USB Joystick adapter is here!

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by chris31

Nothing against your company I just think FIRST would look to find the same idea but cheaper cost. Also it would mean that they would have to know you would have staff to support any sort of question regarding the product that anyone might have. Dont get me wrong though, Im not trying to bash your product. I think its a great peice that would be usefull to anyone who has one, I just dont see FIRST putting them in the kit.

"Same idea at a cheaper cost?" ?? From what I can tell, no one else in the world supplies this product. $100 is a bargain. This is a one-of-a-kind innovation made by a small company who is focused on providing a service to FIRST teams.

Kudos to Crossing the Road Electronics for providing this great product to the FIRST community. I just hope that the GDC and FIRST engineering deem it legal.

Andy B.

[chris31]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

"Same idea at a cheaper cost?" ?? From what I can tell, no one else in the world supplies this product. $100 is a bargain. This is a one-of-a-kind innovation made by a small company who is focused on providing a service to FIRST teams.

Kudos to Crossing the Road Electronics for providing this great product to the FIRST community. I just hope that the GDC and FIRST engineering deem it legal.

Andy B.

Not to start an argument but there $130 (S&H?), not $100. Yes I understand that there custom and no one else makes them. Like I said, I think its a great poduct. I just dont see that they will be in the KOP. The current control system works and I dont see FIRST adding this just to use diffrent controllers. "If its not broken dont fix it". However, for the teams that want to purchase them I think there great. Im even looking at potentially getting one.

[MikeDubreuil]

Originally Posted by chris31

I just dont see that they will be in the KOP. The current control system works and I dont see FIRST adding this just to use diffrent controllers. "If its not broken dont fix it".

The joysticks FIRST is giving in the kits are abysmal compared to the older CH Flightsticks. Of course that's because Analog joysticks are 1980s technology. It's increasingly difficult to find joysticks that work with the current Operator Interface.

It is broken, that's why this product exists. FIRST is forcing us to use outdated interface technology. FIRST isn't going to create enough economic incentive for joystick manufacturers to produce Analog joysticks. Eventually IFI will have to change or FIRST will provide us or allow us to buy these Chicklets.

The fact that the Chicklet allow you to connect a game pad is just a unique feature.

I have reservations about whether CrossTheRoadElectronics would meet 2006 vendor requirements. The capital to create enough boards to timely deliver the goods is huge. Yet, AndyMark is somehow able to make due. We've ordered from them and they can deliver. Oh well, I'm not an expert at supply chain. For everyones sake I hope they are a vendor in 2007.

[Astronouth7303]

Originally Posted by MikeDubreuil

It is broken, that's why this product exists. FIRST is forcing us to use outdated interface technology.

It's not as broken as you make it sound. It is antiquated and no one makes a decent controller anymore. But it's also really, really easy to add your own stuff.

A new switch? Two leads. I could do that. A pot? Two or three wires. Anyone who understands what a soldering iron does could wire custom controls. Not so much with USB or anything else.

I'm very glad that FIRST allowed this device to be used. Too bad they just didn't change the rule to allow other power sources. (In fact, I think they made it stricter, I don't think you can have a computer connected to the dashboard, even. )