Per the game rules, it looks like they went to a lot of effort to specifically make it legal to use a COTS laptop on a robot:
<R34> Batteries integral to and part of a COTS computing device are also permitted (i.e. laptop batteries), provided they’re only used to power the COTS computing device.
<R45> F. drive motors or fans that are part of a speed controller or COTS computing device.
<R50> B. Ethernet-connected COTS devices or custom circuits may connect to either cRIO-FRC Ethernet port; however, these devices may not transmit or receive UDP packets using ports 1100-1200 except for ports 1130 and 1140.
Anyone have any clever uses for a laptop on the robot? (assuming you want to spend the weight…)
One for the Q&A: the price limit for individual components is still $400, with no exemption for a laptop. Not many laptops out there at price points below $400.
Peter,
There are many out there that come with little or no software other than OS. You wouldn’t want all the other junk clouding up you robot laptop anyway. Check places like Microcenter or rebuild centers for Dell and HP.
Also, you can put together your own machine using a Mini-ITX motherboard. LogicSupply.com is where we get ours for work. You can get a motherboard with processor for around $75-$100, and a power supply for $70-$80. Then all you need is HD and RAM. I’m not sure if any of the boards there will boot off a USB drive or not, but if they do then the HD can be cut down to a 4GB or 8GB USB stick.
There are PLENTY of laptops under $400, after all there are a plethora of EEE PCs and other netbooks around the $300 mark, sometimes they go on huge sales too. Plus since they’re all running Atom boards they all have pretty much the same specs. If you were to add a laptop to the robot, a netbook may be a good choice as they’re already made to be small and lightweight, and the ones with solid state drive are already shock resistant. Here is a link to a list on Newegg for reference:
As per R19 “No individual item shall have a value of over $400.00. The total cost of COMPONENTS purchased in bulk may exceed $400.00 USD as long as the cost of an individual COMPONENT does not exceed $400.00.”
It says VALUE not cost. If you jack this $200 dollar laptop with $1000 of software in my eyes this would put the value of the laptop at $1200 and would be over the limit as per R19.
Technically one can buy a very low end, but upgradeable laptop priced just below $400 and buy the upgrades necessary to make it more like a $600 laptop. There were no rules about that. Just buy them in separate orders.
Section 4.3.5
"
G. If the item is part of a modular system that can be assembled in several possible configurations or applications, then each individual module must fit within the price constraints defined in Rule <R19>. If the modules are designed to assemble into a single configuration, and the assembly is functional in only that configuration, then the total cost of the complete assembly including all modules must fit within the price constraints defined in Rule <R19>. "
This is as good a time as any to talk about computers on the robot. If your team is considering using such a device, know that inspectors will be checking for secure mounting on the computing device. “LogoMotion is a very vigorous game, with potential for changes in ROBOT orientation and significant interaction among ROBOTS. There is a high probability that your ROBOT will be overturned at some point.”
It’s late, I’m tired:p , I have a head cold, so here’s some more questions that aren’t covered when it comes to the COTS laptop:
If the COTS laptop contacts extraterrestrial life with SETI during the competition does that team get extra points?
What safe guards are provided for the COTS laptop to prevent it from being infected by an intelligent living digital program from outer space and taking over the machine shop to build copies of itself to put tubes on every telephone pole in America? Do we get extra points for that as long as no one gets hurt and wears the proper safety gear?
Is it a violation of Gracious Professionalism to load Dr. Sbaitso on the COTS laptop and have it provide unlicensed psychotherapy to various humans and other robots? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Sbaitso
Will all the tubes in all the competitions get a bonus if the robot goes into space, gets upgraded by aliens and returns to Earth to complete it’s mission by placing a huge ‘ubertube’ in orbit around the Earth’s equator? Must that tube hold atmospheric pressure to qualify? Since it’ll probably forget part of it’s name, how can we properly identify it?
Will we get a penalty if a black monolith interferes with our COTS laptop operation by exerting an evolutionary effect on it? Can we prevent the penalty by removing the laptop as it sings…“Daisy…Daisy…D…A…I…S…”
:rolleyes: There’s other mentors out there reading this and I bet they’ll have to explain the humor to someone.
cause I know where to find some 8GHz P4 overclocking instructions.)