FIRST Robotics Competition Blog

2019 Motor Controllers and MXP

Nov 14, 2018 Written by Kevin O'Connor, Robotics Engineer, FIRST Robotics Competition

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With the season fast approaching (and pre-kickoff vouchers coming out!), we know teams are going to be hard at work on budgets, plans, and purchases to get ready for DESTINATION: DEEP SPACE Presented By The Boeing Company. To help you make informed decisions, we wanted to give a sneak peek into the 2019 Game Manual and let you know what actuator controllers, MXP boards, and motors will be legal this season. We have three new legal actuator controllers this year, a new legal motor and also some changes to the automotive motor allowance. For a complete list of legal devices, scroll down toward the end of the blog.

Automation Direct Relays

Those of you who stopped by the Automation Direct booth at either 2018 FIRST Championship locations may have seen them showing off some small solid state relays. For the 2019 season, these devices will be legal for actuator control. Make sure to note that these devices provide only single directional control and connecting multiple together to attempt to create bi-directional control will not be permitted. You can find more info on the Automation Direct website.

REV Robotics Spark MAX Motor Controller and NEO Brushless Motor

The next two new devices are from REV Robotics. The Spark MAX Motor Controller is a CAN and USB enabled smart motor controller for both brushed or brushless motors. The NEO Brushless Motor is a sensored brushless motor with mechanical mounting and output power similar to a CIM motor. You can find more info about these devices on the REV Robotics website.

Digilent DMC-60C

The DMC-60C from Digilent is an upgraded version of the DMC-60 motor controller adding CAN and smart controller functionality. You can learn more on the Digilent website or check out the software (still in progress)

Complete 2019 Actuator Controller List

  1. Motor Controllers
    1. DMC 60/DMC 60c Motor Controller (P/N: 410-334-1, 410-334-2)
    2. Jaguar Motor Controller (P/N: MDL-BDC, MDL-BDC24, and 217-3367) connected to PWM only
    3. Nidec Dynamo BLDC Motor with Controller to control integral actuator only (P/N 840205-000, am-3740)
    4. SD540 Motor Controller (P/N: SD540x1, SD540x2, SD540x4, SD540Bx1, SD540Bx2, SD540Bx4, SD540C)
    5. Spark Motor Controller (P/N: REV-11-1200)
    6. Spark MAX Motor Controller (P/N: REV-11-2158)
    7. Talon Motor Controller (P/N: CTRE_Talon, CTRE_Talon_SR, and am-2195)
    8. Talon SRX Motor Controller (P/N: 217-8080, am-2854, 14-838288)
    9. Victor 884 Motor Controller (P/N: VICTOR-884-12/12)
    10. Victor 888 Motor Controller (P/N: 217-2769)
    11. Victor SP Motor Controller (P/N: 217-9090, am-2855, 14-868380)
    12. Victor SPX Motor Controller (P/N: 217-9191, 17-868388, am-3748)
  2. Relay Modules
    1. Spike H-Bridge Relay (P/N: 217-0220 and SPIKE-RELAY-H)
    2. Automation Direct Relay (P/N: AD-SSR6M12-DC200D, AD-SSR6M25-DC200D, AD-SSR6M40-DC200D)
  3. Pneumatics controllers
    1. Pneumatics Control Module (P/N: am-2858, 217-4243)           

MXP

The MXP approved board list remains the same as the 2018 season:

  • Kauai Labs navX MXP
  • RCAL MXP Daughterboard
  • REV Robotics RIOduino
  • REV Robotics Digit Board
  • WCP Spartan Sensor Board
  • Huskie Robotics HUSKIE 2.0 Board

Motors

The vague language regarding automotive motors that has been in the rules the last few years has led to a lot of confusion with teams and inspectors on what is legal and what is not. This season we are removing the generic automotive motor allowance and replacing it with a list of specific automotive motors that have been in the KOP in recent years.

We are excited for the addition of another motor from AndyMark this season! The am-3775a RedLine motor has about 10% higher free speed, therefore providing more wattage. Don't worry, the am-3775 will still be legal and available as well.

  • CIM (FR801-001, M4-R0062-12, AM802-001A, 217-2000, PM25R-44F-1005, PM25R-45F-1004, PM25R-45F-1003, PMR25R-45F-1003, PMR25R-44F-1005, am-0255)
  • West Coast Products RS775 Pro (217-4347)
  • Banebots (M7-RS775-18, RS775WC-8514, M5-RS550-12, RS550VC-7527, RS550, am-3830)
  • AndyMark 9015 (AM-0912)
  • VEX BAG (217-3351)
  • VEX mini-CIM (217-3371)
  • AndyMark PG (am-2161, am-2765, am-2194, am-2766)
  • Snow Blower Motor (am-2235)
  • AndyMark NeveRest (am-3104)
  • AndyMark RedLine Motor (am-3775)
  • AndyMark RedLine Motor A (am-3775a)
  • Nidec Dynamo BLDC Motor (am-3740)
  • REV Robotics NEO Brushless (REV-21-1650)
  • KOP Automotive motors (Denso AE235100-0160, Denso 5-163800-RC1, Denso 262100-3030, Denso 262100-3040, Bosch 6 004 RA3 194-06)
  • Electrical solenoid actuators, no greater than 1 in. (nominal) stroke and rated electrical input power no greater than 10 watts (W) continuous duty at 12 volts (VDC)
  • Hard drive motors or fans that are: included in any Kickoff Kit, distributed via FIRST Choice, part of a legal motor controller (including manufacturer provided accessories), or part of a legal COTS computing device
  • Factory installed vibration and autofocus motors resident in COTS computing devices (e.g. rumble motor in a smartphone).
  • PWM COTS servos with a retail cost < $75.
  • Motors integral to a COTS sensor (e.g. LIDAR, scanning sonar, etc.), provided the device is not modified except to facilitate mounting
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Comments

Submitted by Spectrum (not verified) on Wed, 11/14/2018 - 6:00pm

Are there going to be motor limits based on motor type like we had in the past?

Submitted by Jamee Luce on Thu, 11/15/2018 - 5:08pm

Hello Spectrum.

There will be no quantity limit on the number of motors or motor types for 2019.

Thanks!

Jamee

Submitted by Mark McLeod (not verified) on Mon, 11/19/2018 - 9:23am

The second of the Automation Direct Part numbers may have a typo.

AD-SSR6M25-200D possibly should be AD-SSR6M25-DC200D

https://www.automationdirect.com/adc/search/search?fctype=adc.falcon.search.SearchFormCtrl&cmd=Search&searchquery=+AD-SSR6M25-DC200D&categoryId=784986&TxnNumber=-1&searchqty=10

Submitted by Jamee Luce on Mon, 11/19/2018 - 10:33am

Thanks, Mark! It is fixed now!

Submitted by Devin Willis (not verified) on Mon, 11/19/2018 - 11:43am

Wanted to check on the option to have any motor legal in FTC also be legal in FRC. In particular, the following motor with the installed planetary gear boxes are low cost and come already assembled which helps to pick a motor with a low RPM to be used on the robot with a small form factor. Very similar in size to the neverrest motor and I think has lower current requirements. 

https://modernroboticsinc.com/5202-series-5091-ratio-117-rpm-planetary-gear-motor-wencoder

I know this creates challenges for the inspector where if a team wants to use a motor they already have from FTC or VEX then easy enough to show the FTC rules/documentation as an indicator a legal motor. This way FRC GDC can leverage the work already done by FTC and teams can have a couple more options to use what they have when working on FRC. 

Submitted by oidc_generic_5a... on Thu, 11/22/2018 - 9:45am

If this answer is yes???  Then REV-41-1300 is then added to the list of LEGAL Motors....

I did not see this in the list yet many team have chosen to buy this part as it is now out of stock????

Submitted by oidc_generic_5a... on Fri, 11/23/2018 - 1:26pm

If FTC are legal then by being FTC legal, and someone saying yes FTC to FRC, that would allow these....

 

If so there is going to be a large rush to buy these since...the have the motor to gearbox to hex shaft solved for teams reducing and incredible amount of time....as other teams struggle to use other motor-gearbox-adapter solutions...This is a critical question to answer as ChiefDelphi is not the rule governing body on this but a strong knowledge based resource...

Submitted by Jamee Luce on Mon, 11/26/2018 - 4:33pm

Hi Devin and others,

We can’t answer rules questions in the blog – the official Q&A, once open, is the resource for our community to ask and receive official rule clarifications. That being said, the list above is the list. There will be no other motors added for the 2019 season.

Typically, in order for motors to become legal for FIRST Robotics Competition, suppliers interested will provide them in the Kit Of Parts, in some form, at least for the first year.

Thanks!

Jamee Luce, Team Advocate, FIRST Robotics Competition

Submitted by Erich Molitor (not verified) on Tue, 11/20/2018 - 2:03pm

Bosch Seat Motor AM-3493 has been in the KOP in recent years.  It is still legal?

 

Submitted by Jamee Luce on Wed, 11/21/2018 - 9:01am

Hello Erich.

Yes! That is listed above in the KOP Automotive Motors bullet as Bosch 6 004 RA3 194-06.

Thanks!

Jamee Luce

Team Advocate, FIRST Robotics Competition

Submitted by oidc_generic_5a... on Thu, 11/22/2018 - 9:36am

Is this an excluded motor since it is not in the list...Did submit question into Chief Delphi...but also would like it stated here under FIRST FRC for double confirmation...This motor is NOT FRC 2019 legal since it is NOT in the list?  Correct? Only FTC allows it...

Submitted by Jamee Luce on Mon, 11/26/2018 - 4:31pm

Hello!

We can’t answer rules questions in the blog – the official Q&A, once open, is the resource for our community to ask and receive official rule clarifications. That being said, the list above is the list. There will be no other motors added for the 2019 season.

Typically, in order for motors to become legal for FIRST Robotics Competition, suppliers interested will provide them in the Kit Of Parts, in some form, at least for the first year.

Thanks!

Jamee Luce, Team Advocate, FIRST Robotics Competition

Submitted by Manuel M Ruella (not verified) on Fri, 11/23/2018 - 9:27am

Hi Jamee, I am new to this blog and I presume you are from FRC, but please state that when answering. Otherwise another reader may take the opinion of anyone else as the Official answer from FRC. I suggest to use a format like the one used by Kevin, when writing the initial article, (e.g.: Kevin O'Connor, Robotics Engineer, FIRST Robotics Competition). Thanks, Manuel

Submitted by Jamee Luce on Fri, 11/23/2018 - 1:54pm

Hi Manuel!

Great suggestion. I am Jamee Luce, Team Advocate for FIRST Robotics Competition. I'll be sure to add that to my comments!

Thanks!

Jamee Luce, Team Advocate, FIRST Robotics Competition

Submitted by Aryan Mondkar (not verified) on Sun, 01/13/2019 - 6:21pm

Can we get a list of motors and their Data like there has been in past years this would make picking the right motor much easier

Submitted by Mr. Kahl (not verified) on Sun, 02/10/2019 - 5:42pm

I have found two Denso PBT-GF40 Motors in our stuff from previous years KOP. Is that a legal motor to use?

Submitted by Jamee Luce on Mon, 02/11/2019 - 11:34am

Hello Mr. Kahl!

Please submit your question through the official Q&A system here: https://frc-qa.firstinspires.org/

You can find your password on your Team Dashboard through the FIRST Registration System.

Thanks!

Jamee Luce

Team Advocate, FIRST Robotics Competition

Submitted by Brody Whitmer (not verified) on Wed, 12/11/2019 - 5:14pm

Are 60:1 Hex Motors allowed on a robot or are they Illegal?

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