Greetings FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon Teams:
A few items for you.

Photos - Some of you are requesting photos for year end projects - Recently ORTOP set up a easy to use photo sharing site. This should help our abilities to allow you to contribute photos from events and see/download photos from events.  We have folders for FTC Super-Qualifiers and FTC State Championship. For next season will set up folders for each league and tournaments.
Here is what we have so far. If you have photos to ADD to the folders, please do so.

• FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon State Championship
• FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon Super-Qualifiers (only has one photo - PLEASE contribute photos from SQs in this folder)
• FIRST World Championship - Houston
  

Directions for adding photos to the folder

• Click on link for the folder link
  
• Click the  + Add More Photos button in the upper right corner
• Create an account if requested - Name, email, password
• Upload photos from your computer clicking the +Click here to choose photos OR drag photos onto the page.
• Note: it does not work to drag from Google Photos (the cloud) to the page. It seems to work to drag photos saved on computer.  You can select all and drag all photos to the Yogile page and upload.

FIRST Tech Challenge - Evolution in Control System - REV ROBOTICS
While I was in Houston, I spent time at the REV Robotics vendor booth and the FIRST Tech Challenge Rev Robotics info booth staffed by FTC Staff.
I think almost all of our FTC World Championship Mentors went to the booths and asked lots of questions.  I am gathering their technical reactions to the product.  We all know I'm not the most technical person in the organization. That's why I rely on our mentors to help.
Here are some photos I took at the booths . 
What I do know:

• Switching to REV Robotics HUB is completely voluntary. Teams can continue to use all Modern Robotics modules in 2017-2018 as they did in previous season. 
• the REV Robotics Expansion HUB will cost $130 each and the Cable Conversion Kit will be $20 for attaching AndyMark Motors, your batteries, etc .
  
• Teams will be limited to purchasing one expansion HUB through the FIRST Storefront when it opens in early May after paying your 2017-2018 FTC National Registration fee.
  
• Additional REV Robotics Expansion HUBs can be purchased through Rev Robotics and they are going to set up a code for FTC so that you can purchase it at the same price as the storefront. 

What I like about it:

• is the reduction in USB ports. It seems the cables will fit into the REV Robotics ports snug and tight reducing the probability of disconnecting.
• the smaller size allows more room inside the robot for more stuff
  
• the price
• the REV Robotics people. Gregg Needel, CEO is a straight forward guy who is willing to stand behind his product and understand what good customer service is about. He also has personally mentored FTC Teams. A long time FIRST friend of mine has given me her highest recommendation for him.
  

What I don't know, kinda know:

•   It appears that for a competitive FTC robot it will be necessary to have two REV Robotics Expansion HUBs linked together (photos I took at the booths). Some smaller less sophisticated robots might be able to use only one hub. FTC HQ gave two units to #6220 a FTC West team that did not advance to World and asked them to use the REV Robotics Hubs. They needed two HUBS to make their robot work. The team members told me they liked the way it worked.
  

Finally, a good time was had by all who competed, volunteered or attended the FIRST World Championship -HOUSTON - click link for photos.
Briefly, a list of Championship awards.

• Compass Award for excellence in coaching/mentoring: Krishnan Duraiswami;  nominated by Team 4855, Batteries In Black, from Portland.
• Division Finalists Alliance – Jemison Division: Team 7013 - Hot Wired, Portland; Team 8045 - Gromit's Grommets, Pleasant Hill; and Team 5220 - RoboKnights, Fremont, California.
• Control Award Winner - Team 8045 - Gromit's Grommets, Pleasant Hill.
• Motivate Award Finalist - Team 8176 - Steelhead, Hood River. 
• Rockwell Collins Innovate Finalists - Team 7013, Hot Wired, Portland, and Team 10060 - Klamath Coyotes, Klamath Falls.
• Competing Teams
• 3525 - Dynamite Robotics - Banks
• 4885 - Batteries in Black - Portland
• 7013 - Hot Wired Robotics - Portland
• 750 - Gears in Motion - Tigard
• 7750 - Mechanical Maniacs - Sutherlin
• 8045 - Gromit's Grommets - Pleasant Hill
• 8176 - Steelhead - Hood River
• 9769 - Total Chaos - Portland
• 10060 - Klamath Coyotes - Klamath Falls
• FIRST Dean’s List Winner - Gokul Kolady, Team 7013 - Hot Wired, Portland.
• FIRST Dean’s List Finalists 
• Elizabeth Bailey, from Team 8176 - Steelhead, Hood River.
  
• Margaux Quady, of Team 8372 - TNT, Medford.
• Margaux also introduced the FIRST Tech Challenge program and its Director Ken Johnson during the Saturday evening Finale at Minute Maid Field
• Tyler Walker, of Team 4097 - PacBots, Tigard.