Field Management System

[fritzdejongh]

Hi:

I've been looking into the possibility of setting up a field management system for practice matches, and testing the field/control system interaction. We're a new FRC team but, but last year we were able to obtain the FMS for FTC. I haven't found any info on this for FRC though. Has anyone managed to obtain a system, or make your own?

[Nate Smith]

The FRC Field Management System is quite a bit more complex than the one for FTC, as can be seen in this ( http://flickr.com/photos/22421182@N05/3164593208/in/set-72157611844292070/ ) picture from kickoff. I am working on designing a "poor man's" FMS that would at least handle the basics. Basically, my plan is to have everything but the auton/teleop toggle provided by my design, and that would be handled by using the toggle switch on the driver station.

[pitzoid]

Hi Guys

FMS this year is fairly complicated because now its entirely Ethernet based, but most of the field stuff in the pics the Blue Allaince is circulating is for things like controlling the team lights, estops and team signs and interfacing with the scoring devices that will be used to score the game, all securely.

Technically, all you need to make your own field if you not too worried about "security" between the bots is an IP network of 10.0.0.0 and a subnet mask of 255.0.0.0, some "dumb" ethernet hubs, the ethernet Access Point that came in the KOP and all bots can operate on the same subnet/network.

Then just have everyone start their bots on a "3,2,1" callout and run with a external timer.

We're working/testing on all the regional software and controls now, but may release a program after the regional season that will let you start/stop the bots from something as simple as a laptop to act as a regional FMS Server. I'll let you all know when I do on that.

THX
BotBash BOB Pitzer
4FX Design