Team numbers and cool use of sensors

Hi,

I love the way teams identify with FIRST and identify within their own teams. The shirts, banners, presentations and robot markings are creative and fun. Team numbers tie directly into this.

Starting next season FTC will allow teams to keep their team numbers going forward. Teams can keep their numbers from the season just completed.

I also want to share with you a short video provided by Team Hassenplug from the new platform showcase group. "Team Hassenplug" is a unique name - Steve Hassenplug is the only member but makes up for that in energy and personality. He developed the robot shown in the video below using the kit of parts provided to the showcase teams. The accelerometer allows him to keep the object parallel to the floor - cool!

Sweeping up after the party is over

Thanks to everyone for helping to put on a great FTC Championship. I also enjoyed meeting many of you in Atlanta. The enthusiasm our community brings is inspiring.

I'll continue to use this blog to post information and thoughts on FTC.

A few questions have been raised with regard to next year's game design - specifically if it will mirror the showcase game.

It will not.

The 2008 game has not yet been developed but it will incorporate head-to-head competition, alliances, and both autonomous and driver control.

I am a firm believer in celebrating FTC teams' accomplishments similar to any other high level competitive event. The excitement that is part of head-to-head competition is a key factor in FIRST and FTC.

I hope everyone has had a chance to unwind, catch their breath, and look forward to next year. FTC is on the launching pad and we're looking forward to the new season.

Stay tuned,
Ken

Cost and Financial Support (plus NASA telecast info.)

By now you may have heard what I announced yesterday - the pricing and the financial support we're providing to grow FTC in the coming year. In summary...

The new kit is a true competition kit. Some of the specifics include:

11 Motors (4 DC Drive, 4 Servo, 3 Lego)
10 Sensors
Rechargeable Batteries
3 complete sets of software (and site licenses for classrooms)

The list goes on. In short it's everything you need to compete in a FIRST event in one package.

This kit, including software and licenses, would retail for about $4,000. We've worked hard with the commercial partners to drive down the cost of this kit to teams. The price to FIRST teams?

The price of the complete competition kit is $900.

As a non-profit organization FIRST is fortunate to have many great supporters. Several members of the FIRST Board of Directors (past and present) have generously donated funds to help teams and Affiliate Partners make the transition to the new platform.

Next year Affiliate Partners will receive $5,000 each to fund FTC events in their area. This is a one-year grant and will be used at their discretion for anything to do with putting on a great FTC event.

Over 800 teams competed in FTC this year. Returning teams will receive $450 toward the price of the new kit. They'll register with FTC and then be eligible for the grant.

Finally, we'll offer 250 need based rookie team grants of $450 for the 2008 season. Those same rookie teams will receive another $275 next season.

We're committed to brining teams who have been with FTC with us to an exciting new platform that will challenge FTC teams with real-world challenges.

I'll keep this blog up and running to announce more details about ordering and kit of parts detail.

Stay tuned!
Ken

PS - Check out: http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/robotics/first/atlanta-finals-2008/ to get a look at this years FTC Championship. At about 4:15pm we'll run the showcase (new platform) championship on the Dome floor. It will be telecast by NASA via the link.

Compass Sensor Driving

This video was prepared by one of the pilot teams. It's a demonstration of combining sensor (compass) and driver control to make the robot work more efficiently.

Cool stuff.



Stay tuned,
Ken

Showcase Robot - drive train development

One of the requirements for the pilot teams was to provide FIRST with video footage of their build. I'll post more in the next few days however I thought you might be interested in seeing part of the drive train development from one team.



Stay Tuned,
Ken

Roll up to Championship

The pace leading up to Championship is frenetic for teams and FIRST. In addition to pulling together some video of actual showcase robots we're also collecting feedback from showcase pilot teams on kit contents and cost. This is all in order to provide teams with a kit that meets their needs.

Our philosophy for FTC remains the same - provide a cost effective platform that challenges teams using today's technology. The kit we'll roll out at Championship will be a complete "competition" kit as opposed to a commercial base kit requiring multiple additional components to compete.

FIRST is committed to growing the FTC and serving our community with the best combination of capability, cost, and performance. We'll have more information for you later this week.

Ken

What about software?

We’ve shared quite a bit about the new kit including the hardware, drive train, motors, sensors, and communications. What about programming?

The new FTC kit will have several programming options depending on team preference, skill level, and the complexity of their robots. In addition to pre-packaged programs teams can also write C code using any compatible compiler to operate the new platform.

Bluetooth communication allows us to have the open platform at the tournaments due to much easier field controls – no more software templates.

The programming options include NXTG, a graphical programming tool that works with the NXT combined with the HiTechnic controller and sensors. Teams will also be able to choose a graphically based LabVIEW option. We’ll also offer RobotC for teams who prefer a text based C programming tool.

This range of programming will allow teams to take what they learned in FLL and apply it to FTC. It also allows FTC teams to more easily move into FRC competitions when they’re ready.

What has been shared to date?

Category:	Specifics:
Software	NXTG, LabVIEW, RobotC, and “open platform”
Communications	Bluetooth, two-way communication via computer
Electrical	12VDC system using 3,000 mAh, NiMH batteries
Motors	DC Drive - 12VDC, 152 rpm, 231.5 oz-in stall torque DC Servo - 76.37 oz-in stall torque, Karbonite geared
Sensors (avail.)	Compass, touch, ultrasonic, accelerometer, gyroscope, audible, light color, and more to come
Controller	55mHz, NXTG with HiTechnic FTC expansion controller allowing multiple configurations of motors, sensors, and encoders
Hardware	¼” thick aluminum gears. 2mm thick 5052 aluminum alloy building channel. You can also use all your Vex metal as well.

What’s left to know?

Pricing. We are listening to the FTC community. We have 12 teams participating in a showcase game at the World Championships in Atlanta. Those teams have pilot kits that include all the things we’ve talked about. Their feedback on the content, improvements, and anything else we learn from the showcase game will be incorporated into the final kits.

Over the next couple weeks we’ll also share with you how we’re dealing with curriculum tools, training, and give you a glimpse of what pilot teams have been up to in the form of some photos and video footage.

Ken