FIRST Tech Challenge SDK and REV Control Hub Update Triple Treat

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FIRST Tech Challenge Software Development Kit (SDK) Update

FIRST Tech Challenge is pleased to announce the release of the FIRST Tech Challenge Software Development Kit (SDK) version 9.1. This release is an optional upgrade release for teams that includes several bugfixes and enhancements for the SDK. Teams should check the release notes and ensure they will benefit from the update before migrating their code.

FIRST Tech Challenge SDK OpMode Registration and Activity Upcoming Changes

Beginning in the 2024-2025 season, the FIRST Tech Challenge SDK is undergoing some changes designed to make it easier and less error-prone to update your Android Studio project. To facilitate this, several outdated interfaces are being closed for modification. These changes are expected to affect mostly older libraries that may not have updated to newer interfaces and standards (and likely these libraries have newer versions that do adhere to updated interfaces), and should have very little impact on team generated code. These changes are:

1. Android Studio users and library developers will no longer be able to modify the Robot Controller’s user interface or register OpModes using the  FtcOpModeRegister Java class. Any OpModes that were previously being registered using FtcOpModeRegister will need to instead be registered using the @Autonomous and @TeleOp annotations similar to all of the provided program samples.
2. Also, any code modifying FtcRobotControllerActivity to gain access to Android and Robot Controller lifecycle events will instead be required to annotate methods with @OnCreate, @OnCreateEventLoop, @OnCreateMenu, @OnDestroy, or @WebHandlerRegistrar, which will cause those methods to get called at the corresponding points in the lifecycle. Additionally any code modifying FtcRobotControllerActivity in order to add calls to ClassManager.getInstance.registerFilter() will no longer be able to do so; an alternative process is being developed, please wait for the offseason release for more details on the new process.

Here is the full list of files that will no longer be available for modification in the FtcRobotController module:

• java/.../FtcOpModeRegister.java
• java/.../FtcRobotControllerActivity.java
• java/.../PermissionValidatorActivity.java
• res/layout/activity_ftc_controller.xml
• res/menu/ftc_robot_controller.xml
• res/values/dimens.xml
• res/values/strings.xml (a version of this will remain available for modification in the TeamCode module)
• res/values/styles.xml
• res/xml/app_settings.xml
• res/xml/device_filter.xml
• AndroidManifest.xml (a version of this will remain available for modification in the TeamCode module)

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REV Control Hub OS 1.1.4 Early Access

REV Control Hub OS 1.1.4 is now available through FTC Early Access. This version of the REV Control Hub OS is intended to reduce the frequency of an issue that could cause the BHI260AP IMU in Control Hubs purchased after September 2022 to reset after an ESD event. This Early Access is most easily available through the REV Robotics Hardware Client, though instructions are also provided below for non-Hardware-Client users. Control Hub Teams who would like to give the Early Access version of REV Control Hub OS 1.1.4 a try can do so by following these steps:

REV Robotics Hardware Client Instructions

1. Update your REV Robotics Hardware Client to the latest version or better (1.6.4 or better)
2. In the “Downloads” tab, click the “Check for Updates” button in the upper-right to refresh available software.
3. Under “Subscribe to Software Channels” at the bottom of the “Downloads” tab, there is a new drop-down labeled “Public Channels”
4. Use the “Public Channels” drop-down and select “FTC Early Access”
5. “FTC Early Access – Control Hub Operating System” will appear under “Available Files” within “Updates from Software Channels”. Click the Download button to download the early access software.
6. Once downloaded, “1.1.4 from FTC Early Access” will appear as a version option to update the “Control Hub Operating System” on supported devices (e.g. Control Hubs).

Non-Hardware Client Instructions

1. Download the Control Hub OS 1.1.4 ZIP file from GitHub.
2. Use this file to update the Control Hub OS using Method 2.