Quote:
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If we are required to use common IR Com protocals for the device to recognise the data packets, I see a compatibility issue, especially
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Check the rules again! I only have a moment, so I can't look it up for you. You can use IR, visible light, or sound (almost anything except lasers or Radio Frequency). No mention of protocol is made, the IR board is apparently supplied as a working
example.
Anything I say isn't official, I'm hopefully pointing you to re-check your rules.
[edit: I looked up <R65> and attached it below.]
<R65> SIGNALING DEVICES shall be designed to communicate signals from the ROBOCOACH
to the ROBOT. SIGNALING DEVICES are excluded from Rule <R64>. SIGNALING
DEVICES shall:
use either passive (no emission of any electromagnetic radiation) or active (emits some
restricted form of electromagnetic radiation) means of communication
© FIRST2008 FIRST Robotics Competition Manual, Section 8 – The Robot, Rev C Page 23 of 30
be hand held and completely supported by the ROBOCOACH when operated
does not attach to anything or anyone other than the ROBOCOACH
exclusively receives input from, and is operated by, the ROBOCOACH
not receive any input or feedback directly from the ROBOT (the ROBOCOACH may
receive feedback from the ROBOT and use it to control the SIGNALING DEVICE)
be no larger than 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide by 1 foot deep (to fit within the confined
volume of the ROBOCOACH STATION
remain entirely within the ROBOCOACH STATION
use a maximum of four different inputs from the ROBOCOACH (e.g. use four different
buttons) during any single MATCH
communicate no more than four messages, states or conditions to the ROBOT (please
refer to Rule <R69> and Rule <G01> for additional information) during any single
MATCH.
Active SIGNALING DEVICES shall:
use visible light, infrared communications, or sound as the transmission method – no
other form of electro-magnetic radiation is permitted
a. All radio frequency communications (as defined by the United States Federal
Communications Commission) are explicitly prohibited.
b. All laser-based communications by any device classified by the U.S.
Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
as a laser are explicitly prohibited.
c. All communications must satisfy Rule <S01>.
not be used to interfere with any other ROBOT
be able to switch between no more than four states or conditions (i.e. send no more than
four messages)
be operated through only a single input at any given time (e.g. may not be operated by
depressing two buttons at one time)
not use changes in the signal states to encode or transmit larger messages (e.g. Morse
code)