World Fields: VEXnet Field Power and Remote Key Interface

VEX Robotics Competition Discussion VRC > Previous Games
1

At the VRC World Championship, VEX is rolling out an upgraded version of the control towers. You can read about these here for robots with Cortex controllers.

These new interfaces will allow you to use power provided by the field for your VEX Joystick and a USB key mounted to the field. VEX engineers will answer any questions you have in this thread. Please post questions here.

NOTE: These interfaces will not be compatible with the 75MHz Transmitters and VEXnet upgraded PIC Microcontrollers.

2

So this means that we will no longer need to have batteries installed in the joystick connected to the field monitor?

What about the secondary controller, does that still need batteries?

Is this some form of power over Ethernet?

Edit: Nevermind, of course the info PDF was the next tab for me to read. This is definitely a welcome addition to the VEX family of products. (Its no longer necessary to answer my questions unless you want to)

3

Rick,

This is great. A couple questions:

  1. Do teams need to remove their AAA batteries from the joysticks to use the field power system?

  2. If the answer to #1 is “No”, which source does the Joystick derive power from, the batteries or the field power system?

  3. If the answer to #2 is the “field power system”, could low batteries left in the joystick unit potentially cause undesired operation?

Thanks!

4

cc4hldr,

Teams are not required to remove their AAA batteries. The Joysticks may potentially draw partial power from the batteries while connected to the station, but no undesired operation should occur.

Regardless of whether batteries are installed, charged/uncharged, power switch is on/off, the Joystick will receive power while connected to the Field Power and Remote Key station.

Thanks,
Parker Francis

5

Will these new interfaces be simply revealed at the Championships, or actually set up for all matches to use?

6

These will be used on all competition fields at the World Championship.