[Tom Line]

Bob Steele Wrote: I am not denying that using C is an industry standard. I do suggest that the hardware we were using was not something that a young engineer is going to run into in the form we were using it.

I have seen Labview/cRIO used in a number of aerospace applications here in the Pac North West... I have not, to date, seen it used in a robotics application in person although I have seen it used in robotics applications on the web.

Cory,
As far as the purchase of another unit. This is information I gleaned from a conversation with our NI rep here in Seattle. I believe it was also discussed in Atlanta. I don't know much more than that at this point. I would certainly suggest that teams squirrel away an extra grand for this purpose.

First, I would like to point out that the old IFI system, as built, could be applied as an example to an enormous amount of the equipment in any one of the hundreds of manufacturing plants in the US. Embedded systems with very limited memory are extremely common on shop floors. As is C programming.

Second, my initial opposition to this change was that NI is not a standard in use anywhere. This is their way of trying to become one. The same way that MS subsidized their software in schools, and Apple subsidized their computers in schools. Get to kids early so that they'll continue use down the road.

Finally, I guess the point of this discussion is to let First and NI how we feel. I wonder if they have considered what is going to happen to a low budget team when their one and only C-RIO system fries in the first or second match of a regional. Having more money is always an advantage. Now a critical component of the robot is going to hinge on having extra money to buy a backup.

Perhaps we can make a suggestion that during the rookie year a team be charged an extra $1k or something, and get TWO c-rio's.