Information for 2013 - the What, When, Where & How

Blog Date: 
Wednesday, January 2, 2013 - 16:58

With Kickoff only a few days away, we’re going post a good deal of information and documentation to help you hit the ground running. We recommend you download everything you need ahead of time to 1) beat the rush and help us even out the load on servers and 2) have what you need ready to go on Saturday when/where you may not have internet access.

Below is a quick summary of what will be available, when it will be available, where you can get it, and how it will be shared.

Available Now

  • 2013 Development Environment Installation Instructions (WPI Lib ScreenSteps page):  This site has additional control system information, but these instructions are particularly helpful for getting started. [Unencrypted] NOTE (as of 1/3/12): An issue has been discovered with the PDF generation for the ScreenSteps documentation resulting in incomplete, unpublished articles being included in the PDFs. All completed and published articles available online are properly included. We are working to resolve this issue and will update the PDFs as soon as possible.
  • 2013 Game Manual (FRC Manual page):  The manual will be unencrypted immediately after Kickoff. [Encrypted]
  • 2013 Field Drawings (FRC Manual page): These drawings are included on the Manual page as “Supplemental Documentation” and will be unencrypted immediately after Kickoff. [Encrypted]
  • 2013 Team Version Drawings (FRC Manual page): These drawings are included on the Manual page as “Supplemental Documentation” and will be unencrypted immediately after Kickoff. [Encrypted]
  • 2013 Robot Quick-Build Instructions (FRC Technical Resources page) [Encrypted]
  • 2013 KOP Checklists (FRC Kit of Parts page): Checklists will be unencrypted immediately after Kickoff. [Encrypted]
  • 2013 FRC Bridge Configuration Utility (FRC Technical Resources page): This is needed by all teams to configure the radio for home use. This application requires Java installed on the machine. [Unencrypted]
  • 2013 Classmate Image Files (Intel):  More information is available on the FRC Technical Resources page. [Unencrypted]
  • 2013 C++/Java Software Updates (WPI Lib First Forge page): This is only needed by teams using C++/Java and will be unencrypted immediately after Kickoff. [Encrypted]
  • 2013 LabVIEW Utility Updates (National Instruments): This is needed by all teams and will be unencrypted immediately after Kickoff. Currently links to 2012 information, will change over to 2013 information once files are posted January 3. [Encrypted]
  • 2013 Driver Station Application (National Instruments): This is needed by all teams and will be unencrypted immediately after Kickoff. Currently links to 2012 information, will change over to 2013 information once files are posted January 3. [Encrypted]
  • 2013 LabVIEW Updates (National Instruments): This is only needed by teams using LabVIEW and will be unencrypted immediately after Kickoff. Currently links to 2012 information, will change over to 2013 information once files are posted January 3. [Encrypted]
  • Kinect Server (WPI Lib First Forge page): Requires Microsoft’s SDK, V 1.6, installer will prompt user to install if not already on machine. [Encrypted]

Available January 5

For the encrypted files, the decryption code (it’s the same code for all encrypted files) will be disclosed at the end of the Kickoff broadcast. Meanwhile, we recommend you bookmark the FRC Technical Resources page where all of these links (and others to information already posted) will also be available.

Comments

2013 Driver Station

Submitted by joelg236 on Wed, 01/02/2013 - 18:54.

2013 Driver Station Application (National Instruments): This is only needed by teams using LabVIEW and will be unencrypted immediately after Kickoff. Currently links to 2012 information, will change over to 2013 information once files are posted January 3.

Why do only the LabVIEW teams need the driver station?

Corrected!

Submitted by Rose Kue on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 11:48.

Hi joelg236, thanks for pointing this out. We've made the correction: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/blog-driver-station-applicat.... Cheers, Rose.

Driver Station typo?

Submitted by Ian on Wed, 01/02/2013 - 18:55.

The "2013 Driver Station Application" section says "This is only needed by teams using LabVIEW". Is this correct, and if it is, is the update still recommended for other languages?

Corrected: Recommended for all teams

Submitted by Rose Kue on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 11:50.

Hi Ian, thanks for the catch! Please see the correction above and here: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/blog-driver-station-applicat.... Have a great Kickoff, Rose.

Driver Station

Submitted by John on Wed, 01/02/2013 - 21:08.

Is it a typo that only teams using LabVIEW will be needing the driver station this year?

Yes, that has been corrected!

Submitted by Rose Kue on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 11:52.

Hi John, thanks for commenting! That was, in fact, a mistake. I've changed the text above and Frank posted a blog entry about this today -- you can find it here: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/blog-driver-station-applicat.... Cheers, Rose.

Down loading the encrypted files

Submitted by Ken C on Wed, 01/02/2013 - 23:54.

Are we able to down load the encrypted files prior to kick-off so all we need is the key? If so how does one do it or do we need to what until kick-off to get the files?

Available Now

Submitted by Rose Kue @ FIRST FRC on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 11:57.

Hi Ken, thanks for the inquiry. You can download any files listed as "AVAILABLE NOW" above -- just click on the link and follow the instructions on each page. Remember to check back regularly for updates to other links on this page, as they become available. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us at frcteams@usfirst.org or 800-871-8326, ext. 0. Have a wonderful Kickoff!

Encrypted Files

Submitted by Ken C. on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 16:39.

Thanks, so all we need to do to save is click the "Save Link As" to a file and we are good to go? Never done this before so just checking. :) Thanks again, Ken C.

Yes, just follow the links

Submitted by rkue on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 16:45.

Hi Ken, no problem! You're correct that all you need to do is follow the links, which will take you to the exact download pages. Again, feel free to contact us directly if you have any further issues: at frcteams@usfirst.org or 800-871-8326, ext. 0. Cheers, Rose.

Encrypted Files

Submitted by Ken C. on Fri, 01/04/2013 - 12:02.

Thanks Rose - you all rock!

FIRST Choice

Submitted by Lakota Robotics... on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 08:02.

Will the Game Specific Items immediately become active for purchase or is their a grace period to allow teams the chance to view them. My concern is for teams attending a kickoff where there may not be wifi access to be able to order before those teams who are on wifi at kickoff.

4pm

Submitted by Andrew D on Fri, 01/04/2013 - 22:43.

The game pieces won't be on sale until 4pm EST.

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/blog-one-day-to-go

-Andrew

Trouble downloading encrypted files

Submitted by Dan Howett on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 08:20.

Using a MacBook, when clicking on links to the encrypted files, I'm asked for a password, which we obviously don't have. I click <cancel>and save the encrypted PDF to the desktop, but when opening the file from the desktop it shows as being a corrupted file with no opportunity to enter a password. Will the saved file on my desktop automatically decrypt at a certain time this Saturday? Is there something I'm doing wrong here? I appreciate any help you can offer.

MacBook

Submitted by rkue on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 16:47.

Hi Dan, we were unable to replicate the problem on our own MacBook. Could you contact us directly if you're still unable to download the file? We're happy to provide direct support by either frcteams@usfirst.org or 800-871-8326, ext. 0. Best, Rose.

Download?

Submitted by Neal Wilhite on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 08:44.

I thought the point was to download the encrypted version. You can't download it...

Which document?

Submitted by Rose @ FIRST FRC on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 13:01.

Hi Neal, to which document are you referring? If you run into any further trouble and would like assistance, feel free to contact us at frcteams@usfirst.org or 800-871-8326, ext. 0. Best, Rose.

Can't download

Submitted by Neal Wilhite on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 13:22.

I click 2013 game manual.
I then click Arena Layout and Markings (encrypted)
It starts working on a PDF but then asks for a password. No option to download...

Download Link

Submitted by Rose @ FIRST FRC on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 17:13.

Hi Neal, under "Game Manual Documentation" you'll find a hyperlink to the "2013 Game Manual (encrypted)" PDF. You should right-click on that link and select "Save Link As". That should save the file to a location on your computer. The encryption code will be available during the Kickoff broadcast on Saturday. Feel free to contact us directly if you'd like for us to walk through it with you. You can reach us at frcteams@usfirst.org or 800-871-8326, ext. 0. Thanks, Rose.

Issue with the PDF documents downloaded from screensteps

Submitted by Willard hunt on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 10:07.

The PDF documents appear to be corrupted. Attempting to down load the 2013 Control System documentation. The PDF text is a series of dots, no text appears.

Corrected

Submitted by Rose Kue @ FIRST FRC on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 12:57.

Hi Willard, thanks for pointing this out. We've made some corrections -- the title page on a few of the manuals is still rendering incorrectly but the text should now be fixed on all ScreenSteps manuals. Let us know if you run into any more issues! Best, Rose.

More issues with PDF files

Submitted by Mina on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 16:33.

I just took a look at the SmartDashboard.pdf and it seems as if starting from page 17 most of the content is missing (only titles are rendered)

Slow downloads on Classmate Images

Submitted by Lucas on Thu, 01/03/2013 - 22:57.

Would it be possible if you could use a torrent file for the intel files instead of a regular server download because if every frc user downloaded and seeded the downloads would go faster for all the teams and all they would need is a bittorent client such as UTorrent or other clients P.S. School WiFi cant easily DL 4.4 GB files so thats why i reccomend this.

Video of this year's task

Submitted by Amelie Krikorian on Sat, 01/05/2013 - 15:10.

I have gone through all 11 of the YouTube videos linked to this page and although they are informative, none of them appear to be the one we watched at the kickoff party earlier today -- the demo of what the robots have to do. Where is that link? I want to show it to my 4th grade students and get them hooked on tech early.

Autodesk Award

Submitted by Sunny Aggarwal on Sat, 01/05/2013 - 15:16.

Does anyone know when the Autodesk award challenge is going to be released?

It is not being offered this

Submitted by Mongai on Thu, 01/10/2013 - 16:51.

It is not being offered this year.

Field build

Submitted by jill on Sat, 01/05/2013 - 15:43.

last year there were plywood drawings for a basic field. Is there something like this for this year. Where would we look? Also if there isn't an easy build. Are there more common names for the tubing? Ie electrical conduit or something of the like?

Measurements

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 01/05/2013 - 15:58.

During Driver Controlled and Autonomous can you extend Height Wise to as high as you wish? or is there a limit like the weight limit?

Team drawings

Submitted by Frank on Sat, 01/05/2013 - 17:25.

I can't seem to get the Team Drawings downloaded. I just get an error stating the page is not available.

simulator

Submitted by russell on Sat, 01/05/2013 - 19:55.

Can't.get the simulator. Installed

Pages

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