Field Electronics
 

I am interested in building a full blown FRC field. Does anyone have a list of components used in the station control cabinets (SCC's)? And if no one has anything can maybe a team who is registered for the championship take some close up pictures for me?

Re: Field Electronics
 

the only people besides FIRST that should know would probably be the guys at andymark.

Re: Field Electronics
 

I don't even know if the guys at AndyMark know everything that goes into the fields. The SCC are a closely kept 'secret'. It is just like its predecessor, the Arena Controller Cabinets that IFI built. Even if you were able to get a list of all the components, you would still need to know how to configure and set-up all the components. Many of the components are from the Allen-Bradley line from Rockwell Automation. This also means that it is going to be pretty pricey to replicate the field electronics.

Re: Field Electronics
 

Re: Field Electronics
 

Do you really need to duplicate the official FIRST field electronics? Unless you intend to try running a full-featured FMS with its industrial-strength router and a connection to FIRST HQ, all it takes to support a field is a reasonably modern computer, a good wireless router, a hub or two, and a few hundred feet of network cable.

Re: Field Electronics
 

Alan, you are correct that not everything is necessary.

But what about the towers and team/time displays and the driver station lights?

Re: Field Electronics
 

Even if you were to mechanically duplicate the SCC's, the Scorpion Case, the displays and E-Stops, and close to 100 other pieces of hardware, you still would have to duplicate the software and coded side of everything. While the FMS (Lite) software is out there, the server setup and things like PLC Code are not public domain.

If you need a field for a pre or post season event, they can be rented from FIRST HQ. If you are just looking for a field setup to run during the season and build time to have a single to a number of teams play and practice on, then thats when FMS Lite, a good router, and lots of Cat-5 cables come in handy.

Re: Field Electronics
 

I am totally and completely aware of the cost associated with building a field. I am not interested in building a field with the airtight and contact link with the FIRST HQ. I want a field to take to an off season events in my area without paying for the field rental and FTA at the event. I want the scoring interface, DS interface, judges panels, the displays and e stop interface.

Our team is working on the resources to get the field and full electronics. The way I see it, it's not about the money, it's about getting high school kids who maybe couldn't afford to go on the trip. Or maybe showing kids what FIRST is all about. With the resources of this field we can get FIRST exposed to even more people. Maybe the team could adapt the field for use in a mini battlebots competition in our high school for a fundraiser?

The question to me is why is FIRST being so secretive about the field? And why can't I get detailed information about the field? I just think this secret thing is kind of dumb.

Re: Field Electronics
 

How do you know it is a secret?

Have you asked them for the information?

Re: Field Electronics
 

That is just what the other posters have told me. I am not sure if it is a secret or not. I hope it is not a secret. I sent an email to FIRST about a week and a half ago and have heard nothing back yet

Re: Field Electronics
 

I dont think it is a secret, I think it is because they do not really see any particular reason why someone would want to do this. It is expensive and complicated. I am not saying you should not, I think it would be a great challenge, but they have a lot of money in the field, both physical and paychecks for those that write the code. And beyond that, much of the hardware components are donated, so they may not even have the data.

Re: Field Electronics
 

I am sure that they have the field data, or they could at least put me in contact with someone at Allen Bradley that does. I really hope it is not a secret. I have been sifting through images that our team has taken while at the DS's and I have found some pretty nice pictures of the SCC's

The two emails I have sent to FIRST have just been to their general inquiry email address. Any other ideas where to send it?

Re: Field Electronics
 

1511 has built a near real field for the last several years for our Preship Rally, and more recently for the Monroe County Fair, for somewhat similar reasons.

You can see some photos here:
2010 Monroe County Fair
2011 Rally
2010 Rally

It is very similar to the scrimmage fields and warehouse build season fields that many teams build, as it is mostly built out of wood, plus lexan drivers stations & conduit siderails.

In the past one of our mentors has written an FMS, and we have also used/modified the FMS lite to work for us.

However, for the offseason event that we run, we generally use the NASA field (though have borrowed a FIRST field in the past).
Ruckus 2010
Ruckus 2009

This can be a very costly endeavor either way. Borrowing the NASA or FIRST field often costs around $2K, plus you need to be able to provide insurance (sometimes can be done via the school or sponsor policies). To build a field similar to the one that I have shown depends upon the year, but its probably close to $2K plus for the outside structure, and another $2K for the internals (ramps, goals, structures, etc)... and this assumes you have borrowed carpet. Plus you also need to buy fiberboard to lay under the carpet so you do not damage the gym floors or other surfaces. All told over 3 years its probably close to $10K investment.

This doesn't count the truck rentals or trailer that you will need to be able to transport all of this. We spent another $3K on a trailer and have access to a couple of pickup trucks that we can sometimes use.

The official field electronics is a whole different story. Even with all the events we have run, we have never seen a real need for the full blown system. And with my limited knowledge some of the "secret" behind it, my guess is that it is likely that FIRST is constantly upgrading and making improvements (like any engineering company) so they second they release something to the public, they not only have to support it, but they have to provide upgrades. That's likely more than their staff is able to handle. A clever group of SW & Electrical folks could probably fairly easily create an electronics system that would replace the FMS system and do a reasonably good job for demos & scrimmages (as we have in the past).

I'm sure its not exactly the answer you were looking for, but if you want to know more about the field 1511 created, you can PM me or submit to their contact form.

Re: Field Electronics
 

Hey, thanks a lot.

Our team has looked at both the wood and metal field plans and are leaning toward the metal field. It does not look like resources are going to be a huge issue in building the field.

Transportation has been something that I have been looking at for the past few days. I personally have a flat bed trailer to transport things on, but other mentors have enclosed haulmark trailers that I think we could use. I know FIRST uses 1 full tractor trailer to transport everything FIRST related to an event. Although cases for all of the equipment and field elements would be very nice, we will have to get away with being careful and only casing the sensitive electronics.

For the metal field, would you happen to have a BOM that I could have? I have yet to go through all of the plans and make a BOM. I am looking for a company that may be able to give us the money for the field components and then another company to provide the money for the electronics.

And I truly don't think things are actually meant to be a secret, I just think that its not public information. I am questioning why it is taking FIRST so long to respond to my emails, but then they are probably VERY busy preparing for the championship. So I assume that as soon as championship is over I will receive an email from them.

The breakdown of the whole field is actually a relatively simple machine when you break it down into small components. In fact, I think I am close to understanding a majority of the field so far. I encourage people who are interested in the field to PM me. You can find the FTA and field crew manuals online. Plus I have many pictures I have found across the web and pictures I have.

The thing FIRST needs to understand with my case is that I'm not asking for a whole lot from them. I am asking for a list of components, a wiring diagram and schematics for all of their custom made components, and the software.

But yet, that's just what I think

Re: Field Electronics
 

Considering that the insurance value of a full field + electronics is $119,500, you could probably assume that is close to the cost to purchase everything. Based on that cost, either renting a field every year, or building your own limited field are the only economical options.

Re: Field Electronics
 

It sounds to me like you are asking for a lot. There are new custom made components and new software for each game. To give you what you appear to want would require ongoing support.

Re: Field Electronics
 

Yes, that is true. But I do not think that components are truly custom made. For example the minibot poles use a standard sensor available to anyone through an electronics distributor, and AB sells the stacked panel indicators that are used on top of the pole. The judge interface found on the sides of the fields are simply a tradition panelview system with a special software used for a GUI. And if I understand the panelview software correctly that the panelview connects to a server (FMS) and then receives the program over ethernet.

So yes in some sense I am asking for a lot. I am asking for when they release the data about the new field to the public that I be on that list.

Re: Field Electronics
 

What else is there to ask for if that is not a lot?

As for FIRST releasing the data, including code to the public, please don't hold your breath. The software is [partially] developed for FIRST under contract with 3rd party developers, I would not bet FIRST would just hand over something they paid to have created.
Also one of the other major issues is providing support. Much of the field is not just plug and play and go smoothly, as much as it appears to be. FIRST does not have the man power nor resources to support each person who would have issues if they did release hardware and software to the public.

Re: Field Electronics
 

On the note of field electronics, I wonder if IFI would release the pinout/comms protocol between the OI and Arena Controllers on the old 2004-2008 systems, now that we're 3 years out from anyone using them.

Re: Field Electronics
 

Actually I think that I have taken care of the software aspect of it. I think I have found a copy of the 2011 FMS on the internet. The biggest thing for me right now is the remainder of the hardware, and with the FMS and users guides I have been able to unlock a few more parts of the hardware puzzle. Something else I know nothing about is the box with 4 buttons on it that sits on the scorekeepers table, in all the manuals it is referred to as the FCUI

Re: Field Electronics
 

That I'm going to say is a Mystery.

However, this is one of those times that software can help you out! (Play Super Hero music here).

On a Sirius note, the virtual FCUI in the Full/Delta versions of the FMS does a fantastic job! Plus it keeps less clutter of the scorers table, and saves you a little money.

To be honest, I wouldn't be shocked if the FCUI is nothing but switches (in the form of push buttons) and led displays rigged to the server via Ethernet through a couple electronic boards. I believe it is there so that it allows the scorer multi-task and have easy access to match control.(Those who have preformed the job in on-season, please correct me if I'm wrong).

Edit:
I want to re-iterate others in that for the electronics, I highly recommend if you want the full set, renting is your best option. As long as you can find an FTA to come help you out and the rental fee's, you shouldn't have an issue.

If you feel you can get along with the base set (we've discussed this before), to rent or make is up to you. I feel rent is still more economical, but if your looking for a full-time available practice field prior to the end of champs, building is a great option.

Re: Field Electronics
 

The FMS software you found does not include the firmware that runs the SCC Allen-Bradley hardware.

Re: Field Electronics
 

I am aware that it does not contain the firmware. But in the way of firmware I have a doubt that it is custom created. Because all the SCC's serve in such a way that it is mainly I/O and then a network switch.

In the SCC there is I/O for the E-stop interface, a switch to tie in all of the DSes. There is a switch port to tie in the judges panelview interface. And I just checked in the field manual and even the scoring targets for the minibot poles get plugged into the network switch. And then there are ethernet ports for the team signs and timer to get plugged into, along with the status lights in front of every DS.

From the images I can decipher there are 3 main components to and SCC. There is the AB Armorblock On-machine IO device, and as far as I can tell this device requires little to no setup besides assigning it an ip address. There is a stratix 8000 AB network switch, I am unsure of why this specific device was chosen, but I think it is solely to operate either the DSes or signs/timers. And finally there is a Cisco Linksys network switch.

OK, just checked. The Linksys switch is specifically for the scoring I/O device and the ethernet based DMX controllers for the minibot base lights. So that means the AB stratix 8000 takes care of the rest.

Re: Field Electronics
 

The FIRST field electronics are a classic case of an engineering black box; they tell us what goes in and what comes out, but nothing about how it internally works. As long as the inputs and outputs remain the same, the black box solution allows FIRST to completely change anything inside of there without any other impacts on the system as a whole.

Objects can be black box parts for a wide variety of reasons, including (but not limited to) trade secrets, licensed technology, limited manpower, or just simply because it doesn't matter.

So chances are, you're never going to get any detailed information about the full FRC field for at least one of the above reasons.

And even if you were to somehow acquire full hardware and software information for the FRC fields, what is the real return on investment (ROI) of building this over FMS Lite? Is something that costs an order of magnitude more really going to provide an order of magnitude more benefit? That answer, for a practice/off-season field, is simply no.

Wood/Delta fields and FMS Lite provide the vast majority of the benefits of FRC for a small fraction of the price.

Re: Field Electronics
 

I am curious to how you come across the field as being a black box. I'm not saying that you are wrong and it sure seems like that may be the situation. But from what I have read if FIRST really intended for everything to be locked down and quiet that they wouldn't publish the documents online and put their software on the web.

Re: Field Electronics
 

you could always make your own stuff using a computer and crio. crio for management, computer to translate everything into usable forms for field personnel. the scoring sensors would come from the KOP and other sources.

Re: Field Electronics
 

Joek-

In some sense that is actually what the field is. The break down is that all of the E-stop interface's are simply IO's along with the minibot poles. The DS's communicate with the robot cRio's just like we do back at home when we connect labview to the robot with wireless, the field in no way communicates with the cRio.

The biggest thing present in scoring for Logomotion is the 4 Panelview Plus terminals around the corners of the field. There, a human judge stands and inputs all of the inflatables hung by the robots. This is done because there is no (economical and reliable) sensor to discern the different shapes or colors of the inflatable.

So in a sense, the field is just like one big robot

Re: Field Electronics
 

Wrong. The field tells the robot whether it is enabled or disabled. The field tells it to operate in autonomous or teleop. The field reads the battery voltage. This is why the driver station is hooked via ethernet to the field electronics.

FYI, they are called scorers, not judges.

Re: Field Electronics
 

Fixed

Re: Field Electronics
 

Vikesrock-

Yes, you are right

Re: Field Electronics
 

They are using panelviews & I assume an Allen Bradley PLC to tie all the logic together. The programming tools you need to change any of the source code is very expensive & has a bit of a learning curve. Unless you know somebody that already has the tools, that is another cost to factor in.

All in all, a lot of cost for something that is going to change in Jan.

Re: Field Electronics
 

On the PLC I am not 100% about that. I believe that the I/O units are all based on TCP/IP comm protocol, so a PLC may or may not be required.

I see no reason to change the source code that any of the control devices use. But the tools and software are available to us if that is a route we choose.

You bring up a question that has been biting at me for a while. Is the scorer interface the same year to year? Are there always ( in the past ) been a human scorer using Panelview's to input the scores to the field? This is a factor that would definitely make or break the possibility of a full field for us.

Re: Field Electronics
 

No, this is the first year Panelviews have been used.

Re: Field Electronics
 

How was the interface done last year?

Re: Field Electronics
 

For Example:

Last year, there were sensors (It was some form of motion sensor, not sure on specifics) that more or less triggered when a soccer ball was scored through a goal.

Another of those sensors were then placed on the return racks, to make sure all the soccer balls got returned within 10 seconds, or else DOGMA Penalties were issued.

Those were I believe were hooked to a IO Modual in the SCC (There may have been a smaller IO Box like this year, but memory is getting to me)

The finale with robots hanging was manually inputted at the scorers table.

So as you can see lots of variation in electronics from 2 back to back years. This is why making a full set can become very expensive if you try to update it. To run the basic setup of getting the robots to run (router, bridges, lots of cat 5) is one thing, but beyond that, it's hard.

Re: Field Electronics
 

I am not too sure about that. I do believe that there is a fair amount of PLC programming that is loaded onto the I/O blocks. The type of I/O blocks that they are using typically are configured through the RSLogix Software. The reason for this is that using the PLC programming helps to manage any sort of sequence of events in a more reasonable fashion. Its a nice and easy way to take all the inputs and sort out the proper actions to take and report back to the FMS a clean, clear output.

Re: Field Electronics
 

Mike-
True, as I look at it a little bit more I realize that is most likely some sort of PLC code that is embedded into the IO units. One reason I think there is now is because inside the full FMS there is a PLC heartbeat monitor. So maybe there is some sort of PLC that simply just combines all of the events into one string and sends it along to FMS

Dag0620-
So it seems a little pointless to go off and start building one with this years game specific equipment on it from the get go. But my original goals could still be adapted into this. We could build the field like we originally planned a few months ago and not put on any of the game specific electrical or physical equipment. And then after next years game and field equipment is announced we could go out and borrow some of the Panelview terminals if they are using those again or install the motion sensors should they go that route.

One more quick note. The more I think about it the more I realize that those Panelview terminals are most likely running Windows CE on them. So it may actually not be a RA software thing for the terminals, it could just be a windows program

Re: Field Electronics
 

Typically remote IO have very little if any user logic programmed into them. What have is node address (IP address if TCIP), who can write to them, that kind of stuff. I/O health is already there is some form. In industrial equipment, monitoring the health of your IO is routine.

Rockwell (IE Allen Bradley) is a strategic sponsor. If they are donating the field hardware and they view it as an type of showcase, it will not be low end stuff. Not that Rockwell has a lot of low end stuff to begin with...

If I were FIRST person responsible for the field design, I standardized as much of the back end as possible from year to year. Different sensors for scoring is really a small thing. Scoring logic & different screens for the panelviews is all programming.

Re: Field Electronics
 

Frank-
That is what I originally thought. I did a lot of thinking before evening considering embarking on the idea to build a field. I realized that while some components will change over the years the whole concept will still revolve around IO for the entire system. While it will still be a costly endeavor to build the field and implement the electronics such as the SCC's and Scorpion Case it will not be too bad. So assuming we actually are able to start this project by mid June or July it could be quite a while till it is done.

Re: Field Electronics
 

The scoring panels this year were running what looked like a version of Windows. An application would launch to all the scores to be entered via touch screen. These were then connected via ethernet cable to the ethernet switch in the SCC.

There were also a pair of DMX boxes controlling the lights in the tower. A harness of wires from two towers were run to the DMX box. I'm sure the harness contained wires for the lights at the base and the top as well as the signal switch at the top of the tower. The DMX boxes were connected to the SCC ethernet switch as well. The DMX boxes were also linked to each other via a 75' ethernet cable.

Re: Field Electronics
 

Yup, sounds exactly right. There is a program inside FMS that sends ethernet packets to that controller which converted into DMX which operate the dimmers to control the lights

Re: Field Electronics
 

The lights at the base of the tower were connected to the DMX Controller. The AB Signal Lights and the trigger at the top of the tower were all harnessed together and connected to another AB ArmorBlock I/O Controller.

As far as the PanelView Application for the scorers, it is a program that was built in AB's FactoryTalk View.

Re: Field Electronics
 

So that makes a little more sense, I had just begun to question how it triggers a certain light bar to stop after an input is sensed.

Re: Field Electronics
 

Yep, the ones I setup at Boilermaker were running Windows CE.

Re: Field Electronics
 

jtdowney-
Is there any information you could give to me about the field? Like about equipment used or how things connect together

Re: Field Electronics
 

Guess as the the display, 2711P-T7C4D8 list around $3k each...
http://www.ab.com/en/epub/catalogs/1...1114/tab2.html

The AB Ethernet stuff does not use the TCP/IP protocol, it uses AB Ethernet/IP

The Stratix switch will handle the protocol, correctly and is managed, all those etherent blocks are talking, and IGMP managed switch is needed.

Still have not seen what all of this stuff is talking to... If it were me, I would look for a softlogix software on a pc, but being supported by Rockwell, they would probably offer a controllogix plc or even flexlogix plc to control. Their hardware is more robust than their software. . .

Re: Field Electronics
 

Yeah, I am aware of the cost of those terminals.

I know that the Stratix handles all of that protocol.

I am pretty sure all of the inputs are talking to the Scorpion Case. I have attached a word document with pictures of the Scorpion Case. I can share with you the FMS software that I have. I think that the stratix is feeding all of the information into the server that runs FMS.

But yet this doesn't make sense because that would mean that there is AB protocol embedded into FMS. Which is possible but it just seems unlikely

Re: Field Electronics
 

There's another AB PLC inside the Scorpion Case.

Re: Field Electronics
 

There is more than one way to skin a cat. If you are looking to exactly replicate the field, renting one is the cheapest solution by far. If you want something to have & can accept close, I would go with somebody like Automation Direct. Would be a lot of work up front, but once done, the year to year changes would most likely be minor.

Re: Field Electronics
 

What function does the PLC serve?

Re: Field Electronics
 

Not very many details that haven't been shared here already. I would suggest talking to a FTA in your area. You can also volunteer at an event as the FTAA, head scorekeeper, or Field Supervisor, all of those positions have significant interaction with the field equipment.

Spending time as a volunteer around the field has definitely left me with more confidence in the FRC fields and the FTAs who run them.

Re: Field Electronics
 

It seems to me that the bulk of what is needed to build a generic (not game-specific) field is some basic networking equipment, a high-end wifi router, 8x 4 digit led displays (3 teams, plus an arena timer per alliance station), and some packet sniffing done between the DS and FMSLight to determine how the communications packets enable/disable/autonomous the robots, followed by some custom software to emulate FMS.

Re: Field Electronics
 

To everyone who said it was a secret-

I sent an email a few weeks ago to someone I had known at Rockwell Automation. And then just last week I received a forward notice that my contact had forwarded this message to the Rockwell Automation group that deals directly with FIRST.

Today I got an email from the RA FIRST department with a gif image attached with the layout and basic wiring diagram with how things are hooked together plus a model number and component name for all of the AB components used for the basic scoring system of the field

Re: Field Electronics
 

I hope you were not representing yourself as someone who had received authorization from the proper channels at FIRST to receive these documents. As for recreating a field completely from photos, instruction manuals, and a list of hardware components you still are biting off a task larger than you are thinking it is. The software that runs the multiple PLC units and firmware on the router are custom and not just regular pieces of software that is available off the web.

I would suggest you take some time and do some research into the old NASA Field that was run by Mike Wade before he passed away. Mike had the desire to have a field that he could truck around the east coast and Mid-Atlantic region of the US to host off season events and pre-ship scrimmages. After researching and working with a real FIRST field he decided it was more work to reinvent the wheel exactly as it was and came up with his own version of the field that did what he needed with a bunch of toggle switches. Albeit this was in the IFI days when dongles were able to be used with the OI's, the same could be done today.

I would suggest running with what has previously suggested, and if you really need a field for more than just some here and there practice, to use a couple switches, routers, a bunch of ethernet cables, and FMS Lite. The stress and cost you will encounter while trying to recreate a FIRST field, will be more than that to rent one if you try to have everything there that is exact as the FIRST fields have.

Re: Field Electronics
 

No, I was not representing anyone but my team when I contacted RA. I have no idea what the proper channels are to gain access to this sort of information. Plus trying to get information like that is not in the spirit of FIRST, if someone were to come and tell me "Your not supposed to have this informationThe PLC unit uses a program developed by RA engineers. The Cisco AP is being used for its exact purpose on the field, and so are the IO units. So the only piece of software I am missing yet it the PLC program.

I have looked into the Mike Wade field, it really looks interesting. But it seems that it would not be very different than our plans. And again all we are doing right now is planning. We are trying to get a feel about how hard this will be. We are trying to tackle all of the hard parts first, the biggest being the electronics to determine if its even possible to do what we want to do.

Re: Field Electronics
 

I would be interested in that. How did you get it?

We don't want to build a full field, but simulating the actual FMS would be helpful for debugging our software. Our team has had issues with the FMS not behaving the same as the Driver Station software. (In 2009, during semi-finals at Hartford we didn't move the whole match, because something weird happened with our autonomous code that was different on the actual field: http://www.thebluealliance.com/match/2009ct_sf1m2)

Re: Field Electronics
 

Would you mind sharing this information with the rest of us on this thread?

Re: Field Electronics
 

FMS Lite Download - http://www2.usfirst.org/2009comp/FMS/FMSLight.Setup.msi

User Guide - http://usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Com...Guide_RevC.pdf

Configuration Guide (for basic hardware) - http://usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Com...figuration.pdf

Re: Field Electronics
 

Attached is just the basic stuff that I have.

Kudos to dag0620 for posting the links to the FMS software links. He was the one who provided them to me as well.

If you are interested in all of information that I have so far it would be so much easier for me to either upload it to a file site or just email it to you, there is a lot of pdf's about radio programming and FTA monitors, audience screens, and setup for almost everything.

Re: Field Electronics
 

Any idea who to contact at FIRST to maybe get some information?

Re: Field Electronics
 

Someone apparently sent a link to this thread to me back in April, guess I should log in more often :)

You don't need a official FIRST FRC Field to to run an offseason FRC tourney of your own. FMS light will let you do start/stop of all the bots at the same time same as the official fields and you can keep track of scoring and schedule manually with spreadsheets, etc.. The information you need to do this is in the tournament portion of the FRC manual and some other tech docs floating around. All you need to run 6 robots in a match format is a laptop running FMS light, a wifi Access Point and a simple switch for each side of the field. If you set up the network right, you can do all the timing of a match in Auto and TeleOp.

The purpose of the "fancy" FIRST FRC field system is to provide a secure network for each team free from interferrence from other teams, provide real time scoring, recording and viewing for the audience to view, provide consistant automated scheduling and management between tournaments (i.e. all teams get the same number of matches with as many of the other teams as opponents and teammates as possible), provide real time ranking calculation, post web schedules, results, ranking; twitter feeds, tournament archives and about a hundred other things like displaying teams in stations, estops, team lights, game lights, etc etc. All of which could be done manually, but might take to a week or so to do a tournament at "human" speed. All of this is to provide a baseline standard of all the tournaments being similar to qualify for Championship (at least on the field) at one Regional as qualifying at another Regional. Of course some regionals may be harder than others to qualify on the field depending on the teams participating.

Yes, equipment on the field is donated through FIRST sponsorships and is VERY expensive. But FIRST also buys much of the equipment. As someone noted, Allen Bradley equipment is very good and we are extremely fortunate that Allen Bradley participates with FIRST in a sponsorship capacity. Its hard to argue the reliability we've had considering that between the 19 different FRC fields there are now, they run ~10,000 competiton matches in a season very well.

There are literally 1000s of hours of development in the FIRST FRC Field systems by guys that have been doing this sort of thing for 15 years. My team and I have been doing technology for robot competitions since the mid 90s including the TV shows like BattleBots. So IMHO building a "full on" FRC system of your own design is probably impractical. Remember, one of the questions an Engineer has to ask him or herself is the old question of "Just because I can, doesn't mean I should" :) The fields have a specific purpose (noted above) and do this very well. AndyMark did have one of the full fields they rented out this year, you'd have to talk with them about costs.

I am looking for some FIRST alumni to work on my other projects and possibly future FRC systems, anyone available in the central Florida area? I'm currently working out of the Tampa Area.

Thanks