Introducing the Future Mobile Robot Controller!

Late last year, FIRST opened a Request for Proposal for the future mobile robot controller for FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition. This controller will be used in FIRST Robotics Competition starting in the 2027 season and in FIRST Tech Challenge starting in the 2027-28 season. Today, we are excited to announce our selected partners and give a little information about the features of this system.

The new robot control system takes a modular approach to best support both the FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition, minimizing cost and complexity for each program. The system incorporates advanced vision processing and emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, while also addressing the immediate needs of teams today. This innovative approach simplifies the user experience, making FIRST programs as accessible as possible while retaining the power and flexibility that enable teams to push their limits.

The selected proposal emphasizes removing barriers to participation by offering a simple, unintimidating, and easy-to-learn control system. By delivering a reliable, minimal compute powerhouse for FIRST Robotics Competition, and re-imagining FIRST Tech Challenge with an opinionated, highly-integrated architecture that maximizes controllability while minimizing complexity, the new control system addresses the unique needs and challenges of both programs.

The core portions of the robot controller are being developed through a collaboration with Raspberry Pi and Limelight Vision along with significant contributions from other supporters including WPI, REV Robotics, and Google. The core portions will be manufactured in Wales at the industry leading Sony UK Technology Centre. FIRST is excited to be working with other partners to develop additional pieces of the control system, and we will share more details about those items when they are available.

The common component of the control system, which is shared by both programs, is “SystemCore”. This compact controller is powered by the just announced Raspberry Pi CM5 and brings performance through a combination of a quad-core ARM Cortex-A76 processor, 4 GB of RAM, a VideoCore VII GPU, and real-time Linux. The controller also integrates Limelight vision technology, allowing all teams to access powerful vision processing just by plugging in a webcam, reducing system cost and complexity. SystemCore has additional IO and capabilities, including:

• Multiple USB 3.0 ports allow teams to expand their field of view with more cameras or make use of other sensors such as LIDAR
• Multiple CAN buses provide near point-to-point CAN wiring for simple robots while allowing complex robots to avoid CAN bus congestion and segment their robot onto different buses for reliability and simplification of wiring
• “Smart I/O ports” capable of flexing between analog input, digital input (including PWM), digital output, and PWM output will provide teams with flexibility when connecting sensors or PWM motor controllers to the device
• Built-in IMU eliminates the need for an external device
• Integrated dual band 2.4GHz/5GHz wireless radio for use by FIRST Tech Challenge in competition, and by both programs outside of competition, whether in the workshop or on the road in demos and off-season competition
• AI accelerator options allow for expanding compute power and enabling the use of high-performance machine learning algorithms in the future

A second module, called “MotionCore”, is an all-in-one companion device to SystemCore used by FIRST Tech Challenge. This device combines power distribution, encoder input, and actuator support into a single unit.

SystemCore and MotionCore are both designed with reliability top of mind, with features such as reverse polarity and extensive short circuit protection, ESD protection, robust software update and recovery, and more. Mechanically, features such as positive retention on the majority of connectors keep cables plugged in where they belong, reducing down-time from accidental disconnects.

For software, FIRST is working with Limelight, members of the WPILib team, and the FIRST Tech Challenge tech team to define a new cross-platform software experience for these devices. With focus on accessibility, the robot controller software will include a highly functional web interface as well as on-robot programming in both Blockly and text-based languages for “headless” coding for use with Chromebooks and other restricted devices. In addition, full Integrated Development Environment (IDE) support will continue, ensuring teams have the option to use industrial strength coding toolchains.

Development of the robot control system is ahead of the schedule outlined in the RFP. Limelight and FIRST plan to run a limited initial test of SystemCore and MotionCore on robots from both programs in the coming months with plans for public Alpha and Beta testing in mid-to-late 2025. We will share more information moving forward about opportunities for teams from both programs to participate in these test periods as we get closer to those dates.

We want to thank everyone who submitted proposals for the robot control system. We were blown away by the diversity, creativity, and generosity of our supporters. While this was an incredibly difficult decision, FIRST is excited by the outcome, and can’t wait to see teams using the new control system in the coming years!