Number of monitors/computers at Driver Station

[purple_turtle]

I was wondering if there is a rule or a limit of some sort as to how many laptops or monitors we can have at the driver's station during the competition. Does anyone know if a limit or rule exists?

[oswaldonfire]

I believe you'd be limited by the fact that there is only a single 120v outlet, reserved for the Classmate PC. Although I haven't seen anything specifically prohibiting the use of multiple monitors.. so if you can figure out how to power it the you should be able to use it. Does anybody know if we're allowed to use batteries on the driver station to power additional electronics? Or can we run the classmate off of battery power and use the 120v socket for additional electronics??

I believe I saw a team in the past who put a large touch screen on their driver station in addition to the classmate PC...

[frasnow]

A USB monitor could work. http://www.mimomonitors.com/

[EricH]

Originally Posted by oswaldonfire

I believe you'd be limited by the fact that there is only a single 120v outlet, reserved for the Classmate PC. [...] Or can we run the classmate off of battery power and use the 120v socket for additional electronics??

The 120V outlet is not a 120V outlet. It's a Classmate power adapter. Guess what can't be plugged into the Classmate power adapter?

Yep, anything other than the Classmate.

I don't remember seeing any Q&As or rules about another battery powering stuff on the operator console; that may be because nobody's asked, or it may be that my memory is going bad.

[CalTran]

As well as power issues, also remember that you are limited to ~41" or so, and I would make it fairly easy to carry since you'll be doing so each and every match you go to.

[BugByte]

Originally Posted by EricH

I don't remember seeing any Q&As or rules about another battery powering stuff on the operator console; that may be because nobody's asked, or it may be that my memory is going bad.

We've had batteries on our driver station the past two years. The first time we got inspected there was some fuss but the inspector was unable to find a rule against it. We have a classmate, another netbook, and indicator lights. The design was a factor in us winning the Innovation in Control Award at Chesapeake in 2010

I say if you have use for (and can safely move) several monitors go for it!