Using game controllers with NXT (Archived)

[mutantblond]

Update: This discussion applies to Issues from the 2010 FTC season and is no longer relevant for current FTC competition software.

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I have followed the directions in the gEtting started manual for using the game controllers, but there seems to be something missing - they leave you with the nxt hooked up to the computer, and not to the robot.  I'm assuming that this is suppsed to be a wireless connection, with the NXT connected to the robot.  Is there someway to activate the wireless operation?

[Philbot]

Hi

There are several different "Getting Started" manuals, so it's difficult to respond to your specific question.

If you give the exact link/name of the specific manual, I can probably point out the diconnect.

However, generally, YES, the NXT should be ultimately disconnected from the PC.

There may be a missing step, maybe you jumped a step.

After Setting LabVIEW to "Target To NXT" you can download your program into the NXT.

After this, it can be disconnected, and should be able to talk wirelessly one of two ways.

1)  It's still possible to use the 2009/2010 "Game Controller" application in conjunction with Bluetooth to send commands to the NXT.

     For a first timer, this may actually be simpler, but you need to run C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW 2009\examples\FTC Toolkit\FTC Controller Station\FTC Controller Station.exe

2) This year, it's also possible uo ise the 2010/2011 "Samantha Field Control Software (FCS)" to run a match using the new WiFi interface.

     This is the prefered method.

     In order to use Samantha, you definately have to dicsonnect the USB from the PC and reconnect it to the Samantha module (on the robot) so the NXT can recieve WiFi commands.

     If you are making lots of program changes, it may actually be simpler to leave Samantha connected, and download your programs using Bluetooth.

Phil.