Data Logging

To the Controller

Information can be displayed on the VEX controller. This can be ideal for quick checks of variable values.

This method does have drawbacks. There are a limited number of characters on the controller screen and a 50 millisecond delay is required between print calls.

PROS C++ Example:

controller.clear();
pros::delay(50);
controller.print(0, 0, "%s", "My message");

Additional information on this example

To a microSD Card

The VEX brain has a slot for a microSD card on the side. One way to record data is to create a text file on that microSD card, which can then be removed and inserted into a computer. If the computer does not have a microSD card slot, an adapter will be needed (such as a microSD to USB adapter).

PROS C++ Example:

void createLogFile(){
    // creates a .txt log file for writing to
    logFile = fopen("/usd/log.txt".c_str(), "w");
}

void logToTxt(const std::string& message){
    // write a line of text to the log file
    fprintf(logFile, "%s\n", message.c_str());
}

void endTxtLogging(){
    // close and save the file
    fclose(logFile);
}

To the Brain

Information can also be displayed on the brain using LVGL (Littlev Graphics Library). Version 5.3 of LVGL is included with PROS by default. Additional documentation can be found here.

In the following example, an auto-scrolling log screen is created and used on the brain.

void createTabView() {
    tabview = lv_tabview_create(lv_scr_act(), NULL);
	tab1 = lv_tabview_add_tab(tabview, "Log");
}

void logToBrain(const std::string& message) {
    static int next_y_pos = 20; // Track the Y position for the next message
    const int message_height = 20; // Adjust based on font size

    // Create the new label for the message
    lv_obj_t* lbl = lv_label_create(tab1, NULL);
    lv_label_set_text(lbl, message.c_str());
    lv_obj_set_pos(lbl, 0, next_y_pos);

    // Update the position for the next message
    next_y_pos += message_height;

    // Scroll to the bottom 
    // Sets the scroll position to -1000 pixels, and relies on it snapping back up to the lowest message. Not the most elegant way to do it.
    lv_page_scroll_ver(tab1, -1000);
}

Contributing Teams to this Article:

• OSRC1 (Dam Robotics)