The 2009 Control System Q&A Thread

[jhersh]

Originally Posted by Bomberofdoom

Q: Which module is the PWM output one?

The PWM signals come out of the 9403. There is a break-out board that attaches to it that will provide the needed buffering.

Originally Posted by Bomberofdoom

Q2: If we don't have the new distribution block, can we use/ alternate the old electronic system and connect the CRio through it to the current motors?

The cRIO controller needs 24V to run. The new power board has a power supply on it to provide that 24V even when the battery voltage droops. With the exception of needing 24V, the rest of the old electrical system can be used to power motors. If for instance you were doing a bench test and powered the cRIO with a 24V power supply plugged into the wall and the motors were powered through the old breaker panel, it would work just fine.

Cheers!
-Joe

[Jon236]

Joe,

On The FIRST Community website, the tutorial: "NI CompactRIO Project and Building Source Distributions" refers to adding Targets. As I read it, this requires LabView Real-Time or one its sister programs. Will we be able to download a module to our existing LV 8.5 to enable us to do this?
__________________

[jhersh]

Originally Posted by Jon236

Joe,

On The FIRST Community website, the tutorial: "NI CompactRIO Project and Building Source Distributions" refers to adding Targets. As I read it, this requires LabView Real-Time or one its sister programs. Will we be able to download a module to our existing LV 8.5 to enable us to do this?
__________________

You are correct. You will need LabVIEW RT if you choose to program the controller in LabVIEW. I believe the LabVIEW RT module will come on a DVD with the rest of the software needed. I don't know that it will be available as a download.

-Joe

[Jwxie]

great
i am reading this
it will help my team to start

[Mike Copioli]

Does anyone know if it is possible to display data using the onboard LCD on the drivers station? I could not find anything in the C++ libs or docs. Is it possible using the NI interface? It would be nice if we could use the LCD to provide feedback.

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by Mike Copioli

Does anyone know if it is possible to display data using the onboard LCD on the drivers station? I could not find anything in the C++ libs or docs. Is it possible using the NI interface? It would be nice if we could use the LCD to provide feedback.

See section 3.1.8 of the manual.

[Mike Copioli]

Thanks. Question about these issues listed below. Have they happened during any of your testing?

• Occasionally, communication will lag by about 2 seconds. The workaround is to unplug any Ethernet cable for a second, then plug it back in.

I assume this could also happen during a match.

• Occasionally, communication will stop between the DS and the cRIO. One way to notice this the robot will stay disabled when you enable. The battery voltage on the DS display will also not update. The workaround is to unplug power to the DS and then let it reboot.

Same statement as above. With the documented 55 second max boot time this would pretty much disable the robot for the majority of the match.

[tdlrali]

I'm pretty sure they are going to take care of those issues before competition season comes around. If it doesn't get fixed, FIRST will quarter whoever is responsible.

[codes02]

Q: As stated in the 2009 Control System Manual section 3.1.1, the Driver Station runs 'Linux'. As Linux (probably in addition to other software on the driver station) is governed by at least the GPL v2 (particularly section 3), and as US FIRST is distributing the software, where may I download the source code for the GPL'd products utilized by and distributed for the Driver Station?

[Samuel H.]

Hello codes02,

Thank you for asking, unfortunately, this site might not be the best place to bring this (possible) omission up. I would recommend emailing frcteams@usfirst.org, FIRST's contact email for matters relating to the FIRST Robotics Competition, to get a response from those who are better able to fix any oversight.

Thanks,
Sam

[mike75]

Any ideas on what connector(s) to use on the 3x20 User I/O pin set on the driver station? I've been looking for days and can't find any good options. Thanks!

[Magnechu]

1) When we try and update the CompactRIO Imaging Tool, it comes up with a message saying:

"Unable to assign an IP address for the CompactRIO device. Ensure the IP Reset switch on the CompactRIO device is turned off."

Tried with both configurations.


2) Also, what are the purposes of all the switches next to the IP Reset Switch?


Thank you!

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by mike75

Any ideas on what connector(s) to use on the 3x20 User I/O pin set on the driver station?

Standard RC servo connectors work great. I've bought them from http://www.hansenhobbies.com/ in the past.

[codes02]

Originally Posted by Samuel H.

Hello codes02,

Thank you for asking, unfortunately, this site might not be the best place to bring this (possible) omission up. I would recommend emailing frcteams@usfirst.org, FIRST's contact email for matters relating to the FIRST Robotics Competition, to get a response from those who are better able to fix any oversight.

Thanks,
Sam

In case anyone was wondering, I sent an email to FIRST as soon as I read Samuel's post (thank you for the prompt response).

As it has been 11 days, and I have received no reply, I sent resent the same message to them a few minutes ago.

[professorX]

Originally Posted by Magnechu

1) When we try and update the CompactRIO Imaging Tool, it comes up with a message saying:

"Unable to assign an IP address for the CompactRIO device. Ensure the IP Reset switch on the CompactRIO device is turned off."

Tried with both configurations.


2) Also, what are the purposes of all the switches next to the IP Reset Switch?


Thank you!

I'm having the same problem.
Before it asked you "Ensure the IP Reset switch on the CompactRIO device is turned off" did it say to turn safe mode on?