Stop button needed?

Technical Control System
#1

I have the Driver Station up and running, but it reports “No Stop Button”, and that message flashes when I click on “Enable”.

So it appears that I need a Stop button. Is that right?

Unfortunately, I left the Stop Button at the school which is closed for the next week.

Is there an alternative? I have the ability to create a USB HID device that can return an arbitrary vendor and product id. Is there a solution along this approach? Is there a way I can map a joystick button to be the stop button?

Thanks!

#2

There is an alternative. If you double click on the stop button, it will give you the option to override it. I would not suggest doing this if you actually plan on moving the robot.

#3

You can bypass the Stop Button.

On the Driver station Diagnostics tab the stop button has an entry with a red light beside it.
Double click on the red light or text.

#4

Thanks for the quick replies! I got it working now.

#5

They are correct, you can just bypass the stop button.
Regardless, I’ll provide more info on what the stop button is:
It’s not a joystick; it’s a one-button USB keyboard. It presses the key command SHIFT-CTL-RETURN.

#6

Wait, are you serious? That’s awesome. And potentially interesting…mwahaha?

#7

Yes.
How it distinguishes it from other keyboards, I do not know. It is PnP HID, not some unknown proprietary standard. (That’s why it doesn’t need additional software to work.)

#8

Wow, that’s interesting, I’ve never heard this much about the Stop Button.

Can you buy and program these things?

#9

I believe you can, but they may only do large-quantity orders. http://www.smartbutton.com/

It’s probably less expensive to just buy another stop button.
http://www.andymark.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=am-0515

#10

Im sure you can find a “STOP” button from one of the many teams passing out buttons at various regionals. This way, you can pin it on your shirt, not lose it,and its free! :smiley:

#11

Why? The spacebar acts as the same thing. In many cases the spacebar is better, because it doesn’t require a physical reboot of the robot.

#12

It’s curious how fast a human will disable safety devices Just because they are inconvenient.

#13

Thanks for the info!

For those interested in creating their own stop buttons and are familiar with Atmel AVR microcontrollers, I’d suggest this site:

It is likely that the Driver Station detects the presence of the Stop button by looking for a USB device with a particular vendor & product id, but it also could be another mechanism.

#14

FIRST incorporated a safety features into the DS, for good reason. An out-of-control robot is capable of causing quite a bit of damage to people and property.

If you construct a USB device that convinces the DS to enable the robot, please be sure that the device enhances safety rather than simply bypassing it. A button that DS and operator believe are an estop, but which launches a web page when pressed is actually more of a danger button, don’t you think?

Almost by definition, all safety features are inconvenient at some point – safety glasses, face shields, rotation guards, etc. In industry, there are usually procedures for operating without them, but all operators should be aware they are not in place and be aware of the additional risk and alternate safety mechanisms.

Greg McKaskle

#15