Optimize your FIRST Choice Credits 8:30pm EST 12/5

[Tyler Olds]

Hey Everyone

Join us tonight (12/5) 8:30pm Eastern on FUN Spotlight where we bring in the experts to help your team optimize your FIRST Choice Credits and vKoP

Learn from the experts: Kate Pilotte from FIRST, Jerry Budd from AndyMark, and Marshall Massengill from FRC900 the Zebracorns.

We'll take any questions ahead of time or you can post them in chat live on the air. Don't forget that FIRST Choice Priority List for Round 1 are due tomorrow at noon eastern so get your questions in while you can!

Watch Live: twitch.tv/firstupdatesnow
View Archived: youtube.com/firstupdatesnow

Special thanks for Marshall and FRC900 the Zebracorns for collaborating with FUN on this show.

Hope to see you on!

[Christopher149]

Question:

Are the 2016 and 2017 solenoid valve kits (fc17-041 and fc17-135) functionally identical? Any meaningful differences?

[Michael Kaurich]

Outside of the Rookie team bundle, what should we be getting? Or a better idea would be targeted numbers of different motors, speed controllers, pneumatics,etc.

[Knufire]

Originally Posted by Michael Kaurich

Outside of the Rookie team bundle, what should we be getting? Or a better idea would be targeted numbers of different motors, speed controllers, pneumatics,etc.

I wouldn't even get the rookie bundle, personally. I'd focus on getting the components that are
a. Required on your robot per the rules
b. Commonly used year-after-year

Electronics:
*Voltage Regulator Module
*Power Distribution Panel
Victor 888
*Victor SP
Talon SRX

Motors:
*CIM Motor
PG71 Gearmotors

Pneumatics:
*Pneumatics Control Module
*Pneumatic Pressure Switch
*Pressure Relief Valve
Compressor, Model 90C (This exact compressor isn't required by the rules, but it's one of the most commonly used.)

*Items marked are also included in your rookie Kit of Parts tote that you will receive on Kickoff. I still recommend getting these, as the motors and speed controllers you will need more of, and the other items are critical, required components that will be nice to have a backup of. This also allows you to get some sort of a test bench running that you will be able to work on outside of open bag hours.

For the pressure regulator and gauges, Automatic Direct will usually include a small voucher in the Kit of Parts, which will allow you to purchase much smaller/lighter models than the ones offered in FIRST Choice. You will also get some in your Kit of Parts tote on kickoff.

[Joe Ross]

I'm interested in a discussion of what the most popular items have been in the past.

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Knufire

*Items marked are also included in your rookie Kit of Parts tote that you will receive on Kickoff. I still recommend getting these, as the motors and speed controllers you will need more of, and the other items are critical, required components that it will be nice to have a backup of. This also allows you to get some sort of a test bench running that you will be able to work on outside of open bag hours.

This! Being able to wire it all up on a chunk of plywood early is a great way to keep your programmers engaged and working. Even if you have to cut new wire and put new connectors on the production robot, consider it a cheap way to speed things up big time.

(I would say there's a case for at least one or two Talon SRXs in the list, so you can explore life on the CAN bus, but Knufire's list is pretty on point.)

[Tyler Olds]

We're starting I hope you can join us!

[Michael Kaurich]

Originally Posted by Billfred

This! Being able to wire it all up on a chunk of plywood early is a great way to keep your programmers engaged and working. Even if you have to cut new wire and put new connectors on the production robot, consider it a cheap way to speed things up big time.

(I would say there's a case for at least one or two Talon SRXs in the list, so you can explore life on the CAN bus, but Knufire's list is pretty on point.)

Like a test board/bed?

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Michael Kaurich

Like a test board/bed?

Exactly! I'm failing to find it (I suspect it was lost when FIRST wiped the old Bill's Blog), but even FIRST posted a picture one year of a big ol' board that stayed at HQ with all the electronics of a field--string lights, the team lights, sensors, LED number signs, the whole shmear--splayed out on a board so they could check things while events are happening. (Much more compact than trying to squeeze a full field in there on Bedford Street.)

[Tyler Olds]

Thank you to everyone who watched the show! Did anyone take advantage of the $20 offer from both Kate and Jerry? Find out what I am talking about and what you missed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO1CN3VZoyI

Big thanks to Kate from FIRST, Jerry from AndyMark and Marshall from FRC900 the Zebracorns for being on the show. This show was made possible due to FRC900 reaching out and if you have subjects that you want to see be made into a show contact us at feedback@firstupdatesnow.com.

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Exactly! I'm failing to find it (I suspect it was lost when FIRST wiped the old Bill's Blog), but even FIRST posted a picture one year of a big ol' board that stayed at HQ with all the electronics of a field--string lights, the team lights, sensors, LED number signs, the whole shmear--splayed out on a board so they could check things while events are happening. (Much more compact than trying to squeeze a full field in there on Bedford Street.)

Are you thinking of this blog post?

[Fusion_Clint]

Originally Posted by Knufire

I wouldn't even get the rookie bundle, personally. I'd focus on getting the components that are
a. Required on your robot per the rules
b. Commonly used year-after-year

Electronics:
*Voltage Regulator Module
*Power Distribution Panel
Victor 888
*Victor SP
Talon SRX

Motors:
*CIM Motor
PG71 Gearmotors

Pneumatics:
*Pneumatics Control Module
*Pneumatic Pressure Switch
*Pressure Relief Valve
Compressor, Model 90C (This exact compressor isn't required by the rules, but it's one of the most commonly used.)

*Items marked are also included in your rookie Kit of Parts tote that you will receive on Kickoff. I still recommend getting these, as the motors and speed controllers you will need more of, and the other items are critical, required components that will be nice to have a backup of. This also allows you to get some sort of a test bench running that you will be able to work on outside of open bag hours.

For the pressure regulator and gauges, Automatic Direct will usually include a small voucher in the Kit of Parts, which will allow you to purchase much smaller/lighter models than the ones offered in FIRST Choice. You will also get some in your Kit of Parts tote on kickoff.

This!