Field Control System

[Nibbles]

I wanted to collect ideas on how you think the field control system might work this year. In the past the lights, team numbers, and operator interface were connected to a system that managed the robot, and that was connected to a central computer that kept scores and judges data, which the front screen was also connected to.

With the change to Wi-Fi, I would like to see high- and low-level outlines of how all this might work this year. Some problems to consider are how robots will find their operator controller over IP, how the Wi-Fi setup will work to prevent interference and prevent anything then a competition robot from connecting, how autonomous and disable will work, and how teams will be able to do the same thing.

I wanted a 5Ghz WiFi network, with a single, FIRST-managed access point that teams plug into via Ethernet for the operator controller, robots connect through a WiFi-Ethernet bridge, which would probable have to be custom manufactured, that would connect to the AP, and DHCP basic information about the arena, maybe using an additional service location server, RFC 887 specified with DHCP option 11. The robot, and team controller, would then have to discover the field controller server, which would collect team numbers and bring the robot controller and driver controller together.

That is enough of me talking, what do you all want?