cypress I/O help

[MAldridge]

As a last minute addition requested by the team, I have been asked to expand the driver station to a two person drive system. I plan on the second person working the manipulator from switches connected to the cypress I/O module. I already have the code done. The code reads inputs 4-6 but I need to know how to connect some simple switches to the I/O module.

Speedy responses are appreciated, I have until Wednesday to make this work.

[Mark McLeod]

A toggle switch on the Cypress board connects between the Ground and the signal pin.
Here are the pins.

[MAldridge]

Thanks for the speedy reply. Do you suggest soldering, or hacking a three pin cable apart?

[Mark McLeod]

Soldering works using a low-temp soldering iron.
We've also used a wire-wrap tool to connect the wires, and we've used pre-made specialized mounting boards from eStop Robotics.
For use year-after-year, the mounting board is easiest.

The PWM connectors aren't really suited for the Cypress pins.

[MAldridge]

how about a PWM cable and some hot melt glue

[Mark McLeod]

You probably don't need the hot glue, but it couldn't hurt.
The PWM individual pin connectors will be snug, they are the right .1" size.

With PWM cables you'll need a separate one to connect the ground pin, and that one connection is all you need for all of the other signals you'll be using.
Your switches can combine all their grounds to that one wire.

Then a separate PWM cable can carry up to three of the signal pin connections that get wired to the other side of your switches.

[MAldridge]

Alright, I have the switch board done. Is there anything else I should know about the cypress board? My team didn't take it out of the shrink-wrap last year, so I am the first to try and use it.

[Mark McLeod]

See How to Configure your I/O Module to get the Cypress board setup correctly before you use it the first time.
FRC uses special custom firmware you have to downloaded if the Cypress is fresh out of the box. If you didn't use the Cypress last year, then it may not be updated with the correct firmware yet.

If you power the Cypress board with the USB cable, then you can push the tiny button on the Cypress board and get the 2nd red led to light if the firmware is correct.

[Radical Pi]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

If you power the Cypress board with the USB cable, then you can push the tiny button on the Cypress board and get the 2nd red led to light if the firmware is correct.

Be careful with that. The light thing doesn't work if the driver station program is running (at least in my usage).

[MAldridge]

Is it still possible to manually set the DIO in the tab of the driver station once the cypress board is plugged in? I'd like to have an override switch that puts the driver back instead of the operator.

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by Radical Pi

Be careful with that. The light thing doesn't work if the driver station program is running (at least in my usage).

If the Driver station app is running you'll get a green I/O indicator on the tab, and inside the Diagnostics tab as well, that shows your Cypress is working.

If you push the button then and hold it, I think the whole strip of LEDs will light up.

Originally Posted by MAldridge

Is it still possible to manually set the DIO in the tab of the driver station once the cypress board is plugged in? I'd like to have an override switch that puts the driver back instead of the operator.

If the Cypress is plugged in then the I/O tab will not work.
To override it and get the tab controls to work instead, you have to physically unplug the Cypress USB cable.

BTW: The tab controls only work in the default Compatibility mode. They do not work at all in Enhanced mode.