Username:

Password:

Programming

The obvious college major choices for a FRC programmer would be Computer Science or Computer Engineering. However, the programmers of an FRC team must know more than just how to write software. They must know how the electronics of the robot work, so Electrical Engineering could also be a degree to pursue. Due to the mathematics used to theoretically predict what the robot could do, or to set values using a PID loop, a degree in Mathematics could also be in the future. As well as Physics, or any other STEM degree; the range of college major choices is due to the exposure that an FRC programmer receives by participating in the competition.

Following the wide range of college options, a programmer has a wide range of careers. Obviously, a programmer could become a Software Engineer, a Systems Administrator, a Web Developer, or any other career related to computing. However, almost any STEM career is a possible outcome, but it does depend on the chosen college major.

The programming sub-team is responsible for writing the program that enables mechanical aspects of the robot to function properly; programmers also code for the camera, which is used in autonomous and teleoperated mode.

Up until the 2010 FRC Season, the sub-team programmed in C. From then on, they chose to use Java.

During the six weeks of MORT University, the experienced programming members work hard to teach the new members about the electronics of the robot, how to problem solve, and how to code in Java, starting off with basic syntax, then moving to simple programs, and finally working with FRC code and the Javadoc to begin figuring out the logic behind coding different drives systems and end effector components from past years.

Once the build season starts, the programming team is hard at work. We split into three main groups: end effector programming, drive train programming, and autonomous mode programming. As designs are created and finalized, the first couple weeks are spent simulating and programming the drive system the robot will be using, depending upon the complexity of the drive system, and determining logic behind the end effector components and autonomous mode of the robot. The last three weeks are spent programming and debugging, and testing the code.

Captain: Patrick Jameson
Project Manager: Rob Marrs

Pat and Robert