ROBOTC.net Blog  

Important update!

We have just released another update to ROBOTC for Cortex & PIC. This release is required to use Cortex motor ports 1 or 10. In earlier versions,  you may encounter a firmware bug that can cause the motor control circuits to overheat and burn out.

Click here to go to the download page – ROBOTC for Cortex & PIC

Cortex Microprocessor

Enhancements in this release include:

1. Support for direct wired USB cable between PC and  VEX Cortex for downloading user programs and debugging added.
2. Support for Debugger “Debug Stream” window added. User programs can easily write (“print”) to a text window on the PC.
3. Faster firmware downloading. It now takes just 10 to 15 seconds. User programs download in just one or two seconds.
4. Fix control of H-bridges for motors 1 and 10 to prevent “shoot through” and the potential for internal short circuits.
5. A few minor bugs fixed in the compiler.

Hello fellow ROBOTC fans!

I just created a ROBOTC Mailing list for those of you who like to be in the “in” crowd.

Just go to www.robotc.net and type in your Name and Email address on the right side. Subscribe by clicking the “Subscribe” button, unsubscribe by clicking the “unsubscribe” button.

I’ll update you on when a new release or beta version is out. Or if any important information regarding ROBOTC needs to be announced.

Happy programming!

Greetings Educators!

The Robotics Academy has set some Online Teacher Training Dates for the Fall. The classes include the ROBOTC for LEGO/TETRIX and our brand new class: The ROBOTC for Cortex online class.

Here are the schedules for the Fall Online Teacher Training:

1. ROBOTC for LEGO/TETRIX
   • Begins October 6th, 2010 – Every Wednesday for 6 weeks
   • Click here for more details about ROBOTC for LEGO/TETRIX
2. ROBOTC for Cortex – NEW!
   • Begins October 5th, 2010 – Every Tuesday for 6 weeks
   • Click here for more details about ROBOTC for Cortex

Click here to take a look at all of the classes we have to offer!

ROBOTC available as FREE download for training this summer

The teams have spoken!
Three out of four teams at the FTC national championships programmed their prize-winning robots with ROBOTC this year.

Thanks to its real-time debugger, optimized code, free online training materials, and large forum support community, ROBOTC is quickly becoming the language of choice for the robotics competition community.

The Robotics Academy supports teams competing in ROBOFEST, the National Robotics Challenge, FTC, and the VEX competition, just to name a few.  And, this summer only, you can train with it for FREE!

Go to ROBOTC for Mindstorms to register to receive a free copy of ROBOTC that you can load onto either your personal computer or a classroom set of computers for training teachers and students to program LEGO and TETRIX robots this summer.

Go to ROBOTC for IFI to register to receive a free copy of ROBOTC to prepare teachers and students to program with VEX and Cortex robots.

Feel free to pass these links on to students, teachers, and hobbyists!

Teacher training at Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Academy is filling fast!

Over the last five years over one thousand teachers from across the United States have come to Carnegie Mellon to receive training straight from the experts at the Robotics Academy. Remaining spots are filling fast!

To find out more about these classes, click here!

Can’t make it to Pittsburgh this year? Check out our online summer courses! Each course provides guided instruction with live instructors, using internet voice, video, and screen sharing technology to bring high-quality robotics instruction directly to your home, office, or classroom.

To learn more about our Online Training, click here!

The ROBOTC dev team has worked hard to push this new release out. If you didn’t see in the title, this release supports the Color Sensor!

Click here to go to the download page, Under the BETA releases

See below for the list of changes…

Changelog:

• Version 2.16.1 Bug Fixes:
  • Invalid switch case statement was preventing NXT from downloading – Fixed.
  • Breakpoint from v810 firmware removed, firmware up-issued to v811.
  • Typo in preferences fixed.
  • Deactivate License feature re-enabled.
• Bug Fixes:
  • Preserve platform type when registry information is deleted.
  • Improve code allocation of temporary variables.
  • Add “unsigned” qualifier to eliminate compiler warning.
  • Add “default” clause to switch statement.
  • “sgn” opcode for ‘float’ parameter was incorrectly checking the ’short’ result to see if it was a ‘float’ NAN (Not A Number). This check should only be performed when the function return is a float variable. This issue has been fixed
  • Generate error message if “motor and sensors setup” pragma declaration not found as first lines of program. Some users had these statements elsewhere and problems were occuring.
  • Status tool bar now displays the “port number” or “NXT name” of connected robot. Previously the field was “===========”
  • Vertical scroll was not being hidden when screen was expanded large enough to fit complete file. This problem has been fixed.
• Enhancements:
  • Added support for LEGO Color Sensor and LEGO I2C Temperature Sensor.

Hi again,

ROBOTC for Cortex BETA 2.16 has just been uploaded to the servers. Click here to download it!

Here are the changes:

• Trial extended to 9/31/2010 – Yay!
• More accurate feedback from the Accelerometer in the game controller
• Fixes an issue where ROBOTC was overloading the 2-wire H-Bridge motor ports when switching the from forward to reverse directions.
• Various bug fixes

Hope you enjoy it!

By the way, Cortex hardware is now available for Pre-Order at the Robomatter Robotics Education store.
Be the first to get it!

New Cortex Hardware available for pre-order

Exciting news everyone!

ROBOTC for Cortex 2.15 BETA is now available for your downloading pleasure. This version will allow you to be able to program the brand new Cortex microcontroller by IFI – Yes, the same makers of the original VEX platform.

Download it here – Download page for ROBOTC for Cortex BETA

NOTE:

This will overwrite your ROBOTC for IFI installation on your computer. This will only happen with the BETA builds and will not happen with the official release.

VEX Cortex Microcontroller

The Cortex Platform offers a ton of upgrades from the original platform. Here are a few points just to name a few:

• 9 TIMES faster than the original VEX
• 35 times more memory (RAM)
• More Digital and Analog ports

Hi all,

Just letting you know that the Network Driver files have been updated for all platforms (NXT & VEX). This is  for those of you who are in charge of installing ROBOTC onto workstations that run from a centralized network location.

For single user license users who run from their personal laptops/computers, this doesn’t apply to you so don’t worry about downloading them. In fact, I’d advise you not to!

Thanks to all for continuing to support us

ROBOTC 2.0.2 is available for both NXT and VEX versions. Go here for the links:

Download ROBOTC for NXT |   Download ROBOTC for VEX

NEW FEATURE: Deactivate Licenses! See image below on how to deactivate a license.

Changelog for ROBOTC for Mindstorms 2.0.2:

• ROBOTC for MINDSTORMS 2.0.2 is a maintenance release for bug fixes and small functionality changes.
• New features in ROBOTC for MINDSTORMS 2.0.2
  • Added the Help Menu is a new option to deactivate ROBOTC. This will return your license and allow you to activate ROBOTC on another computer. This requires internet connectivity to return a license.
• Bug Fixes in ROBOTC for MINDSTORMS 2.0.2:
  • Access to long (and float) struct elements in a call by reference struct procedure parameter would generate incorrect code.
  • Unary operator ‘-’ was incorrectly applied to following “expression” rather than following “factor”.
  • Possible Compile and Download Issues have been resolved. ROBOTC now forces a recompile at every download.

Changelog for ROBOTC for IFI 2.0.2:

• New features in ROBOTC for IFI 2.0.2
  • Added the Help Menu is a new option to deactivate ROBOTC. This will return your license and allow you to activate ROBOTC on another computer. This requires internet connectivity to return a license.
  • Completely refreshed user interface – Dockable status and debugger windows.
  • New multi-document interface allows multiple programs to be opened at once – similar to web browsing tabs.
  • VEXnet support for VEX 0.5 systems.
  • Built-in software competition switch is available under the Debugger for testing competition code with VEXnet.
  • VRC Competition Templates are now accessable under the “File – New” menu.
  • VRC Competition Template for “Drivers Skill” challenge has been added.
  • Improved Help Documentation – Sample usage of every ROBOTC function now included!
  • Updated Sample Programs – Over 70 sample programs to show you how to do everything with your VEX controller.
  • No Uninstall Needed – ROBOTC will detect old version of ROBOTC for IFI and automatically uninstall when a new version is being installed.
• Bug Fixes in ROBOTC for IFI 2.0.2:
  • VEXnet Competition debugger window has been fixed. You can now test all modes of competition.
  • VEX Master Firmware download issues have been solved. A failed master firmware download will no longer require IFI loader to fix.
  • Problem with motor ports behaving randomly/running at full speed after new firmware is loaded has been fixed.
  • VEX Master Firmware has ben upgraded to Version V10 – All users must upgrade to Master V10.
  • ROBOTC VEX Firmware has been upgraded to Version to 7.97 – All users must upgrade to User Firmware 7.97.

As usual, remember to uninstall previous versions before installing the newest version! Upgrades are available to customers who have already purchased ROBOTC and have  an activated version of ROBOTC on their PC. You will have to re-enter your License Information when upgrading from 1.x to 2.x.

We have added a new category to the ROBOTC forums: “French forums”. There are two sections, the “ROBOTC pour Mindstorms” and “ROBOTC pour IFI VEX” which will compose of the appropriate questions.

Thankfully, Jerome Laplace of Generation Robots (our Distributors from France) is giving us his time to answer your questions in French. Please give him a warm welcome if you get a chance. Thanks so much Jerome!

http://www.robotc.net/forums/viewforum.php?f=48

French Translation:

Nous avons ajouté une nouvelle catégorie aux forums ROBOTC intitulée
"Forum en français". Cette catégorie est composée de deux sections "ROBOTC pour
Mindstorms" et "RobotC pour IFI VEX" destinée à recevoir les questions appropriées. 

Heureusement, Jérôme Laplace, de Génération Robots, notre revendeur basé en France,
a accepté de dédier de son temps pour répondre à vos questions en français.
Nous vous remercions de lui faire votre meilleur accueil. Merci beaucoup Jérôme !

http://www.robotc.net/forums/viewforum.php?f=48