[FRC Blog] 2017 Early Release Vouchers and Software

[Hallry]

Posted on the FRC Blog, 12/20/16: http://www.firstinspires.org/robotic...chers-software

2017 Early Release Vouchers and Software

Written by Jamee Luce, FIRST Robotics Competition Team Advocate, 2016 DEC 20.


It’s the time of year again! One way to get excited about the upcoming season is to start utilizing all the tools available to teams. Virtual items are included as part of the Kit of Parts system and are available to all secured 2017 FIRST Robotics Competition teams. They consist of software licenses/downloads and Product Donation Vouchers (aka “PDVs” or “vouchers”) and will be posted to the Virtual Kit of Parts site today, December 20, 2016 at 3PM Eastern.

Vouchers can be redeemed for specific items or a selection of items up to a specific dollar amount (teams pay for shipping), but refer to the Virtual Kit site for details on how to pursue these helpful donations.

There will be additional items added to the Virtual Kit on Kickoff, so make sure to check them all out then!

Our thanks to all of our Suppliers who make the Kit of Parts happen each year!

[Caleb Sykes]

I'm so happy that they are releasing these PDVs early. We can order these in the next few days and get them all before build season starts or in the first couple of weeks. In the past we wouldn't get some things quickly enough to actually use them until the next season.

Thanks FIRST.

[bdaroz]

We're considering switching to Solidworks this year as one of the classes in the school has started using it as well. I don't see an obvious link on the solidworks page to apply for team software -- any teams that have done it, is that the "apply for sponsorship" link?

[bstew]

Originally Posted by bdaroz

We're considering switching to Solidworks this year as one of the classes in the school has started using it as well. I don't see an obvious link on the solidworks page to apply for team software -- any teams that have done it, is that the "apply for sponsorship" link?

Solidworks has a link for to apply for licenses and more information at solidworks.com/first. You should receive an email with license information in around a week.

You can apply year round, so we typically renew in the summer.

[bdaroz]

Originally Posted by bstew

Solidworks has a link for to apply for licenses and more information at solidworks.com/first. You should receive an email with license information in around a week.

You can apply year round, so we typically renew in the summer.

Right.... There's an "apply for sponsorship" link at that address, but it's not clear if that's for software, or grant money, or something else. I just didn't want to go through a grant application mistakenly thinking it's for software.

[SenorZ]

Solidworks treats their software license donation as a sponsorship, and would like to be put on your team website/shirts/etc.

Last year we received a 50 seat license. That's worth a lot o' $$$

[bdaroz]

Originally Posted by SenorZ

Solidworks treats their software license donation as a sponsorship, and would like to be put on your team website/shirts/etc.

Last year we received a 50 seat license. That's worth a lot o' $$$

Gotcha... makes sense at that level. Thanks for the info!

[Lil' Lavery]

No VexPro motor controller voucher this year?

[sanddrag]

Very happy to see Automation Direct return with a PDV, and very interesting to see MasterCAM involved. This is a very expensive software.

[Bkeeneykid]

Kinda banking on having a discount on the American Button Machines button maker, as we just found several hundred button kits for a size we don't have a button maker for, but all well.

[frcguy]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

No VexPro motor controller voucher this year?

I think having the four controllers in FIRST Choice replaced that.

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

No VexPro motor controller voucher this year?

Originally Posted by frcguy

I think having the four controllers in FIRST Choice replaced that.

I tend to agree with Nick on this one.
We received 2 Talon SRX's and 4 Victor SP's via FIRST Choice.

[GreyingJay]

Originally Posted by billbo911

I tend to agree with Nick on this one.
We received 2 Talon SRX's and 4 Victor SP's via FIRST Choice.

We got a couple, but no Talons I don't think that having them in the FIRST Choice by lottery is quite the same as having a voucher that has more or less guaranteed redemption value.

[maxnz]

Originally Posted by GreyingJay

We got a couple, but no Talons I don't think that having them in the FIRST Choice by lottery is quite the same as having a voucher that has more or less guaranteed redemption value.

I agree. Having a voucher is also better for teams who either miss the FC deadline or need control system components more than motor controllers.

[WSiggs]

Does the KoP include more product keys for the NI Software? Last year my team ran into the problem where we lost our 2014 product key for DS, so we had to contact NI to retrieve it. When we used that key it said it was the last usage available for that key (3 of 3 I believe). This year we have a new driver station, so will a new key come with the KoP? If not, how to we go about getting the software?