[quote=Greg Marra;550280]What worries me about the USB Chicklet rule wording is this:
The USB Chicklet is the only device allowed to be powered in your controls.
However, the USB Chicklet has to provide power to a USB device, as per the USB specification, up to 500mA.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Marra
If I build my own custom USB device that is USB HID compatible, I have just constructed a powered control element that doesn't violate any of the rules. I could power a PIC microcontroller and hook it straight into my OI, but it would be within the rules.
Sounds a bit strange to me.
|
This is a very good point. This is exactly what we had envisioned when the Chicklet was developed. There is one concern when the original rule was created(pre-chicklet). I'm sure IFI did not want TEAMS to interface custom devices that could potentially short out and damage the O/I. However, If the chicklet is supplying the power, this should not be an issue. Lets say a team does design a custom USB device, and it does short. The only hardware at risk is the Chicklet. Omar and I had even discussed development of a USB device breakout. Teams could use it to wire in pots and switches. Another option: Teams could take an existing supported controller (OTS) and rip it's guts out, wire in the pots/encoders, switches of thier choice, and use it in competition. Teams have modified joysticks in the past. Why should this be any different? Hopefully this can be clarified. Teams should be able to develope their own USB devices that can connect to the Chicklet.
Mike Copioli
CTRE