Compressor/Spike Default Setting = On

[George Nishimura]

This may be a strange time to post this, but on the weekend before our trip to WPI, anxiety over potential problems is starting to build up.

We've been having this "problem" for most of the season, although we're not even sure it's a problem. It involves electronics and programming, but because it only relates to the compressor, I'm posting this here.

To get to the point, whenever the robot is turned on, or when we are building code, or whenever the cRio is not communicating with the robot, the compressor turns on. We've concluded that this is the behaviour of the spike, as its default setting is power on.

This isn't a major problem, as most of the time our pneumatics system won't reach 120 psi in the short time the cRio isn't on if we start with an empty tank. But during code deployment, and if we want to enter the field with an already pressured pneumatics system, it's kind of a pain to have to keep the release valve open and remember to close it before the game starts.

I'm hoping there is a real quick fix for this, and that it isn't a safety issue worthy of disqualifying our robot. Thanks.