RoboRIO Installation

navX2-MXP is designed for plug-n-play installation onto the National Instruments RoboRIO™. This installation takes about only a minute.  To install, simply place the 34-pin “MXP” Connector on the bottom of the navX2-MXP circuit board into the corresponding MXP slot on the top of the RoboRIO, as shown below.

Securing navX2-MXP to the RoboRIO

Next, secure navX2-MXP to the RoboRIO using two #4-40 screws, each with a length of 3/16th inch. You can also use a 1/4 inch-long screw if you place a small washer between it and the top of the navX-MXP circuit board, or are mounting it together with the navX2-MXP Enclosure.

Securing the navX2-MXP circuit board and RoboRIO to the robot chassis

The navX2-MXP circuit board should be mounted such that it is firmly attached to the robot chassis. The quality of this mounting will be directly reflected in the quality of navX2-MXP inertial measurements. To ensure quality, carefully follow these guidelines:

  • The RoboRIO on which the navX2-MXP circuit board is placed should be tightly mounted; it should be a part of the chassis mass, and should move exactly as the chassis moves. Avoid mounting the navX2-MXP circuit board in an area of the chassis that might be flexible, as this could introduce vibration to the inertial sensors that does not represent the chassis inertial properties.
  • The navX2-MXP circuit board should be mounted in the center of the chassis, which ensures the origin of the yaw/pitch/roll axes truly represent the chassis center.
  • Be sure to understand the orientation of the navX2-MXP circuit board, relative to the chassis, and decide whether OmniMount is needed.
  • Housing the navX2-MXP circuit board in some form of protective enclosure is highly recommended, to protect it from damage. This should both protect the circuit board from damage, and provide strain relief for the cables that connect to the navX2-MXP circuit board.

(Note that there are several other installation options available.)