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MCI — Programming

Lesson 5 — First TeleOp: Arcade Drive

The structure of an OpMode, reading the gamepad and a first working arcade drive.

1 min readUpdated Aug 28, 2026

This is the moment when everything learned so far comes together for the first time: reading the controller, processing that information and actually moving the robot.

Building the first TeleOpLink to this section

An OpMode has a predictable basic structure: it initializes components, loops reading the gamepad, and translates those commands into motor action. Understanding this structure is the foundation of any TeleOp, regardless of how complex the robot is.

  • Understand the basic structure of an OpMode.
  • Read the Gamepad's inputs.
  • Control the motors based on those inputs.

Arcade DriveLink to this section

Arcade drive is the simplest movement control logic: one controller axis sets forward/backward speed, the other sets turning. It's the ideal starting point before moving on to more complex drives, like mecanum.

  • Understand the logic behind an arcade drive.
  • Control speed and direction in a simple way.
  • Test the robot's behavior and adjust the code.

TelemetryLink to this section

Showing useful data while the TeleOp is running — like the power sent to each motor — is what turns trial-and-error testing into an adjustment process guided by real information.

  • Show useful data while the robot is running.
  • Use telemetry to find bugs and understand the robot.