FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology): FRC-FIRST Robotic Competition
TS-4945

1. The Java platform is an interesting vehicle for teaching kids about programming.
2. FIRST is an organization whose mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills; inspire innovation; and foster well-rounded life abilities such as self-confidence, communication, and leadership.
3. Robots are cool; robotic competitions are even cooler.

What happens when you mix these three things? You come up with a winning combination that lets kids and "adults" have a lot of fun.

FIRST is always in need of technical mentors of all types and capabilities. How would you like to get the thrill of helping a young mind expand its horizons while having fun yourself? More than 1,500 teams, 40,000 kids, and 20,000 mentors are involved worldwide.

This session, for for novice to advanced developers, covers

• How FIRST ported Java technology to National Instrument's CompactRIO programmable automation controller
• The APIs FIRST has in place to program the robots through the CompactRIO
  - WPIlib
  - Java Platform, Micro Edition (Java ME platform) Information Module Profile (IMP)
  - Squawk Java Virtual Machine (JVM machine)
• The development process that enables these rather large robots to perform intelligent things
  - Live programming of these 4-to-5-foot-high robots
• An actual FRC team that competes
• How you can help

playSIM is an open-source hardware/software project; all source and details are at https://playsim.dev.java.net/.