[FTC]: 2016-17 Game Manual Part 1 released!

[Lhall]

It's Here!



Words of wisdom from Amanda, Northern Mississippi FIRST VISTA

"Ok team members, coaches, and mentors, now that the Game Manual Part 1 is out ALL of you (and your teams) need to re-familiarize yourselves with section 7.3.5 (Engineering Notebook requirements by award). In recent years the wording for many of these award criteria has changed from sections (like the Team Business Plan) has changed from "recommenced" to "MUST" in order to be considered for certain awards. In addition to that, the Control Award no longer required a separate application sheet and must instead be included within your notebook.

I know a lot of you only look at the Game Manual Part 1 for robot parts information and disregard everything else after your rookie year, but be aware that the rest of the manual also changes, and those changes can be pretty important. The award criteria is what the judges go by, and it's a shame to see good teams taken out of the running because of something small they overlooked!

Please please please for the love and success of all the teams in the state spread word about these changes and make sure we all keep well educated on more than just the game rules! good luck guys!"

Also be sure to check out the discussion/comments taking place on FIRST Tech Challenge Reddit and the FTC Forums.

[Wren Hensgen]

A quick breakdown:

-The throwing distances have been increased. A greater height off the ground, and a greater linear distance are now allowed.

-A new REV robotics battery pack is listed as legal. As of yet, I've been unable to find this anywhere

-A new REV robotics gearbox is listed as legal, the new REV-HEX gearboxes. These are shown as "Coming Soon" on REV's website.

-Xbox 360 Controllers are now legal for Driver's Station use.

[Greg Needel]

Originally Posted by Wren Hensgen

A quick breakdown:


-A new REV robotics battery pack is listed as legal. As of yet, I've been unable to find this anywhere

-A new REV robotics gearbox is listed as legal, the new REV-HEX gearboxes. These are shown as "Coming Soon" on REV's website.

Info coming very soon along with some other big announcements.....

[jds2001]

Also importantly in the Tournament section of the manual - FTC now has yellow/red cards similar to FRC. The rules are very similar:

1) Once a yellow card is given, it carries with the team until the end of that phase of play (i.e. if one is given during quals, then the team has a yellow card until the end of quals. It gets reset for elims).
2) Once a team is carrying a yellow card, any subsequent yellow card (even in the same match) escalates to a red card. A red card means a match disqualification.
3) Once a team has received a red card (either directly earned or via a yellow card escalation), it carries a yellow card to subsequent matches.
4) In eliminations, a card for a team is a card for the entire alliance.

I'm sure there's more that I'm forgetting in detail, but that's the gist of it. Read rule <T2> for all the details . Read all of the rest of them, too!

[ArtemusMaximus]

I am reading "4.6.8 Alliance Selection"

If there are more than 20 Teams, the same method is used for each Alliance Captain’s second choice
(the third member of the Alliance) from highest seed to lowest seed (i.e. 1 → 2 → 3 → 4). Any Teams
remaining after the lowest seeded captain makes their choice do not compete in the Elimination
Matches

So I understand it is like this
1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4, 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4
and not like in FRC ?
1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4, 4 -> 3 -> 2 -> 1

Am I reading this right?

[maths222]

Originally Posted by ArtemusMaximus

I am reading "4.6.8 Alliance Selection"

So I understand it is like this
1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4, 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4
and not like in FRC ?
1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4, 4 -> 3 -> 2 -> 1

Am I reading this right?

That is correct (and how FTC has been at least since I started)

[ArtemusMaximus]

Originally Posted by maths222

That is correct (and how FTC has been at least since I started)

Aha, I see. I had only 1 FRC season, and this will be my second FTC season. Last season we had only 17 teams so didn't have to deal with second round picks.

[anfrcguy]

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

Info coming very soon along with some other big announcements.....

How soon is soon? FTC Kickoff is less than a month away now and it'd be nice to have an idea of the motors/products we'd be able to use.

[pilum40]

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

Info coming very soon along with some other big announcements.....

Just ordered a lot of "little stuff" today. I need to probably order some hex shaft motors. Are they on schedule? I'm pushing my FTC team to build and drive in 1 week. They're all freshmen and sophs. They'll do it just to prove me wrong! LOL

Thanks!

Steve Miller
FTC Team 10756
FRC Team 3355
Purple Vipers

[Greg Needel]

Originally Posted by pilum40

Just ordered a lot of "little stuff" today. I need to probably order some hex shaft motors. Are they on schedule? I'm pushing my FTC team to build and drive in 1 week. They're all freshmen and sophs. They'll do it just to prove me wrong! LOL

Thanks!

Steve Miller
FTC Team 10756
FRC Team 3355
Purple Vipers

We are expecting motors to be here later this week. We think all pre-orders of them will go out Friday, Monday at the latest.