FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

FRC Field Management System (FMS)Volunteer Position

Regional or Championship

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Summary

• Responsibilities & Expectations• Schedule• At the Event• Critical Review• Conclusion• What’s Next?

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Responsibilities & Expectations

• Event Software setup, management, and breakdown

• Field Control – implemented via the Field Control User Interface (FCUI), a push-button box which sits on the Scorer’s Table

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

More Responsibilities

• Match Generation• Printouts

– Match Schedules– Announcer’s report for Qualification and

Elimination matches– Team Lists– Awards

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Schedule

Wednesday:• Field setup and testing

Thursday:• Practice match generation and printouts • Confirm registered teams• Print Announcer reports

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Schedule

Friday:• Qualification Match Generation and printouts• Awards

Saturday:• Qualification matches continue• Alliance Selection• Elimination match generation• Awards

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

At the Event

• Setup Peripherals– Event Server– Robot Lap Counting System– Referee input boxes (for counting Ball laps)– Audience Display– Pit Display

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Field Management System Network Diagram

Scoring Computers can attach to SCCs or Arena Control Table (Multiple Computers) depending on game format

Arena Control Table User Interface

Serial Connect to Server

Red SCCIP 192.168.1.15

Blue Alliance DisplaysIP DHCP

RS 485 addresses1, 2, 3, 9 (timer)

Red Alliance DisplaysIP DHCP

RS 485 addresses5, 6, 7, 9 (timer)

Blue SCCIP 192.168.1.10 Scoring

ComputerIP DHCP

Scoring Computer

IP DHCP

System Internet Router

IP192.168.1.18 Port Switch

5 Port Switch

REF ETH001-TYCO

Ethernet Cat 5

Video Cable

Serial Connection

Pit Network

Arena Network

OPTIONALAudience Display

LaptopIP DHCP

Pit Display LaptopIP DHCP

Pit Display ProjectorVGA Connect

Note: Can be projector or AV input for video system

Event PrinterUSB Connect

Event Server IP 192.168.1.5

Scan ConverterVGA Connect

Note: For output to House AV.

5 Port Switch

InternetConnection

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Automatic Software Updates

• FMS software checks for most up-to-date revision at startup

• If necessary, user is prompted to download updated software

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Event Setup Wizard

• Select Event• Choose network connection speed• Download team registration information• Download event information• Add/Remove Teams• Configure and Generate Match Schedule

– Start/stop times– Lunch break– Autonomous/operator time

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Alliance Pairings and Elimination Rounds

• Alliance selection and match generation screenshot

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

FMS Field User Control Interface (FCUI)

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

FMS Software Interface

• Blue/Red SCC Ready• Team Numbers and Match• Field Control via PC or Hardware UI• Radios sync’d• Team Bypass• Team Disqualification

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

FMS Software Interface

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Real-Time Scoring

• IR-based Lap Counting System – count Robot laps– Connects to Event Server via USB

• Ref Control Box – operated by referees, indicate Trackball laps, over or under the Overpass– Connects to SCC– Integrated backup system in case Lap Counter

goes down

• Real Time Score is computed and displayed on the Audience Screen

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Audience Display

• Displays total alliance score, total Robot laps, total Trackballs over the Overpass, total Trackballs under the Overpass, live video of the match

• Multiple Configurations

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Audience Display - Screenshot

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Pit Display

• Dynamic Match Schedule• Team Rankings• Scrolling results of last 5 matches

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Pit Display – Screenshot (beta)

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Gracious Professionalism is Key

• At FIRST, Gracious Professionalism has become an expectation.

• We expect it from our students, from the Mentors and Coaches, from all FIRST Volunteers and from FIRST Staff.

• It is part of the ethos of FIRST.

“In the long run, gracious professionalism is part of pursuing a meaningful life. If one becomes a professional, and uses knowledge in a gracious manner, everyone wins. One can add to society and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that you have acted with integrity and sensitivity. That’s good stuff!”

– Dr.Woodie Flowers, FIRST National Advisor

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Gracious Professionalism is Key

Encouraging high-quality work +

Emphasizing the value of others +

Respecting individuals and the community

EVERYONE WINS!

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Lead Volunteer Communication

With your team of volunteers:– As a Lead Volunteer you are a LEADER.– Lead Volunteers must communicate with the Volunteer

Coordinator(s) to get names and begin communicating with their team as soon as possible via e mail etc.

– As a team leader, you must communicate with your volunteers to create a sense of a team and teamwork.

– By doing so, questions can be answered in advance, comfort levels increased, and miscellaneous information gotten out of the way.

– There should be no surprises when you get together with your volunteer team at the event.

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Lead Volunteer Communication

With the other lead volunteers at your event:– Take the opportunity to meet with other lead

volunteers and discuss your expectations.– Discuss overlapping areas of responsibility and

decide on how issues in these areas should be handled.

– Clarify each others roles BEFORE a problem arises.

– Make sure everyone understands the non-medical incident report (new in 2008).

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Critical Review

• Be prepared – review FMS User’s Guide and Demo software prior to event

• Limit use of keyboard and mouse. FCUI can do almost everything

• Referee’s control scoring inputs• Ensure Awards are uploaded and Database

backup is complete at the end of the event!• You represent FIRST!

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Conclusion

• Gracious Professionalism• Utilize the FCUI as much as possible, it will

guide the user through the event• Take the time to read the User’s Manual and

play with the Demo version of the program prior to showing up at your event

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Contact Info

• Any questions or concerns, please contact:

Matt PilotteFRC Electrical Engineer

603-666-3906 ext. #110mpilotte@usfirst.org

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

What’s Next?

• Now that you have reviewed the key materials to succeed in your position be sure to:– Follow-up conference call – week of Feb 19th – Test your knowledge with our online quiz.– Review any other materials provided.– Understand the post-event survey.– Plan to participate in your pre- and post-event

training calls. These calls help volunteers at all regional events be successful!

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

FIRST would like to thank the Association for Laboratory

Automation for their gracious support.