FIRST Tech Challenge INTO THE DEEP Premier Events
December 23, 2024
Updated 6/12/25 ~7:15pm ET to correct a country name within the table. Updated 6/12/25 ~10:15pm to correct a team's state and team's name within the table.
Thank you to all the teams that applied to be part of the first round of Alpha Testing for the new SystemCore robot controller. With over 400 wonderful applications eligible for this round, narrowing it down to 50 selections was not easy.
Device Updates
In advance of teams getting their hands on Alpha units, there are a few more details we wanted to share that weren’t part of the previous blog. Just like the details shared in that blog, these details represent the current status of the design and are subject to change as a result of Alpha testing. First, here’s an image of the device:
In addition to the ports described in the previous blog, you’ll notice another major feature in the image, a small screen. This screen displays helpful diagnostic information to make SystemCore easy to use and troubleshoot. We plan to develop and refine the information displayed on the screen based on feedback from teams and event volunteers as we move through the testing process.
SystemCore is 5.3 in x 2.8 in. x 1.1 in. (135.3mm x 71.5mm x 28.13mm) and weighs approximately 0.475 lb (215 g). Here’s a dimensioned drawing of the device:
There has also been substantial progress on the software. This video shows some of the development on the web interface, including the controller-hosted programming environments and device status information:
Alpha Testing
Selection of Alpha testing teams for the first wave was focused on FIRST® Robotics Competition teams and was based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to:
- Geography (ensure geographic spread, especially among different spoken languages)
- Current programming language (ensure some teams using C++ and Python)
- FIRST® Tech Challenge program participation (although only SystemCore is currently available, we don’t want to wait a few months before we start getting any FIRST Tech Challenge student feedback)
- Team’s answer to “why should we be selected”
The following 50 applications have been selected to participate in the first wave of Alpha testing, beginning soon. Teams that have been selected have received an email to the address included in their application with additional details on testing and next steps. Applications are listed numerically by the lowest FIRST Robotics Competition team number included, applications that also indicated FIRST Tech Challenge participation are marked with an *.
|
Team Number
|
Team/Org Name
|
Country
|
State/Province
|
|
27*
|
Team RUSH
|
US
|
Michigan
|
|
67
|
The HOT Team
|
US
|
Michigan
|
|
100
|
The WildHats
|
US
|
California
|
|
180*
|
S.P.A.M.
|
US
|
Florida
|
|
190
|
Gompei and the HERD
|
US
|
Massachusetts
|
|
195*
|
CyberKnights
|
US
|
Connecticut
|
|
302*
|
The Dragons
|
US
|
Michigan
|
|
321, 427*
|
Robolancers/LANCE-A-LOT
|
US
|
Pennsylvania
|
|
456*
|
Siege Robotics
|
US
|
Mississippi
|
|
461*
|
Westside Boiler Invasion
|
US
|
Indiana
|
|
604
|
Quixilver
|
US
|
California
|
|
694*
|
StuyPulse
|
US
|
New York
|
|
836
|
The RoboBees
|
US
|
Maryland
|
|
1156*
|
Under Control
|
Brazil
|
Rio Grande do Sul
|
|
1619*
|
Up-A-Creek Robotics
|
US
|
Colorado
|
|
1678
|
Citrus Circuits
|
US
|
California
|
|
1716, 3381, 4531, 5586, 7103, 7619, 9578*
|
Lakeshore FIRST Robotics & Brown County FIRST Robotics
|
US
|
Wisconsin
|
|
1736
|
Robot Casserole
|
US
|
Illinois
|
|
1778*
|
Chill Out
|
US
|
Washington
|
|
1987*
|
Broncobots
|
US
|
Missouri
|
|
2052
|
KnightKrawler
|
US
|
Minnesota
|
|
2403, 4146, 9432
|
Sabercat Robotics
|
US
|
Arizona
|
|
2718*
|
Team OKC e'possums (Σ 1/n! x 10^3)
|
US
|
Oklahoma
|
|
2724, 3506*
|
YETI Robotics
|
US
|
North Carolina
|
|
2974
|
Walton Robotics
|
US
|
Georgia
|
|
3015
|
Ranger Robotics
|
US
|
New York
|
|
3075*
|
Ha-Dream Team
|
Israel
|
Merkaz
|
|
3504*
|
Girls of Steel
|
US
|
Pennsylvania
|
|
3538*
|
RoboJackets
|
US
|
Michigan
|
|
3847
|
Spectrum -△◅
|
US
|
Texas
|
|
3990
|
Tech for Kids
|
Canada
|
Quebec
|
|
4061
|
SciBorgs
|
US
|
Washington
|
|
4069*
|
Lo-Ellen Robotics
|
Canada
|
Ontario
|
|
4270
|
Crusaders
|
US
|
Hawaii
|
|
4481*
|
Team Rembrandts
|
Netherlands
|
Noord-Brabant
|
|
4607*
|
C.I.S.
|
US
|
Minnesota
|
|
4774
|
The Drop Bears
|
Australia
|
New South Wales
|
|
4917
|
Sir Lancerbot
|
Canada
|
Ontario
|
|
5113
|
Combustible Lemons
|
US
|
New Jersey
|
|
5515*
|
Blue Power Robotics
|
China
|
Shanghai
|
|
5940
|
BREAD
|
US
|
California
|
|
6328
|
Mechanical Advantage
|
US
|
Massachusetts
|
|
6391
|
Ursuline Bearbotics
|
US
|
Missouri
|
|
6459*
|
AG Robotik
|
Türkiye
|
İstanbul
|
|
7130
|
Future Shock
|
Chinese Taipei |
Taichung
|
|
8795*
|
Chaotics
|
Türkiye
|
Ankara
|
|
9128, 9752, 10340*
|
ITKAN Robotics
|
US
|
Texas
|
|
9134*
|
Tecmilenio - DEVOLT
|
Mexico
|
Chihuahua
|
|
9194*
|
Gemin√-1s
|
US
|
Ohio
|
|
9593*
|
Rhinos
|
Mexico
|
Mexico City
|
Teams that were not selected will automatically be considered for selection in the second wave of testing, expected to begin in September. Any additional teams wishing to apply for this wave can use the application form. While this wave will be mostly focused on adding FIRST Tech Challenge teams due to the MotionCore hardware becoming available, a limited number of FIRST Robotics Competition spots may be available based on some first wave Alpha teams transitioning to FIRST Tech Challenge testing.
Teams can follow along with Alpha testing in this Github project. We can’t wait to hear team’s feedback once they get their hands on the device and will share more updates about MotionCore and Wave 2 of Alpha Testing in approximately August/September!