[BB]: New addition to the family

[rsisk]

From Bill's Blog:

http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/2011...to-family.html

The first of the new cRIO-FRCIIs arrived in Manchester this week. By the time I could get downstairs to take a picture, the engineers on the first floor had already hooked it up to one of their test stations. FRC, NI and WPI will be using these stations to test and verify new images, library functionality and sensor support as we prepare for 2012. We might even connect them to new technologies, you never know.



I understand teams would really like to know the 2012 competition schedule; unfortunately it is still too much in flux for me to share. We have 8 venues contracted and another three dozen engaged in the contract process (but not finalized yet). Then there are the venues we’re starting negotiations with and the venues we‘re still trying to pin down. It is a long and involved process and if we share the list before the majority of contracts are in hand, there’s always the potential for unintentionally giving a venue the upper hand in negotiations. I can, however, tell you that we will be keeping week one limited to just a few events like last year. We will be beta testing this fall and are planning a week zero event in order to ensure week one runs smoothly. Then we will be doubling up on FTAs at week one events to make sure everyone is ready and the season goes flawlessly. When I have the 2012 competition schedule finalized, you will be the first to know.

148 days until Kickoff
See you then!

[nighterfighter]

Awww, it's so ccccuuuuuttttteeeee!

[216Robochick288]

Oh I hope this works well, this would save SO much room while wiring!

[Mark McLeod]

Looks like they are setup to test with an extra Digital Breakout and they have an extra Solenoid Analog Breakout mounted, so maybe they haven't settled yet on what the extra slot will be used for. Although, they could just be testing the module detection parts of the image, too.

[plnyyanks]

Originally Posted by nighterfighter

Awww, it's so ccccuuuuuttttteeeee!

Everybody say it with me: "Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!" I can't wait to get my hands on one of these...

Can anybody tell what type of module they have plugged into Slot 4? I can't tell if that's an Analog Breakout or a Solenoid Breakout.

EDIT: Thanks, Mark. We posted too close to each other for me to see your post at first. Anyway, I think it's promising that they seem to be testing out different options. I hope we get to choose which type of module we get to use in the end, though.

[Jon Jack]

Originally Posted by plnyyanks

Can anybody tell what type of module they have plugged into Slot 4? I can't tell if that's an Analog Breakout or a Solenoid Breakout.

From the looks of it, it looks like it's another analog breakout. I wonder if we'll be able to plug any type of module into the 4th slot...

[Phalanx]

It would be ideal to have some flexibility with what you can put in the 4th slot.
I think every team would benefit from that flexibility and feature.

Some teams, might want an extra Digital Module, or an extra Analog Module, or in my case I'd love a native CAN module (some day I hope, I have asked for it).

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

Looks like they are setup to test with an extra Digital Breakout and they have an extra Solenoid Breakout mounted,...

I'm pretty sure that was an existing testbed, so the second Digital Sidecar might not imply that a second DIO module is possible. The fourth slot in the pictured chassis is definitely occupied by an Analog Input module (among other clues, note the triple rows of pins).

[sgreco]

It's still bigger than what IFI gave us...

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

I'm pretty sure that was an existing testbed, so the second Digital Sidecar might not imply that a second DIO module is possible. The fourth slot in the pictured chassis is definitely occupied by an Analog Input module (among other clues, note the triple rows of pins).

I hope that's not the only option when it's all said and done. Teams are much more likely to use a 2nd sidecar than 2nd analog.

[Mark McLeod]

Yep, Analog Breakout.
I wasn't able to look at the big picture until I got home from work.

[rachelholladay]

Im really hoping for some flexibility, maybe thats what a lot of the hardware beta testing will be about.
Most electrical components arent cute but this one sure is...i want one!