NEW 2009 Control System Released

[valiot]

I took a lot of video this year in Atlanta. My first one up is a run down of the new controller. Watch here:

Video of cRIO controller in a robot

[rfolea]

Outstanding Video - Thanks!

[MikeDubreuil]

Originally Posted by valiot

Video of cRIO controller in a robot

Great video... Andy Deck from NI says they are donating a controller to every team. Does this mean registration fees will be going down?

[Branden Ghena]

Originally Posted by MikeDubreuil

Andy Deck from NI says they are donating a controller to every team. Does this mean registration fees will be going down?

Actually, it means the kit will still cost the same. The cRIO is an expensive product, and I believe that NI is donating somewhere around $10 million to FIRST to allow them to use the cRIOs and still keep costs down.

[Madison]

Originally Posted by tawnos23

Actually, it means the kit will still cost the same. The cRIO is an expensive product, and I believe that NI is donating somewhere around $10 million to FIRST to allow them to use the cRIOs and still keep costs down.

Ignoring any other changes -- registration for veteran teams should be reduced in 2010 and beyond. The fee was raised $1,000 when FIRST began allowing teams to keep their IFI control systems each year. If we are not going to be provided a new control system each year, that fee increase should be repealed. If registration remains the same, veteran teams are getting less value in future seasons than they have in the past. I don't particularly care how expensive the NI control system is -- that is FIRST's concern. My team's concern is that our considerable expense provides good value.

That we're not receiving a new control system each year, irrespective of how powerful or cool the NI system may be, represents decreased value for the registration we currently pay. Actually, it represents additional expenses for our team to maintain the same level of development and outreach. I am surprised there hasn't been more discussion about how this new system will affect registration fees in the future.

[EricVanWyk]

Originally Posted by tawnos23

Actually, it means the kit will still cost the same. The cRIO is an expensive product, and I believe that NI is donating somewhere around $10 million to FIRST to allow them to use the cRIOs and still keep costs down.

This is speculation. FIRST has yet to announce registration costs for 2009.

What is certain is that no part of your registration fee ends up in NI's pocket.

[tdlrali]

Where is the VxWorks documentation that some of you were talking about? I couldn't find anything relevant on the windriver website. If it was posted already, I'm sorry, it was lost somewhere on the last 20 pages...

[dcbrown]

Originally Posted by tdlrali

Where is the VxWorks documentation that some of you were talking about? I couldn't find anything relevant on the windriver website. If it was posted already, I'm sorry, it was lost somewhere on the last 20 pages...

See post http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...276#post740276, just be aware that the cRIO port of VxWorks doesn't have all the components listed in the doc set - the specifics of VxWorks on cRIO won't be released until some time in the future because the C/C++ interface is not currently a public released development environment.

[coolbho3000]

Originally Posted by artdutra04

Why?

If you want Linux on an embedded control system, you can already buy those.

And judging by notable implemtations of VxWorks, it seems like it's more than capable.

Why port Linux to anything?

Anyway, the NI one is more powerful, legal to use in FRC (correct me if I'm wrong - not too familiar with the rules yet), and much cheaper for teams.

[Kevin Sevcik]

Originally Posted by coolbho3000

Why port Linux to anything?

Anyway, the NI one is more powerful, legal to use in FRC (correct me if I'm wrong - not too familiar with the rules yet), and much cheaper for teams.

Given that the Qwerk has a 200MHz processor vs the cRIO's 400MHz, a (I think) 500K gate FPGA vs 2M gate FPGA, and a $349 retail price tag vs. $3000 retail..... Well I think that about says it all.

[Jwxie]

cool
there are so many terms i don;t understand
-.-rookie hard...

[kamocat]

Originally Posted by Kyle Fenton

Does anyone know if this is mac and linux compatible. I know that there is a Labview IDE for mac os x, but is there a compiler for the new control board

It is mac compatible, somewhat. The first hint is that they have 4 CDs for Windows, and only one for mac. I certainly haven't found any compiler (for free) yet, and it seems they don't really give support for their DAQ on OSX. Heck, I haven't found any compiler for free yet. Can't they give us the compiler for the CRIO-9074? Compiling is usually half of the practicing in programming (though I know with this, most of the debugging is done while it's still a VI).