wii controller

[meatmanek]

I don't think it's against the rules.

<R83> All equipment connected to the joystick ports of the Operator Interface must be powered solely through the power available through the port. External power sources of any type are not permitted on any equipment connected to the joystick ports. Portable computing devices can not be connected to joystick input ports on the Operator Interface. Power-passive devices (e.g. joysticks that draw their power solely through the Operator Interface joystick port) are permitted. The one exception to this rule is Innovation First incorporated USB adapters (IFI Part Number USB-CHICKLET) may be used to connect USB devices to the joystick ports of the Operator Interface. If used, this USB adapter must be powered with a 7.2V battery similar to the back-up battery. Teams can not use power from the competition port or any other source to power the USB adapter. The USB adapter must be positioned within the OPERATOR CONSOLE so that the indicator lights may be seen during inspection and operation in a match.

IMHO, there are two reasons for this rule:
1. So that we don't fry the OI
2. So that we can't have a computer run our robot (though you could just as easily put a computer onto the robot itself...)


It says that anything attached to the joystick ports is not allowed to have an external power source. The wiimote would not be attached to the joystick ports, and therefore should be legal. The wiimote also doesn't really violate either of the reasons I can think of for this rule, so I don't see any reason why it should be illegal.

The rule about extra radios is this:

<R66> The radio modems provided in the 2007 Kit Of Parts are the only permitted method for
communicating with the ROBOTS during the competition. Radio modems from previous
FIRST competitions can not be used. The radio modem must be connected directly to the
Robot Controller using one of the DB-9 cables provided in the 2007 Kit Of Parts. No other
form of wireless communications can be used to communicate to, from or within the ROBOT
(e.g. no Bluetooth devices are permitted on the ROBOT).

Says nothing about extra radios attached to the OI.

However, if I were a judge I might be a little wary of having a radio attached to the OI. I could see a non-GP team having someone in the stands control the robot.