Step 1: Build and Wire Your Robot

01

Build and Wire Your Robot

Step 1 of 4

Assemble and wire the drivetrain and control system, power on Systemcore, and open its web interface from your computer.

Before starting, turn robot power Off and disconnect the battery. For FRC, switch the main breaker off; for FTC, use the robot’s power switch. Keep the drivetrain safely supported so the wheels cannot move the robot during later testing.

Before You Start

Use this order to work through the step:

  1. Assemble the chassis and drivetrain using the guide for your robot.

  2. Connect Systemcore power using the instructions on this page.

  3. Open the Systemcore web interface to check power and communication.

  4. Turn power off again, then finish wiring the motor controllers and radio.

Already assembled and wired? Check the Systemcore power connection and complete Part 3: Confirm It’s Alive before moving to software setup.

What You Need for This Step

  • Systemcore and a robot battery

  • Compatible power distribution hardware

  • The provided MicroFit Pwr/Bridge cable when using Motioncore

  • The provided MicroFit-to-XT30 cable when not using Motioncore

  • A matching XT30 extension if bare-wire power is required

  • A computer with Wi-Fi or a data-capable USB cable

These instructions cover Systemcore hardware with the MicroFit Pwr/Bridge power connector.

Note

For earlier Alpha hardware, use the Systemcore testing guide.

Part 1: Assemble Your Robot

Use the assembly and wiring resources for your program to prepare the chassis, drivetrain, and power distribution. The FRC references remain on this site; FTC Docs provides FTC-specific resources. Check the hardware covered by each guide before following it. Parts 2 and 3 below cover the shared Systemcore connection.

FRC + FTC

Kitbot / Starter Bot Assembly

Step-by-step guide to assembling the FRC Kit of Parts chassis or an FTC starter bot into a drive-ready robot.

Kitbot / Starter Bot Assembly

Note

FRC KitBot code will be available after the 2027 kickoff in Step 4: Write and Drive.

Part 2: Wire Your Systemcore

Power Systemcore through the MicroFit Pwr/Bridge port. Choose the connection that matches your control system:

With Motioncore

Connect Systemcore’s Pwr/Bridge port to Motioncore’s Bridge port using a provided MicroFit cable.

Without Motioncore

Use the included MicroFit-to-XT30 cable. If your power distribution hardware requires bare wires, use an XT30 extension cable with one end removed.

Use the provided cables whenever possible. If your team must build a cable, follow the Systemcore and Motioncore cable specifications for its pinout, wire, and connector requirements.

Before connecting the battery, inspect every power connection:

  • Red wire goes to positive and black wire goes to negative.

  • No bare copper is visible outside a connector.

  • Each connector is fully seated and cannot be pulled out gently.

  • The Systemcore is connected by exactly one of the power methods above.

Warning

Never power the Systemcore through a regulator (such as a VRM). It needs battery voltage directly, and some regulators can’t supply enough current under full load.

Important

The USB-C LINK port carries data only and does not power the Systemcore. Connect robot power through Pwr/Bridge before checking the USB connection.

Part 3: Confirm It’s Alive

Once powered, the Systemcore hosts its own network so you can connect to it directly, before any radio or field network is involved.

Connection

Default value

Built-in Wi-Fi SSID

SYSTEMCORE

Built-in Wi-Fi password

PASSWORD

Wi-Fi access point IP

172.30.0.1

USB (Windows)

172.26.0.1

USB (macOS / Linux)

172.27.0.1

Note

Units on OS image 9 or earlier use 172.28.0.1 (USB, Windows) or 172.29.0.1 (USB, macOS/Linux) instead.

  1. Connect the battery and turn robot power On.

  2. Confirm that Systemcore powers on and check the onboard display for hardware faults before continuing.

  3. Connect the computer to the SYSTEMCORE Wi-Fi network using password PASSWORD, or connect it to the USB-C LINK port with a data-capable cable.

  4. Open http://robot.local in a browser. If that name does not resolve, use the appropriate IP address from the table.

  5. Confirm that the Systemcore web interface loads and identifies the unit. The onboard display also shows connection information such as IP addresses.

If the web interface loads, the Systemcore has power, has booted, and can communicate with the computer. It does not yet mean that the radio, motor controllers, or drivetrain are configured.

Warning

If the Systemcore does not boot, a connector becomes hot, a breaker trips, or you see or smell smoke, turn robot power off and disconnect the battery immediately. Recheck polarity, exposed conductors, and shorts before applying power again.

Part 4: Wire the Rest of the Control System

Motor controllers, radio, CAN bus, and pneumatics wiring still follow the reference guides below.

Turn robot power Off and disconnect the battery again before making any of these connections.

Wiring Guide Compatibility

Use Part 2 on this page for the current 2027 instructions for powering and connecting Systemcore.

The FRC walkthrough and reference still show roboRIO-era hardware. Their guidance remains useful for the PDH or PDP, main breaker, motor controllers, CAN bus, radio, and pneumatics. Do not follow their roboRIO power or data connections when building a Systemcore robot.

The FTC Systemcore and Motioncore walkthrough and reference are still being developed. Teams using the REV Control Hub or Expansion Hub should follow the current FTC Robot Wiring Guide.

FRC

FTC

FRC

FRC Robot Wiring Walkthrough

Wiring your first robot?

Complete, start-to-finish instructions for wiring a basic drivetrain robot. Start here and follow the steps in order.

FRC Robot Wiring Walkthrough

FTC with Systemcore

FTC Robot Wiring Walkthrough

Wiring your first robot?

Complete, start-to-finish instructions for wiring a basic Systemcore and Motioncore drivetrain robot. Start here and follow the steps in order.

FTC Robot Wiring Walkthrough

FRC

FRC Robot Wiring Reference

Looking up a connection?

Connection diagrams and component details to look up while wiring or troubleshooting an FRC control system.

FRC Robot Wiring Reference

FTC with Systemcore

FTC Robot Wiring Reference

Looking up a connection?

Connection diagrams and component details to look up while wiring or troubleshooting an FTC control system.

FTC Robot Wiring Reference

Tip

Not sure which power distribution unit you have? The hardware overview compares the REV Power Distribution Hub (PDH), CTRE Power Distribution Panel (PDP), CTRE PDP 2.0, and AndyMark AMPD. Find your unit in the FRC → Power Distribution section of the hardware overview, then follow its manufacturer’s wiring instructions.

✓ Your robot is assembled, powered, and ready for software setup.

Continue when every power connection passes inspection, Systemcore has booted normally, and robot.local opens from the computer. The radio, motor controllers, and drivetrain do not need to be configured yet.

← Zero to Robot

Step 2: Set Up Your Environment →