Is the suggested Vision Camera setup ILLEGAL?!

[RIgnazio]

But do not forget this:
You CAN NOT use the camera servo outputs to power the angling servos for the camera. If you wish to have the camera move on its own, those outputs must go through the FRC Controller, and the FRC Controller must control the servos.

See Section 5: The Robot (http://www2.usfirst.org/2005comp/Se...5-The_Robot.pdf)

<R53> Custom Circuits may not:
• Interfere with the operation of other robots
• Directly affect any output devices on the robot, such as by providing power directly to a motor, supplying a PWM signal to a speed controller or supplying a control signal to a relay module. (Custom high impedance voltage monitoring or low impedance current monitoring circuitry connected to the robot’s electrical system is acceptable, because the effect on the robot outputs should be inconsequential.)
• Be used for wireless communication, such as sending or receiving a signal to and/or from the alliance station
• Connect to the radio or tether ports on the Robot Controller

Just to help you avoid headaches in the future.
Also, If you go to www.ifirobotics.com and look at the details for the camera, it states for the servo outputs "Not typically used in FIRST competitions" or something to that nature.

[Rocketboy]

Thanks for the heads-up

[Alex1072]

This may be a technicallity, but I thought if it's included in the kit, then it's not a custom circuit? Since all teams get one of these in the Kit, noones at a disadvantage. Is there something I'm missing?

[RIgnazio]

No problem. I had posted in a section with Programming, but the topic was closed. (I guess I was a little off topic) I was told to post in Rules.

[Dave Flowerday]

Originally Posted by RIgnazio

You CAN NOT use the camera servo outputs to power the angling servos for the camera.

Yes you can. There have been several threads on this subject already, and it has been asked and answered on the FIRST Q&A.

{edit} Looks like someone merged this with the other thread that was already talking about this subject after I posted this. {/edit}

ID: 1183 Section: 5.3 Status: Answered Date Answered: 1/17/2005
Q: May we connect servos to the PWM outputs on the CMUcam to take advantage of the automatic pan and tilt control that it provides
A: Yes. Servos connected to the camera module are considered part of the camera module and can only be connected to it.

[Steve W]

I have merged these 2 threads to make 1 of the same.