Digital I/O from driver station vs FirstTouch I/O Module

[meakerb]

The programmer for our team has utilized some of the digital I/O on the IO Tab of the Driver Station to send some configuration settings to the robot (unique for each driver). The question is: is there any reason this functionality will not work at competition?

The reason we ask is we don't understand the reason for the FirstTouch I/O Module. The Control System Manual Introduction (chaper 1) calls these the "virtual digital I/O". The system as is works for us, but we don't want to get to the competition and find out we need the FirstTouch I/O Module.

Thanks,
Team 3221

[EricVanWyk]

If you are comfortable with your set-up, it is fine.

The virtual I/O are great in that they are easy to use and virtual. However, they might not be great for use during competition: Can you imagine hunting with a mouse during a match?

The FirstTOUCH I/O are great in that they can be connected to actual buttons and knobs, which are much easier to use in situ.

If they don't change during a match, I'd go with virtual.

[meakerb]

Thanks, thats exactly what I had hoped would be the case. And yes, these are set for the driver's preference so won't change during the match.

[EricWilliams]

Originally Posted by EricVanWyk

If you are comfortable with your set-up, it is fine.

The virtual I/O are great in that they are easy to use and virtual. However, they might not be great for use during competition: Can you imagine hunting with a mouse during a match?

The FirstTOUCH I/O are great in that they can be connected to actual buttons and knobs, which are much easier to use in situ.

If they don't change during a match, I'd go with virtual.

Is this information available during autonomous period? Obviously they can't be changed in that time, but can they be set before the match and read?

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by EricWilliams

Is this information available during autonomous period? Obviously they can't be changed in that time, but can they be set before the match and read?

Yes, and yes. This is a new feature of the control system this year -- instead of all joysticks reading neutral and all buttons reading off during Autonomous, their actual state just before Autonomous Enabled is what gets read.