Eng]

I'm sorry, but what wireless adapter do you mean? Did it come in the robot building kit?

Hi TSM FIRST Robotics,

By wireless adapter, I was referring to the one built into your Chromebook. When you use your Chromebook, if, for example, you want to browse the internet, you configure your Chromebook's wireless settings to connect to your local Wi-Fi network. Similarly, when you want to create programs for your robot, you will need to change the wireless settings on your Chromebook to connect to the Wi-Fi network created by the Robot Controller.

If you check out the links that I listed in my previous post, they will step you through this process for a Windows 10 machine. The process is very similar for a Chromebook.

Please let me know if you have additional questions.

Tom