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Unread 21-10-2006, 12:59
BrianBSL BrianBSL is offline
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Re: 2007 Robot Controller

Quote:
Originally Posted by efoote868
actually, it'd be interesting to see a firewire interface for programming. as for the joysticks, i don't think they would go usb, simply because they'd be switching from a bunch of pins to 4 or 6 (well, 4 really)
Huh? USB is serial data and has much more bandwidth than the analog and digital joystick ports. There's only 2 data lines there - and you aren't going to be able to use them as GPIO without some custom circuitry.

I wouldn't mind seeing USB for Joysticks with some GPIO (yes IO, to allow some feedback as well as input) and analog inputs for custom controls.

As far as programming via IEEE1394 - that wouldn't make much sense either as
a) you don't need nearly that much bandwidth
b) interfacing IEEE1394 to a PIC is much more complicated than USB (off-the-shelf USB to serial converter chips)
c) IEEE1394 isn't nearly as standard on PC's as USB

Without switching PIC chips, however, they would simply be adding a USB to Serial adapter on the RC - which is pretty much pointless except they have control over it for troubleshooting reasons. They could accomplish the same thing by keeping the serial port, allowing the flexability of using the serial port for other applications (IE. breaker panel, custom circuits), and shipping a USB to serial adapter to every team that they have tested and know works well with the RC.
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