Connect Signals

The Connect Signals command allows you to connect the signals of components as well as the inputs and outputs of robots. Currently, you can only connect Boolean type signals. Available signals and connections are based on the selected component in the 3D world.

Signal Editor

You can connect signals using editors in the 3D world. The editor of a selected component is highlighted, whereas the editor of another component with compatible signals is either visible or collapsed as an unfold button.

Tip: The location of an editor will automatically adjust to your view. You have the option of the pinning the editor to lock its location in the viewport.

Components

A signal of a component is listed in its editor along with a connection point. The connection between two signals is indicated by a wire.

Robots

The inputs and outputs of a robot are separated in its editor: inputs left, and outputs right. Since a robot can have a large amount of signals, the editor will only show at least one available input and output as well as all existing connections. You can click an input or output to edit its port number. We recommend using signals 100 onward in a robot since signals 1 thru 99 are reserved for signal actions, for example grasp and release. If you change the port number of a connection, you are modifying the signal of robot for that connection.

Tasks

To add a connection, do one of the following:

• Click the connection point of a signal in a different component. The signal will try to automatically connect to a signal in the selected component.
• Drag the connection point of a signal to display a wire, and then drag the wire to a connection point in a different component.

To remove a connection:

• Click its wire.

Task Pane

You can connect signals using the Connect Signals task pane and table.

Signal

The Signal column lists each signal by name. If the selected component is a robot, an input is listed as In <number> and an output as Out <number>.

You can sort signals by name as well as filter signals by type and connection. For example, you have options for listing connected signals, the inputs and outputs of a selected robot, and all other Boolean signals of the selected component.

Tip: If the selected component is a robot, you can sort inputs and outputs in three ways:

• I/O ascending - In 0… Out N
• I/O descending - In N… Out 0
• By direction - In 0, Out 0… In N, Out N

Connections

The Connections column lists the connections of a signal. A connection is a signal in a different component.

Note: If the selected component is a robot, the Connections column will also list an action mapped to the value of an output.

Tasks

To add a connection:

1. Click a listed signal. This displays a helper for selecting an available connection.
2. Use the helper to select a component and signal for the new connection.

To remove connection:

1. Click a listed signal.
2. Use the helper to delete a connection.