SETTING UP THE VEX CORTEX
For the most part, the rest of the tutorials will not involve using the PC-Based Emulator and will take place on the physical robot. This tutorial will explain how to start your Vex Cortex and download the firmware needed to run RobotC programs.
First, find the battery provided for the Cortex, as displayed below:
(Image of Cortex battery)
Then insert the battery into the white circles on the front of the Cortex as demonstrated below:
(Image of battery being inserted into the Cortex)
On the side of the Cortex in which you have inserted the battery, there should be a gray switch on the right. Flip the switch up to turn the robot on:
(Image of turning on the switch)
Look at the top of the cortex to make sure lights are flashing and then turn the Cortex off:
(Image of lights flashing on the Cortex)
Great job! Now it’s time to change the Firmware on the Cortex. You now must find a cable known as an A to A cable as shown below:
(Picture of an A to A cable)
Basically, this is just a cable with two USB ends so it does not matter which way it is plugged into the robot. Slide one end of the cable into the Cortex:
(Picture of sliding the A to A cable into the robot)
Then plug the other end of the cable into a computer that has an installation of RobotC and turn the Cortex on. You may have to wait a little bit before you start your next step so that your computer has time to recognize the Cortex for the first time. Open up your copy of RobotC. Go to Robot -> Download Firmware -> Automatically Update VEX Cortex. If RobotC recognizes your cortex, the firmware download will begin:
(Show picture of firmware downloading)
Lastly, we want to update the firmware on the remote controls for the robot:
(Picture of the remote controls)
Take the A to A cable out of the robot and connect that end into the remote that contains a USB port on the back. The controller with the USB port is known as the main controller whereas the controller without one is known as the partner controller. Make sure the lights on the remote turn on:
(Image of the correct remote and image of the partner controller. Also show correct remote with lights on)
Again, if this is your first time installing firmware onto the controllers, you may have to wait awhile for the computer to recognize the remote. Go to Robot -> Download Firmware -> Automatically Update VEXnet Joystick. If RobotC recognizes your cortex, the firmware download will begin:
(Picture of the remote firmware downloading)
You are now ready to begin programming for the Vex Cortex!
Cheers!
First, find the battery provided for the Cortex, as displayed below:
(Image of Cortex battery)
Then insert the battery into the white circles on the front of the Cortex as demonstrated below:
(Image of battery being inserted into the Cortex)
On the side of the Cortex in which you have inserted the battery, there should be a gray switch on the right. Flip the switch up to turn the robot on:
(Image of turning on the switch)
Look at the top of the cortex to make sure lights are flashing and then turn the Cortex off:
(Image of lights flashing on the Cortex)
Great job! Now it’s time to change the Firmware on the Cortex. You now must find a cable known as an A to A cable as shown below:
(Picture of an A to A cable)
Basically, this is just a cable with two USB ends so it does not matter which way it is plugged into the robot. Slide one end of the cable into the Cortex:
(Picture of sliding the A to A cable into the robot)
Then plug the other end of the cable into a computer that has an installation of RobotC and turn the Cortex on. You may have to wait a little bit before you start your next step so that your computer has time to recognize the Cortex for the first time. Open up your copy of RobotC. Go to Robot -> Download Firmware -> Automatically Update VEX Cortex. If RobotC recognizes your cortex, the firmware download will begin:
(Show picture of firmware downloading)
Lastly, we want to update the firmware on the remote controls for the robot:
(Picture of the remote controls)
Take the A to A cable out of the robot and connect that end into the remote that contains a USB port on the back. The controller with the USB port is known as the main controller whereas the controller without one is known as the partner controller. Make sure the lights on the remote turn on:
(Image of the correct remote and image of the partner controller. Also show correct remote with lights on)
Again, if this is your first time installing firmware onto the controllers, you may have to wait awhile for the computer to recognize the remote. Go to Robot -> Download Firmware -> Automatically Update VEXnet Joystick. If RobotC recognizes your cortex, the firmware download will begin:
(Picture of the remote firmware downloading)
You are now ready to begin programming for the Vex Cortex!
Cheers!