Before we can begin any programming we need to help our Control Hub know what is connected to it and where. Through the configuration process we can tell the Control Hub which port sensors, motors, servos, and any other connected devices can be found.

This is one of the most important steps to always complete BEFORE you can start programming!

Accessing the Configuration Utility

Let's look first where the configuration menu is found on the Driver Hub. Start by selecting the 3 dots menu in the top right corner of the Driver Station App. Then select Configure Robot.

If any configurations have been created, they will be listed here. For a new configuration, select New.

In the USB Devices in configuration page select the Control Hub Portal.

Within the Hub Portal select the device you want to configure. In this use case, select the Control Hub.

This will open a list of various device types that can be configured depending on the application! Within each type, there is a list of available ports, except for I2C sensors which are listed as busses in the main menu instead.

Let's configure a Core Hex Motor, a servo, and a touch sensor for this demonstration.

For this example, the devices do not need to be connected to the Control Hub to complete the configuration process.

First, select Motors.

The Motor page will allow you to configure all four motor ports on the Hub. On Port 0 open the dropdown menu and select REV Robotics Core Hex Motor.

With the motor type selected, we can now give it a name. Device names should be easily recognizable! For example, a name like leftMotor is easier to identify in code than motor1.

For now, we'll name the motor coreHex.

Note: Names are case sensitive!

Select Done to return to the device menu.

Configuring servos is similar to a motor. Give it a try before continuing with the directions below!

The touch sensor is a digital sensor. When looking at the Control Hub, you can see the digital sensor ports are labeled as a pair of numbers: 0-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-7. Different sensors require being configured different ways based on their electronics.

For the REV Touch Sensor found in EDU Kit V2 it must always be configured to an odd number port.

First, select Digital Devices from the menu list.

The Digital Devices page will allow you to configure all eight digital ports on the Hub. On Port 1 open the dropdown menu and select REV Touch Sensor.

For this example, name the sensor touchSensor then confirm. Tap Done to return to the main device menu.

From the main device menu, select done twice. You'll return first to the Control Hub Portal then the USB menu.

From here select Save

Select a name for the configuration file. Similar to device names, this should be easily recognizable. For this example, we'll name it demoConfig. Select Ok after creating the name.

Press back to activate the saved configuration. The Control Hub will restart once you activate a new configuration.

Your first configuration is done! The currently activated configuration will appear on the home screen of the Driver Station Application.

Multiple configurations can be created on the Control Hub to be switched between for different projects or classes.

Creating a new configuration may be better than attempting edit an existing one, especially if it is being created to test an idea, for example, or certain devices are being added.

Some sensors, like the color sensor, once added to the configuration will cause a program to error out if they are removed physically, but not from the configuration!

How to keep track?

Keeping track of configurations can be as easy as making a small table record with the type of part, the port it's connected to, and the assigned named. If parts are changed or renamed, this chart can be updated.

Here is an example format we commonly follow when creating guides we want others to follow:

A handout is provided here to use with students or while continuing through this training:

Space has been provided on this tracker for sensors and parts not found in the EDU Kit V2.