Using More that 2 Flight Sticks
 

I have some questions regarding the use of flight sticks.

Can we use diffrant flight sticks that what is provided in the kit?

Are we allowed to use more that 2 flight sticks?

Will we be permitted to use something other that a flight stick?

Can we attach a battery to the mounting panel to allow the sticks to be powered without a wall adapter?

Re: Using More that 2 Flight Sticks
 

Can we use diffrant flight sticks that what is provided in the kit?
Yes

Are we allowed to use more that 2 flight sticks?
Yes

Will we be permitted to use something other that a flight stick?
Yes

Can we attach a battery to the mounting panel to allow the sticks to be powered without a wall adapter?[/quote]
I don't think so...check the manual?

Re: Using More that 2 Flight Sticks
 

Thanks that cleared up some things our team was wondering about.

Re: Using More that 2 Flight Sticks
 

No problem, glad to help. Yeah, we build a new control box every year of the operator (arm, ramps, etc.)

If you guys need any coding help, drop me a line.

Re: Using More that 2 Flight Sticks
 

They can power the OI with a 9V battery if they want a portable OI for demonstrations, but they must realized that during competition, all connections to the robot go through the Competition port, including the power to use the OI. So the answer the question:
In Competition: No
At School: Yes, but notice that any voltage changes will cause your analog sensors to mess up on your OI like your joysticks, so be careful, and I highly advice you to make a voltage regulator that will ensure a steady voltage.

Re: Using More that 2 Flight Sticks
 

The OI has an internal LM7805 or similar regulator IC. Voltage input is already regulated.

Re: Using More that 2 Flight Sticks
 

Thank you all for your input. It was very helpful.

Re: Using More that 2 Flight Sticks
 

One more thing to add: If you're using something like the USB Chicklet (http://www.ifirobotics.com/usb-chicklet.shtml) on your operators console, there is no place to plug it in, and you MUST bring a battery for it to the competition. the OI gets it's power from the "competition" port, but no other independently powered devices will!

Re: Using More that 2 Flight Sticks
 

If it is regulated, then the regulator is not very good... Last year we hooked up 2 9V batteries in parallel (so the total voltage was still 9V) but all of our analog stuff was messed up.

Re: Using More that 2 Flight Sticks
 

Voltage regulators have a parameter called "Dropout"- the input voltage at which regulation no longer occurs.

A 78xx series regulator requires an "overhead" - the voltage difference between input and output - of something like 2 or 3 volts to avoid dropout. Low-Dropout (LDO) regulators exist, with overheads of a fraction of a volt.

Your 9 volt transistor battery was very close to the dropout limit for a 7805 regulator already. If you draw more current from the battery tha its rating - I think it's 20 mA for that kind of battery - the battery output voltage can sag (get lower). You may want to check what current the OI draws, either by looking at the specs or by direct measurement, and decide if a two 9 volt batteries in parallel is sufficient to power the OI reliably.

Don