CRIO FRC II Questions

[Greg Shaw]

I am am mentor for a second year FRC Team (3601). I have some questions abouit the new CRIO:

1) Last year we only used 2 of the modules on our CRIO--are there situations that require using more than 2 modules--5 modules are provided.

2) To save money, we are thinking about purchasing a CRIO FRC II chasis and putting our extra 3 modules from last years CRIO into the new CRIO--will this work? Can we use the old modules with the new CRIO Chasis??

[Mark McLeod]

The old modules are the same, so they will work fine in the new cRIO FRC II.

Basic operation just requires one Analog and one digital module.
The solenoid module can also be used if you add pneumatics to your robot.
Depending on the robot year, we've used from 2 to 4 modules.

[Alan Anderson]

You must use at least one Analog In and one Digital I/O module. If you want to read more than seven analog values, you need a second Analog module. If you want more PWM outputs or more digital I/O than the Digital Sidecar provides, you need a second Digital module. If you want to control pneumatic solenoid valves directly (not through a Spike relay), you need a Solenoid (Digital output driver) module, and you might need two if you have enough pneumatics.

But for most teams, a single Analog In and a single Digital I/O is enough.


The same three module types (and only those module types) work in the new smaller FRC cRIO chassis. Buying only a bare chassis will be fine for what you want to do. But if you can manage to scrape up the money to buy the full cRIO kit as well, I don't think you'll regret having another cRIO available.

[Colin P]

Yeah, the majority of teams only use 2 or 3 modules, so the 4 slot cRIO is going to be a perfect fit.

The four slot is going to be provided in the KOP, so you won't even need to purchase one.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by Colin P

The four slot is going to be provided in the KOP, so you won't even need to purchase one.

It will be in the rookie kit.

[Jeremy Germita]

Are the drawings available yet? Specifically the mounting hole locations and footprint?

Thanks,
Jeremy

[slijin]

Originally Posted by jeremypg399

Are the drawings available yet? Specifically the mounting hole locations and footprint?

Thanks,
Jeremy

As far as I'm aware, this is the only such existing documentation that NI has on their website with regards to the cRIO II.

Mark's white paper notes that the new cRIO is 4.4” shorter in length, same height & width, with the dimensions 7”(l) x 3.5”(w) x 2.5”(h). It also says that the new cRIO will resemble the 9076, but I'm not sure about that and it doesn't list specs regarding screw placement anyways.

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by jeremypg399

Are the drawings available yet? Specifically the mounting hole locations and footprint?

Thanks,
Jeremy

I think the 9075/6 should be close enough: http://www.ni.com/pdf/manuals/375650a.pdf

[Greg McKaskle]

Definitely close enough. Those are the base models that the FRC option is based on.

Greg McKaskle

[Eric222]

Does anyone know what the USB port will be used for?

[Mark McLeod]

The cRIO FRC II doesn't have the optional USB port.