Chief Delphi

Chief Delphi (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/index.php)
-   Technical Discussion (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22)
-   -   FMS-OBS Integration (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=141337)

BrandonD-1528 10-01-2016 13:40

FMS-OBS Integration
 
First, some background. I'm working out details on upgrades to our broadcasting equipment at the Michigan Advanced Robotics Competition this year. I'd like to develop a more advanced audience display to integrate into Open Broadcaster for the web stream (and hopefully displays at the event itself), but I'm going to need some help in order to achieve it.

I'm looking for anyone who has knowledge of FMS to discuss possibilities for hooking into its match data in real-time. I know that the system runs on an MSSQL database and in the worst case I might be able to get the admins to create a read-only user and tie into that. I'm hoping to find out if there are more convenient event-based hooks in the software, however.

I know that custom audience displays are possible - we used one a couple years ago, but it displayed locally and we had to use a scan converter to fetch the video signal from FMS. I want to explore the possibility of expanding upon that with a daemon that will transmit data across the local network, so that hopefully we have an easily customizable display that we can run in HD.

So, if you know anything about this topic, any replies would be greatly appreciated. If this isn't something we can talk about in the open, I'm open to private messages as well.

Please keep in mind that this is all just ideas at this point. If we don't have time to get and test the equipment I'll just fall back to the "legacy" broadcasting setup we have now.

Thanks!

Schnabel 10-01-2016 13:50

Re: FMS-OBS Integration
 
This is probably the best way you can get to real time data during the season. Note that this information is not available in off-season.

http://docs.frcevents2.apiary.io/#

BrandonD-1528 10-01-2016 13:51

Re: FMS-OBS Integration
 
Thanks, but this is for an off-season event, and I need data while the match is in play. I'm entirely replacing the audience view that we use.

plnyyanks 10-01-2016 13:52

Re: FMS-OBS Integration
 
Use Cheesy Arena and modify its (open source) audience display?

BrandonD-1528 10-01-2016 13:55

Re: FMS-OBS Integration
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by plnyyanks (Post 1520205)
Use Cheesy Arena and modify its (open source) audience display?

I'd prefer not to interfere with the FMS setup that FIRST in Michigan already has in place, beyond installing my own software to interface with it.

Doug Frisk 10-01-2016 14:45

Re: FMS-OBS Integration
 
There is no way to query the FMS data directly even if you are on the same network.

BrandonD-1528 10-01-2016 14:47

Re: FMS-OBS Integration
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by DareDad (Post 1520245)
There is no way to query the FMS data directly even if you are on the same network.

I was more planning on having an application running alongside FMS that will transmit the data to a client. The issue is finding the best way for the server to integrate with FMS' data. Accessing the SQL database is one option but I'm hoping there's a better way.

Doug Frisk 10-01-2016 14:49

Re: FMS-OBS Integration
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by BrandonD-1528 (Post 1520249)
I was more planning on having an application running alongside FMS that will transmit the data to a client. The issue is finding the best way for the server to integrate with FMS' data. Accessing the SQL database is one option but I'm hoping there's a better way.

I would think that installing anything on the FMS would be, let's say, frowned upon.

BrandonD-1528 10-01-2016 14:59

Re: FMS-OBS Integration
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by DareDad (Post 1520252)
I would think that installing anything on the FMS would be, let's say, frowned upon.

That would certainly be the case in season events. Being that this is a large off-season event and everything would be done under the supervision of the FTAs, I don't see a problem. We've certainly had custom audience view software running on it before.

Doug Frisk 10-01-2016 15:12

Re: FMS-OBS Integration
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by BrandonD-1528 (Post 1520261)
That would certainly be the case in season events. Being that this is a large off-season event and everything would be done under the supervision of the FTAs, I don't see a problem. We've certainly had custom audience view software running on it before.

Well, if I were going to approach this, rather than touching the FMS I'd look into impersonating the Azure back end. Of course then you'd have to have the in-season software not the post season software that disables syncing. That way as soon as the scorekeeper hit commit you'd have updated data. It would require a bit of networking and coding legerdemain but if it were accomplished it would be transparent on the FMS itself.

BrandonD-1528 10-01-2016 15:13

Re: FMS-OBS Integration
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by DareDad (Post 1520281)
Well, if I were going to approach this, rather than touching the FMS I'd look into impersonating the Azure back end. Of course then you'd have to have the in-season software not the post season software that disables syncing. That way as soon as the scorekeeper hit commit you'd have updated data. It would require a bit of networking and coding legerdemain but if it were accomplished it would be transparent on the FMS itself.

That's an interesting idea. That wouldn't enable live score display mid-match (for the lower third) though, would it?

Doug Frisk 10-01-2016 15:14

Re: FMS-OBS Integration
 
No.

BrandonD-1528 10-01-2016 15:15

Re: FMS-OBS Integration
 
Also, is it at all possible to set up my own FMS environment to see how it works? I don't really know if the software has been made available.

timytamy 10-01-2016 15:44

Re: FMS-OBS Integration
 
I know it is possible to get some data from the FMS (at least it was two years ago).

In 2014 we used a combination of a quasi light FMS to control the robots, with a bunch of custom software that would monitor the FMS and automatically start the custom hot goal and scoring software at the same time as the rest of the match.

My advice would be to get a copy of the off-season FMS and have a look with wireshark to see what you can get. See what packets are transmitted at match start, when you queue up a match, when you push scores etc.

You can also probably grab scores, rankings, team numbers and anything else on the standard display, as these are transmitted on the network to work with some of the audience displays.

Good Luck!

BrandonD-1528 10-01-2016 15:46

Re: FMS-OBS Integration
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by timytamy (Post 1520314)
You can also probably grab scores, rankings, team numbers and anything else on the standard display, as these are transmitted on the network to work with some of the audience displays.

That information is immensely helpful, thank you. Do you happen to know how I can get my hands on the off-season FMS?


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:06.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Chief Delphi