Programming a Custom Dashboard

[TogetherSword8]

We are looking at creating a custom dashboard for our team this year. Is there any element of the dashboard that must communicate with the field, or are we able to edit the dashboard code freely for our purposes?

[Alan Anderson]

There is no requirement for a Dashboard program to implement any specific communication with anything. There isn't even a requirement for a Dashboard program to be running. You can do pretty much whatever you want with it, subject to limitations on available network ports and bandwidth.

[William Kunkel]

Just to clarify, the Driver Station (the bottom part of the standard display) is required by FIRST and cannot be modified or replaced. The Dashboard (the top part of the standard display) is not required and can be whatever you want.

[yash101]

It'd be cool to be able to minimize the FMS DS, and create a web interface for the cRIO, to create a custom DriverStation! It would probably be legal because the robot is still master-controlled by the FMS, running with the normal DS!

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by yash101

It'd be cool to be able to minimize the FMS DS,

While it might be cool, it would be illegal per R92.

[Greg McKaskle]

When the window borders are removed, the DS is only 200 pixels tall. On most laptops that gives you lots of space for a dashboard. Do you really need to minimize?

When the window has borders, it can in fact be minimized. I'm not sure what an FTA or FTAA would say about that on the field. Please keep in mind that if they have trouble getting your robot and DS connected, you will potentially slow down match schedules.

Greg McKaskle