USB Joystick adapter is here!

[Mike Copioli]

Originally Posted by Richard

From the photo it looks to be compatible with a wall mounted power supply; e.g., Digikey T313-P13P-ND (5V, 550mA, $4.85) or similar. The 5V connector appears to be a 1.7mm receptacle with center positive. Mike, please correct this if I'm wrong about the connector..

The connector is a 2.1mm center positive. The supply is included with the device.

Originally Posted by Richard

The more important question on changing <R78> remains to be answered:It would not be sensible to simply delete the rule; to minimize hazards FIRST will probably want to restrict the type of external power supply allowed. Or maybe they'll just keep the "power-passive" requirement as it has been.

This is the important question indeed. We are working to find a way to power it off of the O/I. A possibility is powering it from the competition port.
As far as the rule is concerned, I am not even going to begin to speculate weather or not FIRST will change this rule. I will say that it would be dissapointing to not be able to use this technology because of a rule that was created before it existed. We were aware of the necessity of a rule change prior to developing the device. That is the risk you take in bussiness I guess this is similar to what Dean Kamen must have gone through when he created the segway. I know some City's don't allow segways on the streets or sidwalk's. It is a shame to see such technology get restricted.