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
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  • Physical Setup:
  • Back at the Computer:

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

Test the PCC

PreviousFlash the PCCNextVehicle Management Computer (VMC) Setup

Last updated 4 years ago

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Physical Setup:

On your PCC, we'll need to make use of a USB power jumper to power the servos from our laptop.

MAKE SURE to ONLY use the jumper when testing with your laptop. NEVER use the USB power jumper when the PCC is connected to the Jetson. This is because the servos may draw enough current in certain scenarios that would cause the current protection to trip on the power supply and power off the Jetson regardless of what it's doing.

Plug your servos and LED strip into the designated connections on the PCC:

  • The LED strip plugs into the prop-maker featherwing

  • The servos plug into channels 0-3, with the yellow signal wire of the servo facing the Adafruit logo on the PCB.

Back at the Computer:

Open VS Code

  • Open PCC -> Python folder

  • On the bottom left, select our VRC env

  • Connect the PCC to your computer.

  • Open the gui_test.py file

  • Click the play button

  • Select the COM Port that corresponds to your PCC (I have tried on two machines, it should enumerate to COM 6)

Click around and try the different buttons, your PCC should light up the LED and move some servos!

Installed USB power jumper