Custom Driver station

[Arc-hAElectric]

I was wondering what are the rules on custom driver stations. Like could I use a Raspberry PI to run the driver station program?

[Alan Anderson]

The rules are in the Game Manual, Section 4.11 "OPERATOR CONSOLE". Specifically <R80>:The Driver Station software provided on the National Instruments website is the only application permitted to specify and communicate the operating mode (i.e. Autonomous/TELEOP) and operating state (Enable/Disable) to the ROBOT. The Driver Station software must be revision 08021500 or newer.
I doubt that it's possible, but if you manage to get a Raspberry Pi to run that specific Windows application, you'll meet the requirements.

[Nyle]

Without having the source code for the driver station, or convincing NI to publish an ARM build of the driver-station, it can't be run on a raspberry pi because of its architecture. What's your reason for wanting to use a raspberry pi in the first place? We might be able to suggest a legal way to accomplish it. If you're looking to set up a custom input panel, the TI MSP-430 that were in the kit are easy to use; here's (http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/MSP430_LaunchPad_Operator_Interface_for_FIRST_Robo tics_Competition) a good guide on how to use them. If you want the pi to be there to run some software, you could pick up one of these (http://www.adafruit.com/product/954) to have it talk to the computer.

[Arc-hAElectric]

The rules are in the Game Manual, Section 4.11 "OPERATOR CONSOLE". Specifically <R80>:

I doubt that it's possible, but if you manage to get a Raspberry Pi to run that specific Windows application, you'll meet the requirements.


For its compact size. Rebuilding the console. I was going to build a flip up screen in the console and have everything controlled via selective switches, rotary switches, and potentiometers. But thxs anyway

[Arc-hAElectric]

Without having the source code for the driver station, or convincing NI to publish an ARM build of the driver-station, it can't be run on a raspberry pi because of its architecture. What's your reason for wanting to use a raspberry pi in the first place? We might be able to suggest a legal way to accomplish it. If you're looking to set up a custom input panel, the TI MSP-430 that were in the kit are easy to use; here's (http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/MSP430_LaunchPad_Operator_Interface_for_FIRST_Robo tics_Competition) a good guide on how to use them. If you want the pi to be there to run some software, you could pick up one of these (http://www.adafruit.com/product/954) to have it talk to the computer.


I was going to have MSP-430 and the Pi work together. MSP is much better at i/o while the Pi would provide the power. Relatively speaking. Any way I can still do that?

[jds2001]

I was going to have MSP-430 and the Pi work together. MSP is much better at i/o while the Pi would provide the power. Relatively speaking. Any way I can still do that?

No, because there is no ARM version of the DS software. You need an x86 PC running Windows in order to run that.

You can obviously get creative about what that PC is and what is attached to it, but it must be a Windows PC.

[Arc-hAElectric]

No, because there is no ARM version of the DS software. You need an x86 PC running Windows in order to run that.



You can obviously get creative about what that PC is and what is attached to it, but it must be a Windows PC.


That's good to know thxs

[Nyle]

Just came across this (http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/compute-stick/intel-compute-stick.html) and thought of this thread. I don't think it's out yet, some places say it comes out in march, but I wasn't able to find anywhere selling it yet, although I didn't look too hard. It's a tiny computer that can run windows 8.1 on an Atom processor (IE should be able to run the DS). It's a bit more pricy than a Pi ($150 for the windows version), but it should work. You'd need to get a display that can take HDMI in, a USB hub for all your inputs, an Ethernet to USB adapter so that you could hook up to the FMS, and you'd probably want to get a battery/UPS to power it so you wouldn't have to boot it up every match (I'm guessing it doesn't have an internal battery). Overall the setup probably wouldn't have to be too different from one for a pi in terms of the components necessary.