FTC LabView Programming

This post is being provided as an overview and to track the programming progress of the FTC teams using the LabView software.

Software Validation

1. Install LabView Software
   
2. Install FTC Update
   
3. Verify initial software install with Sample VI
   

Learn TeleOperated Coding

1. Install 2 Joystick Sample VI
   
2. Validate and understand supplied blocks
   
3. Create custom version for testing modifications
   
4. Validate and document modifications
   
5. Install 4 Joystick Sample VI
   
6. Validate
   
7. Create Custom version for testing modifications

Learn Sensor Coding

1. Install Sensor Sample VI
2. Validate and understand supplied blocks
3. Create custom version for testing modifications
4. Validate and document modifications
5. Install Encoder Sample VI
6. Validate and understand supplied blocks
7. Create custom version for testing modifications
8. Validate and document modifications

Learn FTC Competition Template

1. Install FTC Template VI
   
2. Use simple pre-validated VIs to test and understand case controls (eg play sound 1 if autonomous, else sound 2)
3. Replace "sound 2" with 4 Joystice VI (either sample or fully validated custom version)
   
4. Validate above modified VI
   
5. Replace "sound 1" with simple "move forward VI"
   
6. Validate above modified VI
   
7. Competition FTC Template Validation Complete
   

Create custom solutions for your team

Teleoperated

1. Determine desired movements for drive train
   
2. Create TeleOperated VI and validate
   
3. Determine desired movements for manipulator
   
4. Update TeleOperated VI and validate
   

Autonomous

1. Create flow chart of desired autonomous movements
   
2. Create Autonomous VI(s) shell(s)
   
3. Add and validate blocks one LUW at a time until done
   

Final Competition Preparation Steps

1. Validate code one more time.
2. Save VI with meaningful name including team number (eg FTC1739_FaceOff)
   
3. Save all relevant VIs in team specific folder on master desktop (eg folder name: FTC1739_Package.081213
   
4. Create zip file and distribute to all of programming team
   
5. Place zip file on the team USB drive
   
6. Document code within LabView
   
7. Upload validated code from NXT to team USB drive for backup (cannot be modified)
   
8. Print copy for team's journal (glue it on one of the journal pages) and copy for team competition binder
   
9. Create a matrix of all inputs/outputs, put in team journal & in team competiton binder
10. Prepare programming toolkit (USB drive, programming notebook/folder, USB cord, etc)

We are now competition ready!