New robot controller next year?

[Jaime648]

Yeah, we just had a meeting last night and they told us that we have to get a new controller program. So we have to learn all new stuff. Which will be good because you get to learn different programs and stuff like that. Even though I'm not in the electronics i think it will work out just fine.

[Dan 550]

Ugh. I don't know how I'd handle a new controller...our programmers just tweaked their pBasic skills to what I'd call "good" this year, and now they're gonna throw this at me. Wow. Maybe it'll be good -- maybe they'll keep pBasic and expand the flash and RAM and maybe give some more inputs and outputs and some better feedback on the OI. Little flashy lights are not sufficient, and the dashboard port makes for a bunch of glorified flashy lights on a computer (which I think is a hassle and gets in the way). At least have bigger, brighter flashy lights! My one complaint is that the current RC doesn't handle non-player input sufficiently without miracle code. And it's hard to have miracle code with just two guys coding, who both actually have lives and don't live breathe and die pBasic during the build and test time.

-EDIT-

Okay, reading further, I see that there will indeed be a bigger, better RC/OI combo. Yippee. Now I gotta ramp up my programmers for C.

[Dan 550]

Originally posted by Wetzel
From a FIRST email blast.
"The rumors are true; a new control system is coming. The new RC has a user programmable Microchip PIC" controller operating at 10 MIPS, gives direct access to I/O, has interrupts, and is programmable in C. Please do not contact Innovation First requesting information as more details will be available at www.InnovationFirst.com in the next few weeks when the product ships.

Last year all teams received the FIRST EDUrobotics kit to assist in preparation for the FIRST Robotics Competition season. Based on the overwhelming response and positive feedback from teams for survey results, FIRST will again offer the FIRST EDUrobotics Kit to the incoming rookie and returning teams that did not compete last year. After these teams register for an event, and upon receipt of a $500 deposit at FIRST, they will receive the kit that will include the new Innovation First Control System. All deposits are applied toward the $5,000 registration fee; however, once product is shipped the deposit is non-refundable. In order to allow everyone to build familiarity with the system, all teams that received the FIRST EDUrobotics kit last year will receive the new control system when they register. On-line instructional materials will be available on our website at www.usfirst.org. Both items should start shipping approximately October 15, so register early.

In order to provide the new robot controllers and other new parts in the kit this coming year and stay within budget constraints, it is necessary for FIRST to make some changes to the kit of parts. Battery chargers, joysticks and compressors will be supplied to teams in their first and second year. Veteran teams should have two sets of these parts and can use them on their 2004 robot. We hope you find some of the new parts exciting and challenging."


Whos excited?

Wetzel

Ooh, fun. Gotta find those broken controllers, lost battery chargers, and worn out compressors. I'm excited now.

[Ellery]

Just to add more to the mix, last year I was at Dean's house and I witnessed the Innovation FIRST guy demo something similar to the Playstation control pad to a bunch of people. That would be MAD kool to have more IO in the palm of your hands that's more ergonomic as well.

Ellery

[Dan 550]

Hmm...Play$tation junkies will like that, but I see an issue. A smaller control stick is less precise, as the motion between registered value degrees is a direct relation to the length of the control stick. The bigger the stick, the more precise you are. Most P$ games register four values - 0%, 33%, 66%, 100%. That's not precise enough for me.