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Originally Posted by Don Wright
Very nice job.
Please don't take my question as any kind of attack or jab at your accomplishment. I think what you have done is awesome. But, is it legal? I thought I remember there being a rule of some sort not allowing any kind of computer or processor between the driver and the RC. With the PIC in-line, would this violate a rule?
Just curious. If it doesn't, and if somebody could make a nice, semi-universal PS2 or USB to digipots and switch adapter, it would open up the world of cool controllers to teams.
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Well, good question. Here's the rule.
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2005 FIRST Robotics Competition Manual: Section 5 – The Robot rev A Page 18 of 29
5.3.8 Operator Interface Rules
<R69> All equipment connected to the Joystick Ports of the Operator Interface must be powered solely through the power available through the port. External power sources of any type are not permitted on any
equipment connected to the Joystick Ports. Portable computing devices may not be connected to Joystick input ports on the Operator Interface.
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I have to admit, even I forgot about the part about portable computing devices connected to the joystick ports.
This then brings about the question of what exactly they meant by the rule. Did they mean to explicitly ban everything but pots and switches and the things they're housed in, or was the rule intended to block things like PDAs and laptops (which the average guy on the street would consider a portable computing device)?
In any event, nice work.
