2015 FRC Control System Components from VEXpro

[Grant Cox]

Hey all, we're excited to announce today that the 2015 control system components being manufactured by Cross the Road Electronics are available for pre-order from VEXpro! This includes the Power Distribution Board (http://www.vexrobotics.com/vexpro/motors-electronics/217-4244.html), the Voltage Regulator Module (http://www.vexrobotics.com/vexpro/motors-electronics/217-4245.html), and the Pneumatic Control Module (http://www.vexrobotics.com/vexpro/motors-electronics/217-4243.html).

We expect to have them in stock and shipping before kickoff, so get your orders in quickly and you'll be among the first to hold the final products!

[AllenGregoryIV]

Thanks Grant, we just preordered a full set.

[NotInControl]

Just a note to teams pre-ordering this stuff. You may want to pre-order 2 VRMs.

If the D-Link is used for the 2015 season, it will use the entire 5V 2A rail on a single VRM, so if your team also uses a 5V axis camera, 5V co-processor like a beaglebone, or any other 5V circuit that requires more than 500mA, you will want to run that off of a second VRM.

You can still use the 5V 500mA, 12V500mA, and 12V2A sources on the same VRM as the Radio.

Note: This is not official direction from FIRST, it just may be a good idea so you do not have items competing with the D-link power source.

[FrankJ]

The same items are also on AndyMarks website for preorder (http://www.andymark.com/Electrical-s/41.htm).

I am not suggesting one or the other.

[PayneTrain]

The same items are also on AndyMarks website for preorder (http://www.andymark.com/Electrical-s/41.htm).

I am not suggesting one or the other.

I'LL DIE BEFORE I LET ANDY BAKER SQUEEZE ONE EXTRA PENNY OUT OF ME FOR A POWER DISTRIBUTION BOARD.

It's really nice that more suppliers can offer this stuff so teams can look at logistics re: shipping cost, timetable, and buying in conjunction with other products instead of being stricken by the deft hand of exclusivity for required parts.

[FrankJ]

Strangely the voltage regulator is $5.99 cheaper at AndyMark. Presumably all the parts are coming from Cross The Road so Vex & AndyMark are just distributor for a sole source part. Personally my interactions with all three companies have been positive. First dictates the legality of all the parts so ultimately they are the ones in control to some extent.

[sanddrag]

Is there anything offered here that will not be included in the kit of parts?

[Joe G.]

Is there anything offered here that will not be included in the kit of parts?

I don't believe this information has been announced yet.

[Aren Siekmeier]

Is there anything offered here that will not be included in the kit of parts?

I think it's reasonable to expect that every team will get one of every component in their kickoff kit, since they are all required for a functional control system. However, this has not been officially announced yet. For reference, a related discussion:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=130502

[Jon Stratis]

I think it's reasonable to expect that every team will get one of every component in their kickoff kit, since they are all required for a functional control system. However, this has not been officially announced yet. For reference, a related discussion:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=130502

The PCM is not required for a functional control system. It is only required if you want to use pneumatics. I would bet that is the part everyone is most curious about...

[Aren Siekmeier]

The PCM is not required for a functional control system. It is only required if you want to use pneumatics. I would bet that is the part everyone is most curious about...

This is discussed at length in the thread I linked...

[Mike Copioli]

Strangely the voltage regulator is $5.99 cheaper at AndyMark. Presumably all the parts are coming from Cross The Road so Vex & AndyMark are just disturbers for a sole source part. Personally my interactions with all three companies have been positive. First dictates the legality of all the parts so ultimately they are the ones in control to some extent.

This is a mistake in the pricing on the AM site. The correct price should be updated soon.

[Travis Hoffman]

If it exists somewhere, can someone please link to a page that discusses the wiring connectivity methods we will have to employ with these new devices?

I'd like to find out what methods are carried over from the old system and what is new.

Thanks in advance.

[FrankJ]

The devices look like they have spring clamp terminals. The RoboRoi seems to have largely PWM type plugs. NI's page here (https://decibel.ni.com/content/docs/DOC-30419). I would think the general wiring methods would be unchanged. One of the Beta testers pages would have more?

[rich2202]

Just a note to teams pre-ordering this stuff. You may want to pre-order 2 VRMs.

If the D-Link is used for the 2015 season, it will use the entire 5V 2A rail on a single VRM, so if your team also uses a 5V axis camera, 5V co-processor like a beaglebone, or any other 5V circuit that requires more than 500mA, you will want to run that off of a second VRM.


In looking at the spec for the VRM on the Vexpro site, the VRM has the following:
(2) 5V output; 500mA limit
(2) 5V output; 2A limit
(2) 12V output; 500mA limit
(2) 12V output; 2A limit

So, the D-link will take one 5V 2A output, leaving 3 other 5V outputs available.

http://www.vexrobotics.com/217-4245.html

[rich2202]

I saw the modules on your site, but not the roboRIO itself. Do you have a link?

Do you also have it as a complete kit (roboRIO, power distribution panel, voltage regulation module, and pneumatic control module)?

[Joe Ross]

In looking at the spec for the VRM on the Vexpro site, the VRM has the following:
(2) 5V output; 500mA limit
(2) 5V output; 2A limit
(2) 12V output; 500mA limit
(2) 12V output; 2A limit

So, the D-link will take one 5V 2A output, leaving 3 other 5V outputs available.

http://www.vexrobotics.com/217-4245.html

Each of the 2 similar outputs are not independent. For example, there is only 1 5v 2a output, with two connectors to it. I suspect that because of the sensitive nature of the radio, the rules next year will not allow you connect anything else to the 5v 2a output.

The roboRIO is available from AndyMark. http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-3000pre.htm

[jhersh]

In looking at the spec for the VRM on the Vexpro site, the VRM has the following:
(2) 5V output; 500mA limit
(2) 5V output; 2A limit
(2) 12V output; 500mA limit
(2) 12V output; 2A limit

So, the D-link will take one 5V 2A output, leaving 3 other 5V outputs available.

http://www.vexrobotics.com/217-4245.html

Those are just connectors for ease of wiring. The VRM has only 2 power supplies in it (5 V and 12 V). The 500 mA outputs are the same supplies, just with current limiters on them so that if those terminals exceed 500 mA they will not affect the "2 A" supply (which technically only has a dedicated 1.5 A at its disposal).