New Info on 2009 control system, maybe

[Dave Flowerday]

Originally Posted by Mike Soukup

Ridiculous.

We used the 1 byte display on the IFI controller for quick pot calibration in the pits and at our practice field and for feedback about our autonomous programs. Now our drivers will have to hook up a laptop instead? Bad move FIRST.

Sounds like the driver's station is a real mess. Check out the thread that Joe Ross posted on the FIRST forums. When a joystick is unplugged, the controller keeps sending the old value! Clearly, they were more concerned with whiz-bang features on this system than basic safety. As a counter-example, IFI design IN HARDWARE a mechanism that if a joystick was unplugged, the output went to a safe value (so you know they were thinking about it from the outset). I grow increasingly concerned that safety seems to be an afterthought with the new system. We're dealing with such dangerous machines here - many people trust the control system to keep them safe. Joe mentioned a 2-second lag that sometimes occurs. Does this affect the robot disable signal as well?

Scary stuff. I once again suggest that everyone keep their bodies well clear of any robot powered by the new system whenever it is turned on. No more trusting the disable switch until the new system proves it is safe (which it clearly isn't right now).

To say I'm disappointed that they'd ship a system with these types of safety defects is an understatement.