Chief Delphi - **FIRST EMAIL**/Invitation to Beta test the New Control System

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**FIRST EMAIL**/Invitation to Beta test the New Control System

Greetings Teams:

With the launch of our new FRC Control System just around the corner, we are seeking a limited number of teams interested in beta testing the new control system.

FIRST BETA TEST PROGRAM GOALS

* Give as many teams as possible early hands-on exposure to the 2009 control system;
* Use beta team feedback to refine/develop supporting documentation and training materials;
* Test the features and functions of the new control system to uncover problems and provide solution suggestions;
* Develop a supporting network/knowledge database to ease the transition to the new system;
* Allow teams to become “Control System Experts” and serve as area leaders to mentor other teams;
* Share information to minimize strategic advantages; and
* Understand the difficulties and issues that teams may encounter with the new control system.

In order to be eligible for the FIRST beta testing program, FRC teams must exhibit attributes consistent with a Chairman’s Award winning team and have participated in FIRST programs for at least three recent years. Teams will be selected based on their location and their FIRST experiences. The specific beta testing criteria for the FRC teams is outlined below:

TEAM SELECTION CRITERIA

* COMMUNITY

o Teams who have consistently demonstrated involvement within their FIRST community will best fit this beta program. A team’s communication network should be in place and will be utilized in this project.

* VISION

o Teams who have proven they ‘get’ the bigger picture and vision of FIRST and who want to work together for the betterment of the FRC program are preferred.

* GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS

o Team location is key to the beta test. FIRST will distribute the control systems geographically in an effort to gather more diverse feedback and also to create “Control System Experts” in as many locations as possible for future mentoring.

REQUIRED BETA TEST TASKS
Beta test teams must perform the following tasks:

* Submit and execute a test schedule and plan;
* Transplant the new control system into an existing FRC competition robot with the understanding that they will not take this opportunity to test new mechanisms;
* Designate one lead student and one technical mentor to serve as the communicators of test results;
* Post their findings on the FIRST Forums on a bi-weekly basis;
* Be available to answer questions from teams in their region, and from the broader FRC community;
* Release every piece of code developed;
* Open their facility to regional teams to observe or assist in the test program;
* Agree to serve as “Control Systems Experts” and provide support to teams in their surrounding areas for the 2009 season;
* Hold at least one Saturday controls training seminar open to all neighboring teams prior to the 2009 kickoff. This schedule is to be posted on the FIRST Forums; and
* Agree to return this 2009 Control System to FIRST upon request.

FIRST is asking interested, eligible FRC teams to submit a written proposal via this application form <http://www.usfirst.org/forms.aspx?ekfrm=9446> by August 15th, 2008 on why they would be a good candidate, how they intend to collaborate and work with their neighboring teams, and what they intend to do if they receive the new control system.

Teams are asked to identify the specific robotic features that will be integrated as part of the team's beta testing efforts. By being specific, teams will increase their chances for being selected. For example, teams might consider including one or more of the following robotic features in their proposed development plan:

* Image-based control to track the position of a target such as the 2006 Aim High cold cathode light;
* Closed loop PI control of a rotating robotic arm using a potentiometer;
* Control of the end of travel of a mechanical component through the use of limit switches, light sensors, and/or potentiometers;
* Navigation using wheel encoders and a gyro;
* Implementation of a blown circuit breaker detection algorithm;
* Implementation of a transmission shifting algorithm; and/or
* Implementation of an autonomous routine.

Applications for beta test teams will be reviewed by a panel of Championship Woodie Flowers Award Winners.

Selected teams will be notified by September 1st, 2008 and control systems will be shipped starting September 15th, 2008 after FIRST receives the test schedule and plan from the beta tester. Please direct questions regarding submissions to FRCbetatest@usfirst.org.

While FIRST would like to provide every team with a control system for evaluation in the beta test, FIRST must limit the scope of this test program due to the number of control systems available at this early date.

Our beta test team selection criteria, out of necessity, narrows the list of potential participants but is not intended to favor or disfavor any specific teams. One goal of the beta test program is to strengthen local communication and support networks, so FIRST will select the teams that will do the best job of disseminating the knowledge accumulated through testing.

As noted above, the intent of this program is to test and improve the 2009 FRC Control System, give as many teams as possible early hands-on exposure, and reduce the learning curve for teams. This approach to beta testing is not perfect, but it brings us closer to the goal of creating the best control system possible for the 2009 season and beyond. Thank you all for your support in helping successfully launch FIRST’s new control system!

Go Teams!