We’re excited to announce the release of the Game Manual Part 1 – Traditional and Remote! Outlined in this blog are some of the noteworthy changes we want teams to know about going into the 2023-2024 CENTERSTAGE℠presented by Raytheon Technologiesseason. We’ve also pointed out some important program/game/technology changescoming in the 2024-2025 season.
2023-2024 CENTERSTAGE Season Updates
Robot Rule Updates
<RM02> Commercial Off-The-Shelf-Parts:As an exception to the single degree of freedom rule, we have added that teams may purchase off the shelf odometry kits.
<RE01> Main Power Switch:The AndyMark power switch (am4-969) has been added to the list of legal robot main power switches.
<RE07> Android Devices: The use of smartphones operating on Android version 6.x (Marshmallow) are no longer allowed in the 2023-2024 season. Android smartphones must use Android 7 (Nougat) or newer to be compatible with the current season’s software minimum.
The following Android phones will no longer be supported:
- Motorola Moto G 2nd Generation
- Motorola Moto G 3rd Generation
The Moto G4 Play is no longer supported by over-the-air updates, and devices that have not yet been updated to Android 7 (Nougat) may be unable to update. Certain models might be able to be updated by the Motorola Rescue and Smart Assistance Tool, but there are no guarantees.
<RE12> Light Sources:
- Lasers are allowed provided they meet the stated criteria listed in the rule.
- Expansion of ports used to power and control light sources
<RE13> Video Cameras:
- Stereoscopic Cameras are not allowed
- Legal single-sensor vision cameras/sensors significantly expanded
<DS03> Gamepad: Added Sony DualSense Wireless Controller as a legal gamepad.
<RS03> Allowed Software System Versions:Minimum Android version is 7.0 and minimum FTC software version is 9.0
Section 7.4 and 7.5:This season we will introduce a Team Scoring Element as well as aTeam Game Element . The descriptions of how these will be used, as well as construction rules, will be released at kickoff on 9-9-2023.
Advancement Updates
- Teams may only earn advancement spots within their home region.
- Teams may only be considered for the Inspire Award in their own region.
- Other rules about the number of events allowed for advancement or consideration still apply.
- Teams from regions that do not have an existing FIRST Tech Challenge program can and should ask a nearby region if they can be added as a regional team.
- Teams may only be considered as a part of one region per season.
Please see section 6.0of the Game Manual Part 1 for a full list of rules and criteria for advancement.
Technology Updates
- Beginning in 2023-2024 CENTERSTAGE℠ we will no longer support the use of PTC's Vuforia in the robot SDK(Software Development Kit) and will no longer be providing field localization images on the field that are intended to be used with Vuforia technology.
- The 2023-2024 CENTERSTAGE℠ field will containAprilTag targets, developed by researchers at the University of Michigan to provide low overhead, high accuracy localization for applications such as robotics. More information about this can be found on the ftc-docs AprilTag page.
- The 2023-2024 robot SDK will provide integrated support for utilizing an AprilTag library for recognizing AprilTag targets in all three languages - Blocks, On-Bot Java, and Android Studio. Many other solutions currently utilized by teams may likely also work. An early preview of SDK support is targeted for inclusion in the offseason SDK currently targeted for release in July.
- The 2023-2024 CENTERSTAGE℠ playing field will include tags from the Tag36h11 family. There will be no tags from any other family in use on the field. Based on our testing, we expect teams will be able to reliably practice with printed paper targets. See the AprilTag Test Imagesarticle on ftc-docs for more details.
2024-2025 Upcoming Season Changes
Sunsetting Android Smartphones as Robot Controller
FIRST Tech Challenge will no longer be supporting Robot Controller Smartphones on the robot starting in the 2024-2025 season. Android smartphones outlined in Game Manual Part 1 (version released July 2024) will still be supported as part of the driver station.
Sunsetting MATRIX Power Switch
The MATRIX power switch (#50-0030) will not be allowed in the 2024-2025 season.