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SystemCore - Getting Ready for 2027 Today!

If you're like me, you've probably been following the announcement and development of SystemCore and MotionCore with a lot of excitement since the announcement last November. The new control system will launch for FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC) in January 2027 and for FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC) in September 2027.

Several teams already have access to the SystemCore module through the Alpha Testing program, and soon teams will be alpha testing the MotionCore module. The new control system comes with a new way of writing robot software for both programs, and the design philosophy has taken lessons from both programs - for example, the command-based robot patterns from FRC and the Opmode concept from FTC.

I wanted to share some information with our FIRST Tech Challenge teams that will likely affect them beginning in 2027. This information was originally presented at the 2025 FIRST® Championship event (those slides can be found here). The following comments refer to the content specifically on slides 15 and 16. Also note the disclaimers on slide 5, as currently available information is subject to change based on development and testing. (You can follow the SystemCore testing process on GitHub.)

SystemCore will use the model found in FRC today where robots are either enabled (actuators can move) or disabled (actuators cannot move). This model totally removes the initialization step that FTC teams have today, meaning teams will likely need to meet their sizing contraints/limitations when the robot is unpowered or disabled, as the current initialization step will no longer exist for the robot to hold its shape.

If your team has historically relied on this initialization step to meet match start requirements, good news! Even though this change goes into effect in 2027, you can start preparing for it now! If you think this change will heavily impact your team, try working it into your design considerations now - after all, the kickoff for DECODETM presented by RTX is only a couple of weeks away...

 
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Drew Whisenant

Written by Drew Whisenant

Drew is a senior software applications developer for FIRST® and a former Program Delivery Partner for FIRST® LEGO® League in Alabama. He is a FIRST® alum, mentors teams, and serves as a FIRST® Technical Advisor for FIRST® Robotics Competition and FIRST® Tech Challenge.