Preparing for Competition

Started in the 2023-2024 season, Tech Tips are segments released in the FIRST Tech Challenge Team E-mail Blast. Sometimes the Tech Tips are included in whole in the email blast, but sometimes there is more content than is reasonable in the email blast so partial content is included in the blast with the rest of the content here.

Robot and Driver Station Self-Inspect

This section is here to help teams prepare for inspection at their events. Aside from making sure that your robot is within the Maximum Starting Size, ensuring that your robot code can correctly pass Robot Inspection, and other tasks in the Robot Inspection Checklist, teams need to make sure their robot software and hardware apps are updated to the latest and greatest versions and that their hardware is configured correctly. There is a tool within the Driver Station App 3-dot menu called the “Self-Inspect” feature that can help teams perform a quick check to ensure their hardware and software is configured correctly. Depending on your hardware configuration the Self-Inspect screens may be formatted differently or have different options listed, so there is a handy reference on ftc-docs that can help you understand the Self-Inspect tool. Make sure you’re ready for inspection!

Automatic Auto to Driver Control Program Switching

Did you know that it’s possible for the Driver Station to automatically load your Driver Controlled OpMode as soon as your Autonomous OpMode has completed? Lots of teams go into panic mode immediately after Autonomous has completed - they’re trying to navigate and select the proper Driver Controlled OpMode, Initialize, and Run the OpMode while also picking up their gamepads and preparing to drive. Skip all that panic and confusion and let the Driver Station queue up your Driver Controlled OpMode for you! You still have to initialize and run the OpMode at the proper time, but at least the Driver Station can do the heavy lifting of swapping and loading the OpMode for you!

Tip

The Driver Station App also has a built-in Practice Timer to help your team rehearse match timing. See FTC Driver Station Practice Timer.

Got any questions about getting ready for your event? Come start or join the conversation on the FTC Community Forums!