[FRC Blog] New 2015 FRC controller from National Instruments

[Peter Johnson]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

I hope we get more than 20 combined pwm out/digital in!

Based on other information I've seen posted about the new system, there will likely be a way to get more through some sort of expansion port like they're doing for pneumatics breakouts (via CAN bus). If the 34-pin header is compatible with the existing digital sidecar that's an even more straightforward expansion.

Speaking of, at least a couple of the connectors on this PCB should be for the CAN bus, but it's hard to tell which ones.

[ehochstein]

Originally Posted by Peter Johnson

Based on other information I've seen posted about the new system, there will likely be a way to get more through some sort of expansion port like they're doing for pneumatics breakouts (via CAN bus).

Speaking of, at least a couple of the connectors on this PCB should be for the CAN bus, but it's hard to tell which ones.

I've also heard you will be able to run two controllers in master-slave mode to allow for additional ports. I believe their goal is to make this controller affordable for each team to buy one yearly (as it should be).

[Joe Ross]

Here's the things you should be trying to fit in: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...23#post1267723

[mman1506]

I'm going to guess that the IDE style connector will got to a CAN "sidecar" like the CRE crosslink.
also the ethernet and the USB-B port look like right angle parts. hmmh....

[Kims Robot]

Is it bad that his comment made me look for the screenprinted FIRST logo somewhere on the board? Unfortunately it doesnt look like that is the "interesting" part. A little sizable, but looks like some good features

[Peter Johnson]

The center component looks like it's for a Xilinx FG400 package.. so maybe a Spartan-3 series FPGA? If so, processor is likely on the other side of the board.

[Peter Johnson]

Originally Posted by mman1506

I'm going to guess that the IDE style connector will got to a CAN "sidecar" like the CRE crosslink.
also the ethernet and the USB-B port look like right angle parts. hmmh....

I think the big connector is simply the "custom electronics port". The Ethernet and USB ports look vertical style instead of right angle (if it was right angle, the Ethernet port would be facing the center of the board). Also, vertical style ports would be consistent with the cRIO style and make possible more compact electronic layouts (no ports off to the sides!).