Innovation First is accepting pre-orders for the Control System

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Posted by Innovation First, Inc.

Engineer on team #883 from Texas.

Posted on 12/27/99 2:53 PM MST



Innovation First, Inc. is now accepting pre-orders for the 2000 Control System. Pre-orders can be made at www.innovationfirst.com. The control systems will not be shipped prior to Jan 10, 2000. Quantities are limited. Systems will be shipped on a first-to-order basis.

Innovation First 2000 Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1295
(1) Robot Controller
(1) Operator Interface
(2) Radio Modems
(4) Relay Modules
(1) Tether Cable
(2) Radio Cables
(1) Program Cable
(4) PWM Cables
(1) AC Adapter

Individual control system components will be available for purchase after kickoff. Again, quantities are limited.

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Posted by Raul.

Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.

Posted on 12/28/99 6:54 AM MST


In Reply to: Innovation First is accepting pre-orders for the Control System posted by Innovation First, Inc on 12/27/99 2:53 PM MST:



Do we get to use the same control system in 2001 or do we have to buy a new version each year?

I imagine that fixes and improvements will be made and the control system will continue to evolve. I'm not sure if I want to buy a spare system if it is going to change every year. It would be worth it if I knew I could use it at least next year and save the extra $1000 on the kit.

So FIRST and Innovation First have to make a business decision on how they will proceed.

Raul

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Posted by Eric Rasmussen.

Engineer from FIRST.

Posted on 12/28/99 12:50 PM MST


In Reply to: So the question for FIRST is.. posted by Raul on 12/28/99 6:54 AM MST:



Hi Raul.

All teams will get a new control system each year as part of the kit. This will be covered by the registration fee and will not be optional. There are three basic reasons for this plan. 1) It allows teams to plan in advance for the cost of registration whether or not the control system is upgraded in the future. 2) It increases reliability by not having used parts on the robots. 3) It helps Innovation First stay in business, which benefits the entire FIRST community.

I cannot predict the future of the control systems, but it is likely that the design will continue to evolve. If and when a further evolution occurs, Innovation First may or may not (I can't commit to this for them) come out with firmware upgrades for the controllers to allow teams to upgrade their systems.

There are several basic reasons I can envision for a team to purchase spare systems: 1) To refit older robots, 2) To help train team members, 3) To provide additional prototyping bandwidth, 4) To start an educational curriculum, or 5) To host a robotics competition. These reasons are only partially dependant on whether or not there is an evolution in the future.

Think of it as follows: Purchasing a spare system is just like purchasing a computer. You know it will be 'useful' for a few years, and will probably run the same old programs for years and years, but it may not be fully compatible with the new things that come out. It is hard to be 'forward compatible' for very long.

-Eric Rasmussen
FIRST

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Posted by Lora Knepper.

Student on team #69, HYPER, from Quincy Public Schools and The Gillette Company.

Posted on 12/28/99 7:08 AM MST


In Reply to: Innovation First is accepting pre-orders for the Control System posted by Innovation First, Inc on 12/27/99 2:53 PM MST:



Just a quick question. Maybe there was some misunderstanding among my team, but we weree under the impression that the control systems were one of the reasons that the entrance fees went up this year. Are we going to HAVE to order the controls?? All of the engineers on my team thought that they were included in the kit of parts...are we really off base on this?

Lora Knepper
Driver~Team 69 HYPER

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Posted by Jerry Eckert.

Engineer from Looking for a team in Raleigh, NC sponsored by New England Prototype/Brooks Automation.

Posted on 12/28/99 2:01 PM MST


In Reply to: Wasn't the controls part of the registration fees?? posted by Lora Knepper on 12/28/99 7:08 AM MST:



: Just a quick question. Maybe there was some misunderstanding among my team, but we weree under the impression that the control systems were one of the reasons that the entrance fees went up this year. Are we going to HAVE to order the controls?? All of the engineers on my team thought that they were included in the kit of parts...are we really off base on this?

: Lora Knepper
: Driver~Team 69 HYPER

Your understanding is correct. You only have to order a control system if you want to have a spare.

Jerry

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Posted by Innovation First, Inc.

Engineer on team #883 from Texas.

Posted on 12/28/99 8:16 AM MST


In Reply to: Innovation First is accepting pre-orders for the Control System posted by Innovation First, Inc on 12/27/99 2:53 PM MST:



The Control Systems available through Innovation First are provided as additional or spare units for teams. FIRST will have a limited number of loaner units to be used at events only.

A complete Innovation First Control System will be provided in the kits. Innovation First has a two year contract to provide these systems for FIRST and, providing that no major problems appear, the systems will be the same next year. Firmware changes/improvements for next year, if any, can be upgraded into old systems for a minimal cost.