Demobot Setup Guide
Use this guide to get a laptop and the robot ready for coding, deploying, and connecting.
Robot hardware context
The Demobot uses:
- A full WAGO CAN loop
- SPARK MAX motor controllers with NEO motors
- A PDH for power distribution
- Anderson power connectors
Before you start
- Use a Windows laptop (Driver Station laptop preferred)
- Ensure 2026 WPILib is installed
- Ensure FRC Driver Station is installed
- Ensure the laptop Wi-Fi works
- Keep the robot on blocks or in a safe area before enabling
1) Open WPILib VS Code
- Press the Windows key.
- Search for 2026 WPILib VS Code and open it.
Picture placeholder: WPILib VS Code in the Windows Start menu search results.
2) Clone the repository
- In WPILib VS Code, open File > New Window.
- In the new window, click Clone GitHub Repository.
- Paste this repository URL and press Enter:
https://github.com/FRC-7525/Demobot.git
- Select a local folder and wait for clone to finish.
Picture placeholder: VS Code clone prompt with the Demobot repository URL pasted.
3) Build robot code
- Press Ctrl+Shift+P.
- Run WPILib: Build Robot Code.
- Confirm you get a successful build message.
Picture placeholder: Terminal or WPILib status showing a successful build.
4) Power and network the robot
- Power on the robot and wait for full boot.
- Connect the laptop to Wi-Fi network Demobot.
- Use the team-provided Wi-Fi password.
Picture placeholder: Windows Wi-Fi panel connected to the Demobot SSID.
5) Connect Driver Station
- Open FRC Driver Station.
- Wait for communications to come up.
- Confirm status lights are green (Robot, Comm, and Code).
- Open Elastic Dashboard if it did not open automatically.
Picture placeholder: Driver Station showing green status indicators.
6) Deploy code
- In WPILib VS Code, press Ctrl+Shift+P.
- Run WPILib: Deploy Robot Code.
- Wait for deploy to complete.
- If deploy appears stuck for several minutes, cancel and retry once.
Picture placeholder: Deploy command output showing successful deployment to roboRIO.
7) Post-deploy quick checks
- Robot remains connected in Driver Station
- Correct project appears deployed
- No new major CAN or power warnings
- Dashboard values update as expected
Picture placeholder: Dashboard showing live robot telemetry values after deploy.