Are we required to use the classmate computer at the competition?

[Team4014]

The title pretty much says it all. We want to use one of our personal laptops during the competition, and we're not sure if that's allowed. Does anyone know? (We're hoping we can, because frankly, we're tired of the classmate.)

[Steven Donow]

No, you are not required to. FIRST's website has detailed instructions on how to use a non-classmate PC at the competitions.

The only thing is, you'll want to keep battery life in mind, they don't give you an outlet to plug your laptop into if it's not a classmate(last year we sometimes hit issues with REALLY long queing times...)

[EricH]

If you're not sure something is allowed, check the rulebook to see if it isn't allowed. If the rulebook is silent, you can assume that it is allowed.

In this case, the Manual isn't silent. I'd like to introduce you to [R80], particularly the first part of the blue box (indicated by blue text).

[R80]
The Driver Station software provided on the Kit of Parts website is the only tool permitted to specify and communicate the operating mode (i.e. Autonomous/Teleop) and operating state (enable/disable) to the Robot. The Driver Station software must be revision 11.30.11.00 or newer.

Teams are permitted to use a portable computing device of their choice (laptop computer, PDAs, etc.) to host the Driver Station software while participating in competition Matches.

Please note that 19V DC, 2 amp power will be provided at the Player Station for Classmates provided in the KOPs via Classmate power adapters. The manufacturer has confimed that the power supply provided at the Player Station is compatible with both E09 and E11 Classmate versions. No 120 V AC port will be available.

The FMS will verify that the Driver Station software is correct before it will permit a Robot to operate on the Court.

[tomy]

From my understanding you can use anything as long as it has the right software. If you made an ipad app for it and had all the specs you could use that

[cgmv123]

Originally Posted by tomy

From my understanding you can use anything as long as it has the right software. If you made an ipad app for it and had all the specs you could use that

iPad doesn't have Ethernet and you have to use the FIRST provided software, so no iPad.

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by stevend1994

The only thing is, you'll want to keep battery life in mind, they don't give you an outlet to plug your laptop into if it's not a classmate(last year we sometimes hit issues with REALLY long queing times...)

We encountered the same problem as our classmate aged. The battery life seemed to decrease like crazy after 2010. To remedy this we took an older robot battery that had been set aside for practice and testing and hooked it up to an inverter on our cart. Whenever we left our pit we'd plug the classmate into the inverter. Worked wonders for preserving what little battery life that thing had left. Something like this would do the trick for most teams: http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-0626.htm