When building a custom robot with any of the following devices, each device will need to be configured to be available for use in VEXcode GO. These include:
- Drivetrain - Drivetrain blocks
- non-drivetrain Motor - Motion blocks
- LED Bumper - Bumper Looks/Sensing blocks
- Electromagnet - Magnet block
- Eye Sensor - Eye Sensing blocks
You can configure a device by selecting ’Add a device’ in VEXcode GO. You only need to configure the devices which you are using on your custom robot. You can add up to four Smart Port devices and one Eye Sensor.
Smart Port devices:
You can configure one build (set of devices) per project.
Adding a Device to the Configuration
To add a device for your custom robot, select the Robot Configuration icon to open the Devices window.
Note: These steps need to be followed each time you add a new device to your custom robot.
Select ‘Add a device.’
Select ‘CUSTOM ROBOT.’
Adding a Drivetrain - Drivetrain blocks
If your custom robot has a two-motor drivetrain, like the Code Base robot, you will need to add a Drivetrain to the configuration.
After selecting the ‘CUSTOM ROBOT’, select ‘DRIVETRAIN.’
Select the Smart Port the Left Motor is plugged into.
Note: you can determine the drive side by looking from the rear of your robot to the front. The standard Code Base build has the left motor in port 4 and the right motor in port 1.
Select the Smart Port the Right Motor is plugged into.
Select ‘DONE’ to complete the configuration or ‘CANCEL’ to return to the Devices menu.
Note: there is an option to change the Gear Ratio of the Drivetrain.
Once the Drivetrain has been configured, the following Drivetrain blocks will be available for your project.
For more information on the commands from the ‘Drivetrain’ category, view the Help information.
Adding a Motor - Motion blocks
If your custom robot has a motor which is a non-drivetrain motor, like the Robot Arm (1-Axis) build, you will need to add it to the configuration.
After selecting the ‘CUSTOM ROBOT’, select ‘MOTOR.’
Select the Smart Port the Motor is plugged into.
Select ‘DONE’ to complete the configuration or ‘CANCEL’ to return to the Devices menu.
Note: there is an option to change the name of the Motor in the text window from Motor2 to a different name, and an option to change the direction the Motor spins.
For example, if a motor lifts an arm on your custom robot, you can rename the motor to ArmMotor.
Renaming the motor will make programming much easier because the name will show up on the Motion blocks.
The actions of the motor can also be renamed to make your programming easier. For example, you could change the text window labels for the ArmMotor’s direction to up and down.
Note: for the Competition Advanced robot, the Normal/Reverse switch should be toggled to Reverse.
Changing these labels will also show up on the parameters for the Motion blocks.
Once the Motor has been configured, the following Motion blocks will be available for your project.
For more information on the commands from the ‘Motion’ category, view the Help information.
Adding a LED Bumper - Bumper Looks/Sensing blocks
If your custom robot has a LED Bumper, you will need to add a LED Bumper device to the configuration.
After selecting the ‘CUSTOM ROBOT’, select ‘LED BUMPER.’
Select the Smart Port the LED Bumper is plugged into.
Select ‘DONE’ to complete the configuration or ‘CANCEL’ to return to the Devices menu.
Note: there is an option to change the name of the LED Bumper in the text window from LEDBumper3 to a different name.
Once the LED Bumper has been configured, the following ‘Bumper Looks’ and ‘Bumper Sensing’ blocks will be available for your project.
For more information on the commands from the ‘Bumper Looks’ and ‘Bumper Sensing’ categories, view the Help information.
Adding an Electromagnet - Magnet blocks
If your custom robot has an Electromagnet, you will need to add an Electromagnet device to the configuration.
After selecting the ‘CUSTOM ROBOT,’ select ‘ELECTROMAGNET.’
Select the Smart Port the Electromagnet is plugged into.
Select ‘DONE’ to complete the configuration or ‘CANCEL’ to return to the Devices menu.
Note: there is an option to change the name of the Electromagnet in the text window from Magnet2 to a different name.
Once the Electromagnet has been configured, the following Magnet block will be available for your project.
For more information on the Magnet command, view the Help information.
Adding an Eye Sensor - Eye Sensing blocks
If your custom robot has an Eye Sensor, you will need to add an Eye Sensor device to the configuration. Note: The Eye Sensor must be plugged into the Eye Sensor port - NOT one of the 4 Smart ports.
After selecting the ‘CUSTOM ROBOT,’ select ‘EYE.’
Select ‘DONE’ to complete the configuration or ‘CANCEL’ to return to the Devices menu.
Note: Be sure the Eye Sensor is plugged into the Eye Port.
Once the Eye Sensor has been configured, the following Eye Sensing blocks will be available for your project.
For more information on the Eye Sensor commands, view the Help information.
Deleting a Device
After you have added the devices, a device can be deleted by selecting the device.
Selecting the ‘Delete’ option at the bottom of the screen will delete the device.