I've already started playing with a serial interface by exchanging code between the standard IFI debug window and the PIC. However my progress has been slow due to hardware time and my real job.
The next step is sending commands through the Programming port using the IFI packet structure. Unlike the dashboard utilities provided, this will actually send commands for motors/relays like a normal human operator. Therefore little development is needed on the embedded RC.
If I have not properly looked through FIRST history on similar projects which might have accomplished this task, please let me know,
If you need a place to get started and you have programmed before, take a look at Kevin Watson's code, then at the IFI packet structure,
If you have no prior programming experience, I suggest you check out Python , especially a few of the python video tutorials, first "Python Tutorial "(google it) then check out this,
http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=Python you can start with Lecture 3, Python runs on Windows and Linux,
Java or Python are both great languages, the importance is easy learning curve and fast code development, therefore use whatever works and handles the serial driver request.