NI Week Athena Announcement and Q&A Panel

[Clinton Bolinger]

Originally Posted by Jon Stratis

As the device runs on CAN, I would assume you can utilize more than one of the devices on the robot at a time. From what I've seen inspecting, a majority of teams don't need more than 4 double solenoids. Since you have to draw the line somewhere (4, 8, 20, whatever), why not keep the whole thing as small as possible while making it all most teams need? The teams that need more will get more by adding more boards.

What Jon said +1.

Also, teams can use single acting Solenoids and reduce the number of outputs needed. As long as they are comfortable with having a default state of their cylinder, that will actuate at the end of the match or loss of comms.

The CTRE device is replacing the current solenoid module that has 8 outputs, but allows for easier (and less weight) expansion of more outputs.

-Clinton-

[efoote868]

Originally Posted by magnets

A gyro would have trouble if a team decided to mount their control system vertically, or if they didn't put the controller in the center of the robot. Every year we get these accelerometers in the KoP, and I still have no idea what to do with them. We have like 10.

There are 3 axis gyros as well. I used a digital I2C one in my senior design project. The chip (L3GD20) had a footprint of about 4mm x 4mm, wonder if they can fit one on in future revisions?

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by apalrd

--I'm not worried about enough IO, but a few more ADC's would be nice for extra datalogging. Buzz18 uses 5 of 7 and Buzz 17 used 6 of 7, and it's nice to look at other analog signals every now and then. I also wonder if the 5v/3.3v supply is monitored by the ADC separately because we like to look at that for diagnostics, and previously used a jumper in adc7 to do this, which consumes an analog channel.

The specs list 8 ADC and 2 DAC. Presumably, the extra ones are on the Custom Electronics Port. Since the ADCs are 12 bit 0-5v, we get 2 free bits compared to the current cRIO, as long as you don't care about -10 to 10v.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by magnets

This is not good. The eight solenoid control really only allows for 4 solenoids, as the double solenoids require two channels to operate. With the relays it will allow for a total of 8 double solenoids. I know that 118 has used more than this in the past, and 236's bump thing used 8 just for their wheels, plus 2 or 3 more on the rest of the bot.

The relay outputs onboard are intended to drive a spike I imagine, if they are keeping with the nomenclature of the sidecar (and the fact that they are three pins confirms this).

Driving pneumatics off a spike is doable, but really doesn't make any sense in this era.

The CAN based pneumatics bumper would presumably allow effectively unlimited for FRC sake.

Also, no way 236 used more than 8 solenoids for that motion. I just don't see enough going on for that.

[wilsonmw04]

how does one use livestream. i made an account and went to the link provided but there isn't a video feed, just a few posts with pics of the new controller. it says there are 300+ watching but i can't find it!! please an old guy out :-)

[Steven Donow]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

how does one use livestream. i made an account and went to the link provided but there isn't a video feed, just a few posts with pics of the new controller. it says there are 300+ watching but i can't find it!! please an old guy out :-)

Nothing is streaming yet(well, not until <2 minutes from now)

EDIT: As I typed that, the stream started, albeit with a lost signal message(That went away as I edited this post...)

[wilsonmw04]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

how does one use livestream. i made an account and went to the link provided but there isn't a video feed, just a few posts with pics of the new controller. it says there are 300+ watching but i can't find it!! please an old guy out :-)

NM! it starts on its own...

[AdamHeard]

Anyone know when the video from this morning will be posted?

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

how does one use livestream. i made an account and went to the link provided but there isn't a video feed, just a few posts with pics of the new controller. it says there are 300+ watching but i can't find it!! please an old guy out :-)

Refresh, they just posted the stream.

[dellagd]

Q&A Starting!

[Steven Donow]

From the Q&A, there will be an expansion port for your own electronics/more analog inputs.

[Gregor]

• Deploying over USB will be available.
  
• LabVIEW Pro Edition, Java SE, and C++ 11 will be used.
  
• Both Ethernet and USB radios are compatible, they are still testing to find which radio will be used.
  
• Ethernet cameras (i.e. Axis cameras), USB camera (less expensive), and even commercial cameras (high quality).
  
• Targeting low $400s in price, and expecting for it to eventually lower in the future. Expect a more firm answer at the 2014 Championship.
  
• The Kinect will be available to interface directly to the RoboRIO, but NI doesn't plan on including native support.
  
• Reverse polarity protection +- 12V
  
• Library level (not processor level) software simulator.
  
• Additional diagnostic tools will be available in the driverstation for teams, and in the FMS for event staff.
  
• RoboRIO will have conformal coating.
  
• 1 RoboRIO will be available per team at a reduced rate once per year, additional units will be at the academic price.

[cgmv123]

Kate won't say whether the roboRIO is even allowed for 2015.

[BigJ]

Java SE! Java SE! Java SE!

[magnets]

We will use Java SE, not ME, and we'll be programming in eclipse!