pic: Adding Memory to the RoboRIO

marshall · January 2, 2019, 3:43am

Playing around with swap space on the RoboRIO and this seemed like an interesting way to test it. Gist is here with more details: https://gist.github.com/marshallmassengill/05c8fc02067c0677bc3fe2d299322292

marshall · January 1, 2019, 4:49pm

I blame Kevin for this. It’s all his fault.

ATannahill · January 3, 2019, 6:10am

Can’t you just download more memory?

Thayer_McCollum · January 3, 2019, 6:10am

Yes It’s incredibly effective.

marshall · January 3, 2019, 6:10am

You gotta have an internet connection on the robot for that and we didn’t want to risk not having that at a competition.

Andrew_Schreiber · January 1, 2019, 4:49pm

You got issues man… serious issues.

Would you like the list of what’s wrong with you in alphabetical or topical order?

Thayer_McCollum · January 3, 2019, 6:10am

Come on. You easily could’ve downloaded it at your shop and then used the new RAM at competition.

Or you could’ve pulled a 900 and modified your RIO to also be a router and used your own private WiFI to download RAM at competition. And kill the FMS while you’re at it.

marshall · January 3, 2019, 6:10am

I mean, I didn’t have a zip drive handy so I had to make do…

Andrew_Schreiber · January 3, 2019, 6:10am

They are far better at killing field pieces than the FMS… the FMS kills them. It’s like some sort of weird rock-paper-scissors game.

Thayer_McCollum · January 3, 2019, 6:10am

So… field pieces kill the FMS? I haven’t been around awhile but I haven’t seen that. Yet.

Maybe it’s just MAD? 900 kills the hopper, it falls on them, and then the FMS has a fit about both of them. No one’s happy. Yay!

Jon_Stratis · January 1, 2019, 4:49pm

I saw a thread. I saw it was started from a picture. I saw it was started by Marshall. I saw the title.

Then I saw the picture, and I was disappointed. Given the above, I expected to see a RoboRIO opened up with some big RAM sticks soldered onto it.

Somehow, this solution is just too… pedestrian for my expectations Could it be that 900 is actually getting less crazy?

Andrew_Schreiber · January 3, 2019, 6:10am

He sent me a link to https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1353413-REG/wd_wdbfbe0200jbk_nesn_20_tb_my_book.html earlier… So I’m guessing this is just proof of concept until that arrives.

marshall · January 3, 2019, 6:10am

I don’t know what to say to this. I’m wounded.

krf · January 1, 2019, 4:49pm

At the end of Marshall’s project, i expect his RIO to be running a full blown FMS, a copy of The Blue Alliance and the entire text of wikipedia. And be legal for field use.

Cothron_Theiss · January 1, 2019, 4:49pm

Y’know Marshall, more and more I’m starting to get a mad scientist vibe off of you and the Zebracorns. And I like it.

Jaci · January 1, 2019, 4:49pm

http://i.imgur.com/5UziKqI.png

GeeTwo · January 3, 2019, 6:10am

I think it’s more like Tim “The Toolman” Taylor than Doc Emmett Brown, but yeah.

Like Stratis, I was expecting memory soldered to the busses inside the RIO, not storage hung of the USB drive.

Andrew_Schreiber · January 3, 2019, 6:10am

My personal mental image of Marshall.

marshall · January 3, 2019, 6:10am

This is probably the right response.

Just thinking out loud but while we do enjoy a challenge (especially me) - soldering things to the rRIO isn’t strictly legal I don’t believe. That being said, if any LRIs want to confirm that it is legal then I’m happy to give it a go but removing the conformal coating is going to be tricky…

GeeTwo · January 3, 2019, 6:10am

You might possibly run afoul with this year’s R71, or other years’ analogues:

2017 Game Manual:

R71. The Driver Station software, roboRIO, Power Distribution Panel, Pneumatics Control Modules, Voltage Regulator Modules, RSL, 120A breaker, motor controllers, relay modules, Wireless Bridge, and batteries shall not be tampered with, modified, or adjusted in any way (tampering includes drilling, cutting, machining, rewiring, disassembling, etc.), with the following exceptions:

Please note that the Driver Station application is a separate application from the Dashboard. The Driver Station software may not be modified, while teams are expected to customize their Dashboard code.

A. User programmable code in the roboRIO may be customized.

B. Motor controllers may be calibrated as described in owner’s manuals.

C. Fans may be attached to motor controllers and may be powered from the power input terminals.

D. If powering the compressor, the fuse on a Spike H-Bridge Relay may be replaced with a 20A Snap-Action circuit breaker.

E. Wires, cables, and signal lines may be connected via the standard connection points provided on the devices.

F. Fasteners (including adhesives) may be used to attach the device to the OPERATOR CONSOLE or ROBOT or to secure cables to the device.

G. Thermal interface material may be used to improve heat conduction.

H. Labeling may be applied to indicate device purpose, connectivity, functional performance, etc.

I. Jumpers may be changed from their default location.

J. Limit switch jumpers may be removed from a Jaguar motor controller and a custom limit switch circuit may be substituted.

K. Device firmware may be updated with manufacturer supplied firmware.

L. Integral wires on the Victor SP or Talon SRX may be cut, stripped, and/or connectorized.

M. Devices may be repaired, provided the performance and specifications of the device after the repair are identical to those before the repair.

N. The cover may be removed from the Talon SRX data port.

Please note that while repairs are permitted, the allowance is independent of any manufacturer’s warranty. Teams make repairs at their own risk and should assume that any warranty or RMA options are forfeited. Be aware that diagnosing and repairing COMPONENTS such as these can be difficult.