Running the Drive Program on EXP Brain

The Drive program is a default program built into the VEX EXP Robot Brain so it can be used with Smart Motors, Sensors, and the VEX EXP Controller without programming. The Drive program maps the Controller’s joysticks and buttons to control specific Smart Ports on the Brain.

Learn about using the Driver Control program on the Brain.

Step 1: Check that the Smart Ports are properly wired.

exp-brain-screen-full.png

Smart Port Number Device Type Functionality
1 Smart Motor Turns using Joystick A
2 N/A Can be used for a distance sensor
3 Smart Motor Turns using L buttons
4 Smart Motor Turns using R buttons
5 Smart Motor Turns using Joystick D
6 Smart Motor Turns using Joystick A
7 N/A Can be used for a distance sensor
8 Smart Motor Use Up/Down buttons
9 Smart Motor Use A/B buttons
10 Smart Motor Turns using Joystick D
  • Check that Smart Ports 1-10 have the correct types of devices listed in the table above. Note that not ALL devices in all 10 ports have to be connected in order for this program to run. The above is an example list of which devices could be used in which ports. 
  • Check that the Controller is wirelessly connected.

NOTE: To review how to connect devices to Smart Ports properly, see this article

Step 2: Find and Run the Drive program

There is a program already built into the Brain that allows you to drive the BaseBot using the Controller without having to write any code. Follow the steps below to learn how to run the Driver Control program on the Brain.

Brain_Drive.png

Press the checkmark to select the highlighted Drive program.

Brain_Run.png

Press the checkmark again to run the program.

Brain_Inertial.png

As the program is running, the Brain's screen will look like this image.

To stop the program, select the x button.

Controller Configurations

There are four different configurations of the Driver Control program on the Brain: Left Arcade, Right Arcade, Split Arcade, and Tank drive. Follow the steps below to learn what each of the four configurations are and how to select them on the Brain.

Brain_Drive.png

Press the checkmark to select the highlighted Drive program.

Brain_Controls.png

Use the arrows to highlight the "Controls" option.

Brain_Controls_copy.png

Press the checkmark to select the highlighted Controls option.

Toggle through the four different drive options by pressing the checkmark.

Each of the four driver control options allows you to control the robot using the joysticks in different ways.

Configuration Description Joystick Controls
Left_Arcade_Control_Screen_0.png

Left Arcade

Drive the robot forward, reverse, left, and right all using the left joystick.

EXP_Controller_-_Left_Arcade.png
Right_Arcade_Control_Screen.png

Right Arcade

Drive the robot forward, reverse, left, and right all using the right joystick.

EXP_Controller_-_Right_Arcade.png
Split_Arcade_Control_Screen.png

Split Arcade

Drive the robot left and right using the left joystick, and forward and reverse using the right joystick.

EXP_Controller_-_Split_Arcade.png
Tank_Drive_Control_Screen.png

Tank Drive

Drive the left motor of the robot using the left joystick, and the right motor of the robot using the right joystick.

EXP_Controller_-_Tank.png

Customizing Driver Control

image4.png

To further customize the Driver Control program you can use the ‘Controls’ window to:

  • Change the direction of the motor movement for each set of buttons by reversing the direction from ‘Forward’ to ‘Reverse’, as shown in these images.

image2.png

Change which buttons are used to control which motors:

  • Change which port the motor is physically plugged into on the Brain
  • Look at the ‘Controls’ window to check that your motor is connected to the desired buttons
  • A connected port will show a green icon (as port 5 shows in the image to the right), while a disconnected port will show a white icon (as ports 4 and 11 show in this image).

For more information, help, and tips, check out the many resources at VEX Professional Development Plus

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