FTC- no NXT, no Robot-C, no samantha

[BenDSterling]

If you haven't heard already, for the 2015-2016 FTC season there will be a HUGE change in technology. Lego has discontinued the NXT, so FTC will be switching over from a NXT based system to an android based system.
Replacing the NXT will be an Java based andoid platform power by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 Processor. This is a huge improvement over the NXT.
The new system will communicate with Wifi direct. The driver station and robot will communicate directly. Signals will no longer go through the FCS. This means that only the drivers will have control over the robot. When time is up the robots will no longer stop on their own, so judges will have to carefully watch to be sure that no points are scored after the time is up.
Android’s native programming environment is Java. FIRST teams will have several Java options including a basic Application (App) that includes a configuration wizard, full text based Java programming, and MIT App Inventor. Teams will no longer use RobotC or LabVIEW
The central control system including the field control computer, field mounted joysticks and cabling, and router will no longer be used. Teams will compete at events via a direct, point-to-point connection between their two devices powered by Snapdragon processors. One of these devices will be mounted to the robot; the other will serve as the driver’s station. The driver’s station Android device will be wired to one or two driver control Logitech Gamepads, the same ones currently used in FTC. The new platform should allow teams to more quickly get started competing at events. Teams will no longer need their Samantha devices “flashed” with event passwords or need to test their robots on the competition field control system.
The new system will be demonstrated at the FIRST championship in St. Louis, MO.
You can learn more here:
- official FIRST press release
- FTC Technology FAQ
- FTC tech Talk: introduction

[gblake]

This thread might be a duplicate of this earlier thread: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...hreadid=135514

[BenDSterling]

Originally Posted by gblake

This thread might be a duplicate of this earlier thread: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...hreadid=135514

I never noticed this thread. I posted this to inform the FIRST community.

[gblake]

Originally Posted by BenSterling

I never noticed this thread. I posted this to inform the FIRST community.

My point is that we don't need two parallel discussions of a single topic.

Maybe a moderator can merge the two threads into a single thread for us.

[ehochstein]

I'm super excited for the new control system! FIRST is really going open-source with FTC. I love the changes they've made over the last few year.

Originally Posted by gblake

My point is that we don't need two parallel discussions of a single topic.

Maybe a moderator can merge the two threads into a single thread for us.

The other thread is to discuss the possibility of a new control system and is in a sub-form. This is an announcement about the new control system for the entire FIRST community to see.

[BenDSterling]

Originally Posted by ehochstein

The other thread is to discuss the possibility of a new control system and is in a sub-form. This is an announcement about the new control system for the entire FIRST community to see.

^^^^^

[BenDSterling]

Originally Posted by ehochstein

I'm super excited for the new control system! FIRST is really going open-source with FTC. I love the changes they've made over the last few year

Same here! I can't wait to play around with the new system!

[Loose Screw]

I think cutting off communications as the match ends will be very hard to get used to at first (especially for Jr. High teams), but will improve as the season goes on. My immediate thought was to include that cutoff into drive practice, and even have the drive coach count down the last ten seconds (I coach a Jr. High team).

I'll be excited to see a wide variety of driver stations. One of the things I loved as a driver in FRC was seeing all the different driver stations (910's water-cut and underglow station with arcade buttons comes to mind). This might make transporting the robot easier to and from matches as many teams might use their robot cart as their driver station.

I'll be interested in how they make autonomous mode synchronized, but I have faith that it'll turn out fine.

I'm probably most excited for the new sensors. Our team has struggled with using sensors in the past, so this will give us a clean slate to start with. Some of the LEGO sensors weren't that reliable (ultrasonic randomly spazzing out, not reading the same values in the exact same setup, ect). It's one of my goals to have my kids test every sensor to know the limits and applications.

I think this next season will be very exciting, and will help expand the FTC community to better match the FRC program.

[BenDSterling]

Originally Posted by Loose Screw

I'll be excited to see a wide variety of driver stations. One of the things I loved as a driver in FRC was seeing all the different driver stations (910's water-cut and underglow station with arcade buttons comes to mind). This might make transporting the robot easier to and from matches as many teams might use their robot cart as their driver station

Same. I think we will be some pretty cool driver stations next season. I like the idea of using your cart as a driver station.

[gblake]

Originally Posted by ehochstein

The other thread is to discuss the possibility of a new control system and is in a sub-form. This is an announcement about the new control system for the entire FIRST community to see.

I think you mean the entire Chief Delphi community.

The Chief Delphi community includes RECF program fans, FIRST fans, and others (and none of those are mutually exclusive). If you will let me paint with a broad brush, I think they are all interested in this topic.