IFI control system-radios

[dudefise]

Does anyone know if there is a workaround for using a different communication method than the original radios? or where to buy the original radios? Thanks!

[MagiChau]

You are restricted to the bridge/router model from the 2011 KoP to be placed on your robot.

[Mike Betts]

Originally Posted by MagiChau

You are restricted to the bridge/router model from the 2011 KoP to be placed on your robot.

I believe the original poster is asking about the older IFI systems...

[Mike Betts]

Originally Posted by dudefise

Does anyone know if there is a workaround for using a different communication method than the original radios? or where to buy the original radios? Thanks!

I would start by contacting IFI and see if they still have any on the shelf that they'd be willing to part with.

Next, see if one of the older FRC teams have a radio set that they would be willing to trade for something you have.

If those avenues fail, send me a PM or repost here. There are some radio modems that I played with years ago but I'd need to dig out my notes...

Regards,

Mike

[Mark McLeod]

The IFI robot controller can be run in autonomous mode without the IFI Operator Interface.
You can then add your own interface passing information in through some of the input pins or one of the serial ports.

I used to run it on bluetooth, but the parts would be all different nowadays.

[Matt Krass]

I'd be willing to bet with a little custom circuitry you could patch together a link with the tether port and some XBees from SparkFun.

If I recall correctly (and to be honest, I'm pretty sure I'm not recalling correctly, but somewhere in the vicinity of correctly) the tether port is basic RS-232 serial, with the wiring a little goofed up (I remember the tether cable being a bit different, I think it swapped TX and RX) and some provisions for carrying power from the RC to the OI.

EDIT: Based on Jasons comments below I'm adding this warning!!
Do not connect the tether or radio ports on either end of the IFI module directly to your computer or any other device. They're carrying various amounts of additional power/wackiness to run the system that could toast something that's not expecting it!

I'd probably use a couple of these:
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9111 to hold a couple of these:
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10414

And you may just need to whip up some adapters, and of course, the modules would have to be configured with the XBee software on the computer (this is easy though). Might need to do some trickery to provide power to the units as well (OI side is easy, use a 5VDC wall adapter, the robot is a bit trickier, but should still be doable fairly easily).

Hmm, this could be fun, if you're interested in doing this project let me know, I can provide some more detailed help.

Matt

[dudefise]

Wow. I was really not expecting any replies at all ... just to clarify , it is for a non-competition demostration robot, so rules need not apply. I (nor any other team members) want to throw a whole lot of money at this so wither trading, or using some Xbee's may work since I believe we may already have some. If both those fall through, we'll try to rig something else up... thanks!!!!

[Matt Krass]

Originally Posted by dudefise

Wow. I was really not expecting any replies at all ... just to clarify , it is for a non-competition demostration robot, so rules need not apply. I (nor any other team members) want to throw a whole lot of money at this so wither trading, or using some Xbee's may work since I believe we may already have some. If both those fall through, we'll try to rig something else up... thanks!!!!

A bunch of us are sitting around waiting for our regionals to come up

I heard that 'sun' thing was in town this week, maybe tomorrow I'll go out and check it out between page loads or something.

Matt

[dtengineering]

Originally Posted by Matt Krass

If I recall correctly (and to be honest, I'm pretty sure I'm not recalling correctly, but somewhere in the vicinity of correctly) the tether port is basic RS-232 serial, with the wiring a little goofed up (I remember the tether cable being a bit different, I think it swapped TX and RX) and some provisions for carrying power from the RC to the OI.

I can't remember the configuration for the tether port, but I do seem to recall that plugging it directly in to your RS-232 port is a bad thing to do. The programming port was fine to plug in directly, but the tether port is definitely NOT straight RS-232. It had an additional power line, as I recall, that can toast your PC's serial port.

The radio port, I believe, was RS-485.

But here's the thing... drop a note to the people at VEX robotics. They have awesome documentation, the original source code, and all the specs sitting on a hard drive somewhere. It might not be on their web site, but they are likely more than happy to send you a package with everything you need to know. They spent a lot of time developing it, after all!

Jason

[Matt Krass]

Originally Posted by dtengineering

I can't remember the configuration for the tether port, but I do seem to recall that plugging it directly in to your RS-232 port is a bad thing to do. The programming port was fine to plug in directly, but the tether port is definitely NOT straight RS-232. It had an additional power line, as I recall, that can toast your PC's serial port.

The radio port, I believe, was RS-485.

But here's the thing... drop a note to the people at VEX robotics. They have awesome documentation, the original source code, and all the specs sitting on a hard drive somewhere. It might not be on their web site, but they are likely more than happy to send you a package with everything you need to know. They spent a lot of time developing it, after all!

Jason

I believe you're correct, which is why I was considering adapters, I didn't realize my post could be interpreted in a manner leading to someone blowing up their computer, I'll fix that right away!

I was figuring a little adapter with some solder cup DB-9s to unflip the TX/RX and break the electrical connection carrying power from the RC. Actually I was also thinking the 12V from the RC would be perfect for regulating down to power the XBee on that side of things.

Also, I believe the radio port was actually RS-422, which is very similar to 485, that was my primary reason for recommending the tether port. I was also concerned about the out-of-band communications the units sent out to configure the radios might run afoul with the XBee configuration modes.

Matt

[dudefise]

I'm thinking that the tether port may be the way to go with this one, since it is rs232 + power for the operator interface... leave the power lead out and strap that in. I'll also talk to my old VEX team from last year (vex/2453B)

[Jetweb]

if you happen to have a old vex controller and radio laying around they make great drop in replacements for the ifi systems, we had our demo bot running on one quite nicely. compressor, spikes, victors and all.