Digital I/O from driver station vs FirstTouch I/O Module

[meakerb]

The programmer for our team has utilized some of the digital I/O on the IO Tab of the Driver Station to send some configuration settings to the robot (unique for each driver). The question is: is there any reason this functionality will not work at competition?

The reason we ask is we don't understand the reason for the FirstTouch I/O Module. The Control System Manual Introduction (chaper 1) calls these the "virtual digital I/O". The system as is works for us, but we don't want to get to the competition and find out we need the FirstTouch I/O Module.

Thanks,
Team 3221

[EricVanWyk]

If you are comfortable with your set-up, it is fine.

The virtual I/O are great in that they are easy to use and virtual. However, they might not be great for use during competition: Can you imagine hunting with a mouse during a match?

The FirstTOUCH I/O are great in that they can be connected to actual buttons and knobs, which are much easier to use in situ.

If they don't change during a match, I'd go with virtual.

[meakerb]

Thanks, thats exactly what I had hoped would be the case. And yes, these are set for the driver's preference so won't change during the match.

[EricWilliams]

If you are comfortable with your set-up, it is fine.

The virtual I/O are great in that they are easy to use and virtual. However, they might not be great for use during competition: Can you imagine hunting with a mouse during a match?

The FirstTOUCH I/O are great in that they can be connected to actual buttons and knobs, which are much easier to use in situ.

If they don't change during a match, I'd go with virtual.

Is this information available during autonomous period? Obviously they can't be changed in that time, but can they be set before the match and read?

[Alan Anderson]

Is this information available during autonomous period? Obviously they can't be changed in that time, but can they be set before the match and read?

Yes, and yes. This is a new feature of the control system this year -- instead of all joysticks reading neutral and all buttons reading off during Autonomous, their actual state just before Autonomous Enabled is what gets read.