control devices

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Posted by Patrick.

Coach on team #409, Flaming Eagles, from Oak Grove High School and NASA Ames Research Center.

Posted on 2/26/2000 6:56 PM MST



does anyone know if we are allowed to use our own joysticks. Also, may we buy our own switches for
the control panel? If we can, can they be lighted? Why or why not?

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Posted by Justin Stiltner.

Student on team #388, Epsilon, from Grundy High School and NASA, American Electric Power, Town of Grundy.

Posted on 2/26/2000 8:01 PM MST


In Reply to: control devices posted by Patrick on 2/26/2000 6:56 PM MST:



I am not 100% shure but im farely shure that you cannot use any joysticks other than the model that is provided. You are allowed to buy switches but they cannot be lighted for some reason I think that usually they take their power from the switched source and that would overload the control system and mess up the input.

Justin Stiltner
Team 388
Grundy Va,

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Posted by Joe Johnson.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 2/26/2000 8:58 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: control devices posted by Justin Stiltner on 2/26/2000 8:01 PM MST:



I think that as long as the joysticks only use switches and 100Kohm pots on the inside, wired according to FIRST's rules, ANY joystick is fair game.

FIRST has made it clear that there are not limits on the materials used on the operator interface side.

I would say that this included joystick assemblies.

The only question then would be the rules on wiring. Since 100Kohm linear pots and switches are on the unlimited quantity list, I think you are home free, PROVIDED that they are wired as shown in the manual.

One thing that would probably not be allowed is some of the programmable joysticks that are out there because they have CPU's on the inside. Since CPU's are not on the additional hardware list, I don't think they would be allowed.

Just my interpretation.

Joe J.

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Posted by Raul.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.

Posted on 2/27/2000 7:06 PM MST


In Reply to: Door is wide open posted by Joe Johnson on 2/26/2000 8:58 PM MST:



I though Eric said 'anything goes - just don't create a control room on wheels.'

Raul

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Posted by Thomas A. Frank.

Engineer on team #121, The Islanders/Rhode Warrior, from Middletown (RI) High School and Naval Undersea Warfare Center.

Posted on 2/28/2000 3:07 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: Door is wide open posted by Raul on 2/27/2000 7:06 PM MST:



: I though Eric said 'anything goes - just don't create a control room on wheels.'


Not quite...yes, all the 100K pots and switches non-lighted (but you CAN drill a whole and put in one of the kit LED's if you want) switches you would like. However, you cannot use, say, RJ-45 jacks/cables to assemble the harness (which is what I wanted to do to simplify attachment and disassembly).

We ended up with a simple layout, as our machine just isn't that complex from the operators perspective.

Tom Frank

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Posted by Nate Smith.

Other on team #66, GM Powertrain/Willow Run HS, from Eastern Michigan University and GM Powertrain.

Posted on 2/27/2000 7:18 PM MST


In Reply to: control devices posted by Patrick on 2/26/2000 6:56 PM MST:



: does anyone know if we are allowed to use our own joysticks.
As per Additional Hardware List:
CH Products Flightstick Joystick - Up to 2 (total of 4)
So, it sounds like they're not allowing any additional types.

: Also, may we buy our own switches for
: the control panel? If we can, can they be lighted? Why or why not?

As for switches, I sent an e-mail to Eric not that long ago about creating a powered switch of a different type, and he said that the +5Vdc available on the ports cannot handle a lighted switch (or custom processor [don't ask]). However, as long as it doesn't have a light in it, you can use any type of switch you want..we've got a 4-pole, 12 position switch on our operator panel.

As for the 'anything goes' wording in the team updates, I believe that was more towards the materials used to build your control panel/carrying case/etc...

Nate
See everybody at EMU!