Getting Started with the VEX Cortex
Contents
- 1 Configuring the VEX Cortex for a WIRED connection using USB
- 2 Configuring the VEX Cortex for a WIRELESS connection using the VEXnet Joysticks
- 2.1 Note: Driver Installation
- 2.2 Step 1: Connect the Cortex to your PC
- 2.3 Step 2: Platform Type and Communication Port
- 2.4 Step 3: Updating VEX Cortex Firmware
- 2.5 Step 4: Updating VEXNet Joystick Controller Firmware
- 2.6 Step 5: Pairing the VEXNet Joystick Controller and Cortex
- 2.7 Step 6: Updating VEXNet Key's firmware (2.0 and later only)
- 2.8 Step 7: Setting Cortex Communication Mode
Configuring the VEX Cortex for a WIRED connection using USB
This is a guide for setting up the VEX Cortex using the USB A-to-A cable. These steps are required the first time you use your computer to program a specific VEX Cortex, or after you've upated ROBOTC to the latest verstion. Once you've successfully completed these steps you can download your own programs without revisiting them. Note: Administrative privileges are required for some of these steps. |
Note: Driver Installation
ROBOTC 3.05 and later automatically installs the necessary drivers for the VEX Cortex, VEXnet Joysticks, and USB-to-Serial Programming cable. If you need to download the drivers for troubleshooting purposes, you can still find them at www.ROBOTC.net/download/cortex:
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Step 1: Connect the Cortex to your PC
Step 2: Platform Type and Communication Port
Step 3: Updating VEX Cortex Firmware
Go to Robot → Download Firmware and select "Automatically Update VEX Cortex". |
A message will appear, informing you that the software will update your Cortex to the latest Master CPU and ROBOTC Firmware files. Press OK to begin the process. |
A Download Progress window will appear, showing the progress of the Master CPU Firmware download. |
When the Master CPU Firmware download is complete, a ROBOTC Message will appear and inform you that it will now update the ROBOTC firmware, if needed. Press OK to continue the process. |
Note: If this is the first time a VEX Cortex running the 3.x Master CPU Firmware has been connected to your computer, Windows will recognize it as a new device, and may prompt you to verify the new hardware installation. Press Continue or Continue Anyway to complete the installation. |
If your ROBOTC Firmware is out-of-date, another Download Progress window will appear and begin the ROBOTC Firmware download. |
When the download completes, another ROBOTC Message will appear. Press OK to complete the process. |
Notes:
Once this step is complete, you should no longer need Administrative privileges on your computer; you should be able to download Master CPU Firmware, ROBOTC firmware, and ROBOTC programs in a permissions-restricted account. Only future updates to ROBOTC and the VEX Cortex Device Driver will require Administrative privileges. Exception: On some computers, Windows may prompt you to "install new hardware" each time the Cortex is plugged in on a different USB port. To alleviate the issue, connect the updated VEX Cortex on each USB port as an administrator (no need to redownload firmware), or dedicate one USB port for communication with the VEX Cortex. You only need to download the Firmware once, when you first start using a VEX Cortex with ROBOTC, or when you upgrade to a newer version of ROBOTC. You do not need to re-download the firmware every time you want to download code. If the download fails, disconnect the VEX Cortex from your computer and turn it off. Then reconnect it to the computer, allow a few seconds to ensure that Windows recognizes it, turn it on, and try downloading the firmware again. |
Step 4: Downloading and Running Code
Step 5: Getting More Help
ROBOTC includes a useful Help system. You can launch the help system by going to the Help menu and selecting Open Help, or by pressing the F1 key on your keyboard. |
The VEX Cortex Video Trainer provides many useful video tutorials for learning the VEX Cortex system and ROBOTC Programming.
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Configuring the VEX Cortex for a WIRELESS connection using the VEXnet Joysticks
This is a guide for configuring the VEX Cortex system to be programmed wirelessly using a VEXnet connection. These steps are required the first time you use your computer to program a specific VEX Cortex, or after you've upated ROBOTC to the latest verstion. Once you've successfully completed these steps you can download your own programs without revisiting them. Note: Administrative privileges are required for some of these steps. |
Note: Driver Installation
ROBOTC 3.05 and later automatically installs the necessary drivers for the VEX Cortex, VEXnet Joysticks, and USB-to-Serial Programming cable. If you need to download the drivers for troubleshooting purposes, you can still find them at www.ROBOTC.net/download/cortex:
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Step 1: Connect the Cortex to your PC
Step 2: Platform Type and Communication Port
Step 3: Updating VEX Cortex Firmware
Go to Robot → Download Firmware and select "Automatically Update VEX Cortex". |
A message will appear, informing you that the software will update your Cortex to the latest Master CPU and ROBOTC Firmware files. Press OK to begin the process. |
A Download Progress window will appear, showing the progress of the Master CPU Firmware download. |
When the Master CPU Firmware download is complete, a ROBOTC Message will appear and inform you that it will now update the ROBOTC firmware, if needed. Press OK to continue the process. |
Note: If this is the first time a VEX Cortex running the 3.x Master CPU Firmware has been connected to your computer, Windows will recognize it as a new device, and may prompt you to verify the new hardware installation. Press Continue or Continue Anyway to complete the installation. |
If your ROBOTC Firmware is out-of-date, another Download Progress window will appear and begin the ROBOTC Firmware download. |
When the download completes, another ROBOTC Message will appear. Press OK to complete the process. |
Step 4: Updating VEXNet Joystick Controller Firmware
Disconnect the USB cable from the Cortex and plug it into the USB port on the back of the VEXNet Joystick Controller. |
Go to Robot → Download Firmware and select "Automatically Update VEXNet Joystick".
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The Master CPU Firmware file will then be downloaded to the Joystick Controller (there is no ROBOTC firmware residing on the Joystick Controllers). Once the process is complete, you may disconnect the Joystick Controller from the computer. |
Step 5: Pairing the VEXNet Joystick Controller and Cortex
The Cortex and VEXNet Controller must be paired together before the VEXNet system will work properly. In order to pair the Cortex and VEXNet Joystick Controller, you must:
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This will connect the two devices and pair them properly so they will only communicate with one another. To pair the Cortex or Joystick Controller with another device, simply repeat the pairing process with the other device instead. |
Step 6: Updating VEXNet Key's firmware (2.0 and later only)
VEXNet 2.0 Keys have a separate firmware that resides inside of the individual keys, and may need to be upgraded before use. VEXnet 1.0 Key users can skip to Step 7. |
First, download and run the 'VEXNet Key 2.0 Firmware Upgrade Utility' from VEX's download page. |
Open the VEXNet 2.0 Firmware Upgrade Utility and plug the VEXNet 2.0 key you wish to upgrade into your computer's USB port. Click the 'Start Update' button within the Utility to start the firmware upgrade process. |
Repeat the process with any remaining VEXNet 2.0 keys that require upgrading. |
Step 7: Setting Cortex Communication Mode
Open up a program you would like to load onto the Cortex. For the purposes of this tutorial, we selected the 'Dual Joystick Control' program from the 'Remote Control' Sample Programs folder. |
With the Cortex turned on and plugged in, navigate to 'VEX Cortex Communication Mode' under the 'Robot' menu. Select 'VEXNet or USB' as the communication type. |
Compile and download the program to the Cortex. ROBOTC will pop up a message telling you that the communication mode has been changed and that a power cycle is required in order for the changes to take affect. |
Once the program has downloaded to the Cortex, turn the Cortex off and back on. This 'power cycle' commits the communication type to the Cortex. Remember, you must repeat this process to revert back to USB only (making sure that USB only is selected as the mode). The Cortex should now be set up for wireless communication over VEXNet. |
Note:
Once these steps are complete, you should no longer need Administrative privileges on your computer; you should be able to download Master CPU Firmware, ROBOTC firmware, and ROBOTC programs in a permissions-restricted account. Only future updates to ROBOTC and the VEX Cortex Device Driver will require Administrative privileges. Exception: On some computers, Windows may prompt you to "install new hardware" each time the Cortex is plugged in on a different USB port. To alleviate the issue, connect the updated VEX Cortex on each USB port as an administrator (no need to redownload firmware), or dedicate one USB port for communication with the VEX Cortex.
You only need to download the Firmware when you first start using a VEX Cortex with ROBOTC, or when you upgrade to a newer version of ROBOTC. You do not need to re-download the firmware every time you want to download code. If the download fails, disconnect the VEX Cortex from your computer and turn it off. Then reconnect it to the computer, allow a few seconds to ensure that Windows recognizes it, turn it on, and try downloading the firmware again.