# What other hardware add-ons are supported by WPILib? Red Vision? More power?
**URL:** https://xrp.discourse.group/t/what-other-hardware-add-ons-are-supported-by-wpilib-red-vision-more-power/894
**Category:** FIRST
**Created:** [December 8, 2025, 2:31am UTC](https://xrp.discourse.group/t/what-other-hardware-add-ons-are-supported-by-wpilib-red-vision-more-power/894 "2025-12-08T02:31:31Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@FRC501\_BrianF](https://xrp.discourse.group/u/FRC501_BrianF)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2025, 2:31am UTC](https://xrp.discourse.group/t/what-other-hardware-add-ons-are-supported-by-wpilib-red-vision-more-power/894/1 "2025-12-08T02:31:31Z")
I’ve been playing around with the XRP bot and purchased the upgraded controller. I was looking on Sparkfun’s site and saw the Red Vision accessory for the XRP, but nothing about it being supported by FRC’s WPILib. Does anyone know if it works with the java code?
Also, is it possible to feed it more power than the 4 AA batteries? I used a larger servo and it is barely able to use it.
Thanks,
-Brian
> **[SparkFun Red Vision Kit for XRP](https://www.sparkfun.com/sparkfun-pico-vision-kit-for-xrp.html)**
>
> Effortlessly add a camera and touchscreen to your XRP Robot for machine vision capabilities with the SparkFun Red Vision Kit —no soldering required.
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### Author:  [@E415LDC](https://xrp.discourse.group/u/E415LDC)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2025, 2:51am UTC](https://xrp.discourse.group/t/what-other-hardware-add-ons-are-supported-by-wpilib-red-vision-more-power/894/2 "2025-12-15T02:51:29Z")
As with any single board processor, you can normally use a device like Rev’s servo power module use a secondary power source. Then you can use what ever size batteries you want as long as you stay within the proper voltage limits. I have the same issue trying to drive my mecanum build for more than a couple minutes with the 4xAA battery pack. I’ve modified the 3D printed chassis to allow the standard 4x AA for the processor and then use the external 4 x C cells pack for the drive train.
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### Author:  [@SparkFro](https://xrp.discourse.group/u/SparkFro)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 7:21pm UTC](https://xrp.discourse.group/t/what-other-hardware-add-ons-are-supported-by-wpilib-red-vision-more-power/894/3 "2025-12-22T19:21:01Z")
Hi there!
> [@FRC501\_BrianF](#):
>
> was looking on Sparkfun’s site and saw the Red Vision accessory for the XRP, but nothing about it being supported by FRC’s WPILib. Does anyone know if it works with the java code?
Unfortunately no, and I suspect the WPILib firmware may never support it (@ZeeQueue correct me if I’m wrong). The Red Vision kit is designed for all processing to happen on the XRP using our Red Vision firmware, which is a special build of MicroPython that includes our MicroPython port of OpenCV. The WPILib firmware is completely separate, they can’t be used together at all.
> [@FRC501\_BrianF](#):
>
> Also, is it possible to feed it more power than the 4 AA batteries?
Yes, any power supply up to 11V can be used with the XRP ([these 9V batteries](https://www.alfredosys.com/products/9v-li-ion-battery/) are nice).
> [@FRC501\_BrianF](#):
>
> I used a larger servo and it is barely able to use it.
Note that even if you use a higher voltage battery, the servo power rail comes from a 5V 3A regulator, which may not be enough for some servos.
> [@E415LDC](#):
>
> I have the same issue trying to drive my mecanum build for more than a couple minutes with the 4xAA battery pack. I’ve modified the 3D printed chassis to allow the standard 4x AA for the processor and then use the external 4 x C cells pack for the drive train.
Are you using alkaline AA batteries? If so, I highly recommend trying NiMH, as they can actually provide higher voltage under load despite the lower 1.2V nominal voltage compared to the 1.5V of alkaline.
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### Author:  [@E415LDC](https://xrp.discourse.group/u/E415LDC)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2026, 2:37am UTC](https://xrp.discourse.group/t/what-other-hardware-add-ons-are-supported-by-wpilib-red-vision-more-power/894/4 "2026-05-29T02:37:01Z")
I’m using NiMH for the AAs and Alkaline for the C cells. This gets me about 15 to 20 minutes of run time on my mecanum configuration. I didn’t want o invest in a bunch of C-cell NiMH batteries until I had my POC working the way i wanted.