Understanding the VEX AIM Device Info in VS Code – VEX Library

After installing the VEX VS Code extension, you can access the device info. The device info view provides an overview of the connected VEX Device (a VEX AIM Coding Robot), which can help us to make sure that the devices are working properly.

Accessing VEX Device Info in VS Code

Open Visual Studio Code, select on the VEX icon on the VS Code Activity Bar.

The VEX view will open in the Side Bar. The VEX device info category is in the middle of the VEX view. All of the connected devices' information will be displayed in this category.

VEX Device Info Overview

The same image as the one previous with the top line of text that reads VEX DEVICE INFO highlighted.

The VEX Device Indicator

The VEX device indicator indicates which type of the VEX device is connected to the VEX VS Code Extension. The VEX device indicator is under VEX device info including the icon and the type of the connected VEX device followed by the robot name.

A close up view of the top three lines of VEX Device Info, with the camera icon to the far right of the AIM Robot line highlighted.

Camera Icon

When selected, the VEX Extension will take a screenshot of the robot's screen.

For more information, read Capturing Images from the VEX AIM Coding Robot's Screen.

Robot

The same image as previous of the VEX Device info with the third line of Robot highlighted.

Robot is the top-level category for all the device information related to the robot.

A screenshot of the VEX Device info with the first four lines highlighted indicating the yellow robot icons and the warning icon to the left of the VEXos line showing the firmware is out of date.

VEXos Outdated Warning

When a robot’s VEXos version is out of date, the robot icons turn yellow, and a warning message icon appears next to VEXos under the system subcategory.

To learn how to update firmware for VEX AIM in VS Code, read this article.

Device

A screenshot of the VEX Device Info showing the green updated robot icon, and highlighting the indented lines below the third line that reads device. The information shows the VEXos, name, id, and battery level.

Device is a subcategory of the Robot category. The device subcategory provides information on the robot's VEXos version, name, ID, and battery level.

The same image as the one previous, with the pencil icon to the far right of the name line highlighted.

Set the name of the robot

To set the name for the robot, hover the mouse over the text of the name information, select the Pencil Icon that appears next to it.

For more information, read Naming the VEX AIM Coding Robot in VS Code.

Serial Port

A close up of the serial port information showing the identification of the communication and user port indented below.

Serial port is a subcategory of the Robot Category. The serial port subcategory displays the device path for each serial port available for the robot.

Note: The Communication serial port is used to download programs and control the robot functions. The User serial port is used to transfer data between the user app running on the robot and the host computer connected via USB.

Programs

A close up of the programs sections showing a Python icon that reads 1: Driving project.

Programs is a subcategory of the Robot Category. The programs subcategory displays a list of all the user programs downloaded on the robot.

This category allows you to delete downloaded programs from the robot or view detailed program information.

The programs section with the information about the Driving Project open. The trash can icon to the right of the line reading Driving Project is highlighted.

To delete a downloaded program from the robot, hover the mouse over the text of the selected program item and select the Trashcan Icon that appears next to it.

Note: Once a program is deleted, it can not be recovered. Please be cautious when using this feature.

For more information, read Erasing Programs in VS Code.

Controller

A close up of the Controller indicators. The first reads Controller - linked, the second reads Controller- not linked.

Controller will show you whether or not a One Stick Controller is on and linked to the robot.

For more information, read Connecting the One Stick Controller to the VEX AIM Coding Robot.