In 2009 FIRST is switching to a new control system for their top level Robotics Competition.
To maximize the success of the new hardware and software in 2009, FIRST offered teams the opportunity to help them put the new system through it's paces and identify any isses early, before the season begins.
Team 1629 applied to be included in the Beta-Test program, and cited our proven comittment to getting the most out of our robots when it came to innovative control (winning many control awards, and being included in both FIRST Robotics books)
159 teams from across the country submitted applications to be included in the Beta-Test program, but only 18 teams were selected.
1629 was honored to be one of the selected teams.
We have just received our kit of parts and will be rapidly moving through the list or required beta test tasks. The key element of this test is to retro-fit the new control system into one of our existing robots. We have chosen the 2007 Rack 'n Roll robot (Meshach 3.0) for the retrofit program.
We shose 3.0 because it offeres a diverse set of control features, ranging from vision-system based driving to manipulator position "learning".
