FRC Blogged - The 2015 Control System Request for Proposa

[Dkt01]

Originally Posted by BigJ

(Kinect doesn't even play video games well )

Maybe this research could be beneficial. I haven't tested it, but preliminary results are fascinating.

[apalrd]

Originally Posted by Nick Lawrence

Am I the only one who misses the original Linksys gaming bridges? I find it silly that we have a radio that takes longer than the crio to boot...

-Nick

We still use ours for practice robots.
Even after a robot landed on it in 2010 and dented the case.


On topic, I am interested to see the possible solutions. I hope all of the developers will focus on simplicity before optional features, as I would much rather have a simpler system that always works than something even more complicated than what we have now that also has a USB2 port. That said, I would love more features if they are reliable and don't cost too much in terms of weight/complexity, especially if they're optional - such as a smart PD board that can optionally be connected to a CAN/LIN bus or left unconnected.

I also wish FIRST would give up on processing vision on the RC itself. Dashboard is fine, coprocessor is fine, just not the RC itself. It's already busy.

[FrankJ]

They did not say they where changing just the contract was up, and doing they are doing due diligence. NI does not depend on making money from us to stay in business. I imagine a smaller company like IFI would. If not NI I would expect First would want another company with similar resources take up the challenge.

For reference look up a single seat license for the pro version of labview costs.

What bridge or other wireless solution gets used is a totally separate subject from the robot controller.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by FrankJ

NI does not depend on making money from us to stay in business. I imagine a smaller company like IFI would.

Common misconception. My understanding is during IFI's run of making our control system, Rack Solutions was their big money maker. With the introduction of VEX they are obviously doing more than fine without FIRST.

[Ekcrbe]

Don't be appalled by the lack of "required" functions and the many that are "suggested". That's to draw more options, so that one issue doesn't derail an otherwise capable system. Just remember, if it's not better than the cRIO, we won't be changing systems. The system will not get worse.

[FrankJ]

So we go back to Fortran. Anybody have a card reader with a USB port?

We could go with a GE, Fanuc, AB, Siemens, ABB, ..... a host of others. They all have their own graphical language as well.