Vertical Robotics Competition
  • Welcome to VRC!
  • Before We Get Started
    • Phase I Overview
    • Helpful Links
  • Primary Goal: Assembly and Configuration
    • VRC Drone Kit Contents
    • VRC Drone Assembly
      • Arms and Motors
      • Landing Gear, PDB, and Rails
      • ESCs, FC Power Module, and Receiver
      • Flight Controller Enclosure
      • Mounting the Flight Controller
      • Top Plate and Arms
      • FC and ESC Wiring
      • Propeller Adapters
    • RC Transmitter Setup
      • Basic Usage
      • Binding the RC Receiver
      • Setting the Output Mode
      • Setting Up Channels on the RC Transmitter
      • Setting Up Failsafe
    • FC Setup and Calibration w/ QGC
      • PX4 Firmware
      • Airframe
      • Sensors
      • Radio
      • Flight Modes and Kill Switch
      • Power
      • Safety
      • Motor Test
  • Sphero RVR
    • RVR Assembly
    • RVR Programming
  • Battery
    • Overview
    • Charging
    • Storage
  • Checkpoint #1: Flight Test
    • Before You Fly
    • Flight Test
    • After You Fly
  • SECONDARY GOAL: PCC
    • Laptop Setup
      • Setting Up Windows
      • Install Git Bash
      • Clone the VRC Repo
      • Install Anaconda
      • Install VS Code
      • Install SD Card Formatter
      • Install Balena Etcher
      • Install PuTTY
      • Install QGroundControl
    • Peripheral Control Computer (PCC)
      • Physical Assembly
      • Video Tutorial: Flash & Test PCC
      • Flash the PCC
      • Test the PCC
  • Overachiever Goal
    • Vehicle Management Computer (VMC) Setup
      • Preparing the Jetson
      • Flashing the SD Card
      • First Boot
  • 3D Printing Project
    • Project Overview
    • Sr. Design Project
    • Rotor Guards
  • Diving Deeper
    • Control Loops
    • Glossary
Powered by GitBook
On this page
  • Install PlatformIO
  • Open the VRC Peripheral Software Project:
  • Flashing the PCC

Was this helpful?

  1. SECONDARY GOAL: PCC
  2. Peripheral Control Computer (PCC)

Flash the PCC

PreviousVideo Tutorial: Flash & Test PCCNextTest the PCC

Last updated 4 years ago

Was this helpful?

VS Code can do more than just Python! We can even compile and deploy code to microcontroller-based devices, like our PCC. In this tutorial, we'll get VS Code ready to upload our code to the PCC.

Install PlatformIO

  • Open VS Code

  • Open the extensions drawer (or press CTRL + SHIFT + X)

  • Search for and install the PlatformIO IDE

Open the VRC Peripheral Software Project:

  • Click PIO button

  • Click Open

  • Click Projects

  • Click Add Existing

  • Navigate to where you cloned the VRC Phase I Repo

  • Click MCU Software, then Open

  • Your project will show up

  • Click Open once more

Flashing the PCC

  • Once the project is open, let PIO build the Intellisense Index and download the necessary packages it needs (see the blue bar at bottom of VS Code window for progress)

  • Once that's done, open the src -> main.cpp file

  • Click the checkmark (the program should build)

  • Plug your assembled PCC into a USB port on your computer

  • Click the right arrow (project should flash onto PCC)

You're now ready to test it out!

Gif of steps to upload code to PCC