Using a V5 Robot Brain for Robot Skills Challenge Field Control – VEX Library

Per Appendix B of the VRC Change Up Game Manual, competition teams now have the opportunity to run Robot Skills Matches using a V5 Robot Brain as their field controller via the Field Control App. View the video below for an overview of how this works.

Installation of the Field Control App

V5 Firmware Utility app icon.

The Field Control App is downloaded to the V5 Brain using the V5 Firmware Utility.

This tool can be downloaded for Windows and Mac.

Windows
Mac

Ensure you are connected to the internet. The latest version of the Field Control App will need to be downloaded from the V5 Firmware Utility before it can be downloaded to the V5 Brain.

V5 Firmware Utility with a message that reads V5 is up to date. The Firmware version reads 1.0.12.

Launch the V5 Firmware Utility. Ensure your V5 Brain is connected to your device via USB and the V5 Brain is running the latest VEXos (Firmware version 1.0.12 or later).

V5 Firmware Utility with a message that reads V5 is up to date. There is a Trophy Icon on the left that is highlighted.

To download the Field Control App, select the trophy icon.

V5 Firmware Utility with a message alert that reads This will overwrite any program in slot 3 with Skills - 20/21, Continue? Below, there are two buttons reading No and Yes.

The Field Control App will download to slot 3 on the V5 Brain. If you have any projects currently in slot 3, it will be overwritten.

V5 Brain screen is shown in the Home menu to show that the Field Control App has been downloaded to the third program slot.

Once the Field Control App download is complete, the Field Control App icon will appear on the V5 Brain’s screen.

Using the Field Control App

- Before starting the Skills match, you must ensure that the target robot that is executing the match is also running VEXos 1.0.12 or greater. If the version of VEXos is not correct on the target robot, the Field Control App will not detect the target robot’s controller.

Brain screen is shown in the Settings menu with the Radio Type option highlighted and set to VEXnet.

You need one radio to connect the primary controller to the target robot. The target robot must have its radio configuration set to VEXnet.

Brain screen is shown in the Program menu for the Field Control App program. The Run button is highlighted.

Launch the Field Control App just like you would any other V5 project by selecting the Field Control App’s icon and then selecting ‘run.’

Field Control Brain splash screen that reads VEX Robotics Competition Change Up, Robot Skills Challenge.

The Challenge Screen will appear.

Field Control Brain after the splash screen. Two options are shown, one reads Driver and the other reads Programming.

Select the type of skills match you want to start.

- Once you have selected the skill type, you will need to connect the controller of the target robot that is executing the skills run to the Field Control Brain. This is done using a V5 Smart Cable. One end of the cable is connected to any smart port on the Field Control Brain. The other end is connected to any smart port on the Robot’s controller primary controller. The primary controller is the controller whose radio is connected to the target robot. Note: Do NOT plug the Smart Cable into the Legacy Competition Port. Doing so could cause extreme damage to the Controller.

Field Control Brain screen is shown twice, once with the Controller not connected and the other with the Controller connected. In the second image the red triangle has turned into a green checkmark.

Once connected, the red error triangle under the controller image should turn green.

Field Control Brain screen is shown once the primary Controller is linked to the robot, and the green connection icon is highlighted.

Link the primary controller to its robot. Ensure the primary controller is linked to the robot by viewing the green connection icon.

Field Control Brain screen is shown with a blue button that is highlighted and reads Start Driver Skills Match.

Ensure the target robot is running the correct project. Once everything is connected correctly and the robot is ready for the match, select ‘Start Driver Skills Match’ to start the match. The Field Control App will present a 3 second countdown and then start the match.

Field Control Brain screen in shown once the field is active. There are settings that read Controller Battery 96%, Partner Battery NA, Robot Battery 95%, Link Quality Stable, and Team 12345. There is a large timer in the center of the screen, and in this example it reads 0:54. There is also a button below the timer that reads End Early.

Once the match has started, the target robot will be enabled and allowed to run the match. There will be a countdown timer visible on the Field Control Brain as well as the target robot’s controller.

Field Control Brain screen in shown once the timer has reached 0:00.

The match time will count down to 0:00 at which point the match will be over and the target robot will be disabled.

Field Control Brain screen in shown once the field is active and with the End Early button highlighted.

You can end the match early at any time by either selecting ‘End Early’ on the Field Control Brain’s screen.

V5 Controller is shown with its Power button highlighted.

Or, by pressing the power button on the target robot’s controller.

Field Control Brain after the match has been ended early. The timer is still shown, and in this example it reads 0:27.

The match time remaining will be displayed so that the match score can be determined.

Field Control Brain is shown after the match has ended. The final timer is shown and below it a button reads New Match.

Once the match is over, you must disconnect the target robot’s controller from the Field Controller Brain for the Field Control App to allow you to start another match. Select ‘New Match’ to set up for the next match.

Special Settings

- When the Field Control App is launched, it reconfigures all the Smart Ports on the V5 Brain to be disabled. This happens to ensure you cannot accidentally pair the Field Control Brain to a team’s controller. The Field Control App has special code that can talk to disabled ports. If you are done using the V5 Brain as a field controller, you will need to reset the V5 Brain back to factory default settings.

V5 Brain screen is shown with an alert that reads One more more ports are disabled, use Reset all settings to enable them. There are two options below reading View Log and Cancel.

If you forget to reset the V5 Brain’s settings, each time a project is started on that V5 Brain, the following warning will appear.

Brain screen is shown in the Home menu with the Settings option highlighted.

To reset the V5 Brain’s settings, first select ‘Settings’ on the V5 Brain’s screen.

Brain screen is shown in the Settings menu with the Reset all Settings option highlighted.

Then select ‘Reset all Settings.’

Brain screen is shown after the Reset settings option has been selected. The screen has an orange background and reads Confirm, Reset all Robot Brain settings to factory defaults? There are two buttons below reading OK and Cancel, and the OK button is highlighted.

The V5 Brain will then prompt to confirm. Select ‘Ok.’

Brain screen after it has been reset, showing a menu of Language options.

Select the desired language for the V5 Brain to continue.