RoboRio

[Mark Sheridan]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

I didn't get a chance to come by at CMP but every prototype I've seen has had male pins on the controller. Perhaps someone can explain who thought this was a good idea? Male pins belong on cheap/easily replaceable components not on the core controller. They bend, they break, they accumulate chips. Is the plan to stick with male headers on the RoboRio?

I talked to an NI engineer at the booth. He was one of the designers and he said he would have recommended industrial connectors for the system but he said compromises were made to work with existing hardware. NI pushed for higher quality connectors and systems. That is why CAN is returning but CAN lacks a universal connector in industry and the system was "simplified" to using bare wire.

I think there was a fear that teams with less resources would struggle using industrial standards and the system was made to be similar to what is currently used. I could tell that NI wanted to introduce FIRST to more professional stuff but there was a reluctance to move to far away from the current model.

Its a shame cause I was hoping FIRST would move away from the bare wire connectors like the WAGO but it looks like they are going to stay . I really wish the PD board came different options, I want one with powerpole 45s board mounted.