This page provides you with access to the documentation and files that you will need to run App Inventor with the FTC design components locally on your personal computer. Click the appropriate button to download the item.
User Documentation (PDF)
Training manual that explains how to use the App Inventor with the FTC robotic components. This manual is applicable for both Mac and Windows environments.
User manual for installing the FTC App Inventor locally on a Mac computer. Mac users, read this document first.
User manual for installing the FTC App Inventor locally on a Windows computer. Windows users, read this document first.
VirtualBox Appliance Files
This README file contains release information about the current appliance files (Mac and Windows).
Local App Inventor appliance file for Mac (LocalAppInventor_mac.ova). If you are running VirtualBox on a Mac or Linux computer, download this file.
Local App Inventor appliance file for Windows (LocalAppInventor_win.ova). If you are running VirtualBox on a Windows computer, download this file.
APK Files (Android Apps)
Current release version of the FTC Driver Station app.
Current release version of the FTC Robot Controller app.
Current release version of the ZTE Speed Wi-Fi Direct Channel Change app (for ZTE Speed phones only).
Example App Inventor Project Files (AIA)
Sample op modes for using sensors with the Core Device Interface Module (CDITestController.aia).
Sample op modes for controlling a motor and a servo using a gamepad (MyRobotController.aia).
AppInstaller Helper Application
A simple-to-use, robust tool for installing Android apps.
Instructions on using the AppInstaller application.
Additional Documentation
Team and mentor guide that provides a high level overview of the Android-based FTC robot control platform.
FTC Training manual for the ZTE Speed Channel Changing App. This document describes how to use the Channel Changing app to select the WiFi Direct channel for the ZTE Speed Android phones.
Sample Robots. FIRST has published instructions for ⦁ a simple K9 robot that is compatible with the new technology. ⦁ a PushBot that uses the new technology ⚬ Getting Started ⚬ Building the Robot ⚬ OpModes and Electronics ⚬ Wiring the Robot Software Information on FTC App Inventor from Tom Eng at FIRST The files for running the App Inventor, locally on your own computer, with the FTC Design components are available for download. App Inventor is a visual design tool that lets you create Android apps very quickly and intuitively. This version of the App Inventor is designed to run locally on your laptop, using some software known as VirtualBox (available for FREE from Oracle). This allows you to use the App Inventor, even if you do not have an Internet connection.
The files are located at the following URL: Welcome to the FTC App Inventor Download Page! Start with the appropriate installation guide. You want to read either Windows or Mac version of the FTC Training Manual that explain how to install the App Inventor locally onto your computer.
Then download and read the App Inventor Training Manual after the previously mentioned documents.
IMPORTANT: Please direct all FTC App Inventor questions to the FIRST community (using this App Inventor sub-forum)! Do not expect to receive support from the MIT App Inventor community for FTC App Inventor-related questions. There are some FTC App Inventor experts on this sub-forum to assist you with your questions. List of FTC-specific software components in App Inventor for FTC Modern Robotics has posted a diagnostic program called Core Device Discovery that you may find useful. It communicates directly with the Core modules using a USB port on you Windows or Mac computer. I noticed two things while downloading and installing the program: 1. Norton antivirus was suspicious of the program because it found the number of Norton users with the file low given that the file was two months old so it quarantined the file. I overrode the quarantine and successfully invoked the application on my Windows 7 laptop. 2. It took a very long time to install the driver after I plugged in the USB cable and turned the robot's power on but it eventually did so successfully. The application seems to be working fine and should be quite useful.
Online Instruction In cooperation with FIRST, Intelitek has released a set of online courses that cover FTC App Inventor as well as Java. Module 2: App Inventor Programming 0. Introduction to Module 2 1. Setting Up App Inventor 2. Working with App Inventor 3. Building a Basic Op Mode App 4. TeleOp 5. Touch Sensor 6. EOPD Stop at Line 7. EOPD Follow Line
Oregon Resources
Information about FTC App Inventor from Bruce Schafer at ORTOP Along with the new controller electronics, FIRST has provided two programming environments. One is the powerful Android Studio Java environment. Using this environment involves a fairly complex installation process and becoming familiar with Java line-by-line programming as well as certain aspects of Android programming libraries. The other choice is FTC App Inventor, which is based on MIT App Inventor. This environment is a drag-and-drop block programming environment, which has similarities to the LEGO Mindstorms NXT and EV3 programming environments. Here are some reason to consider using App Inventor: ⦁ Team members already have plenty to learn ⚬ Understanding this year’s game ⚬ Designing & building a robot using Tetrix ⚬ Creating custom parts ⚬ New electronics ⦁ Coaches and mentors may not have a programming background ⦁ App Inventor can be a learning step to build skills and confidence Normally, App Inventor is cloud based, which has some advantages but could be a problem at schools or tournaments where Internet access is limited. In contrast, the current FTC App Inventor beta version can be installed on a laptop and once the installation is complete no Internet connection is required. Note: FTC App Inventor is accessed using a web browser even when though its use does not involve the Internet. Google Chrome is the recommended browser. Other browsers may not work. Resoures for Velocity Vortex season: ⦁ Vuforia files ⚬ FTC_2016-17.xml ⚬ FTC_2016-17.dat YouTube lessons on using App Inventor to create op modes including one for driving a robot during Teleop Period
(uses the version of App Inventor posted in November 20164) Update Oct. 2016: The versions of App Inventor released in Fall 2016 have several changes that affect the lessons above.: ⦁It no longer needs calls like WaitOneFullHardwareCycle. In fact, this feature has been removed. The calls to this function described in the videos can be left out.
⦁A new feature has been added to FTC App Inventor -- UpdateTelemetry, which is found in the RobotController folder in Blocks mode. When you create a linear opmode, a call to this procedure must be added at the bottom of any loop containing calls to TelemetryAddNumericData or TelemetryAddTextData. Otherwise, the telemetry will not be transmitted to the Driver Station.
⦁You should indicate that you have created an Autonomous OpMode by checking the Autonomous box after selecting your opmode component in Designer Mode. This will assure the opmode is added to the correct list on your Driver Station.
