Components

The REV Power Distribution Hub (PDH) is designed to distribute power from a 12VDC battery to various robot components. The PDH features 20 high-current (40A max) channels, 3 low-current (15A max), and 1 switchable low-current channel. The Power Distribution Hub features toolless latching WAGO terminals, an LED voltage display, and the ability to connect over CAN or USB-C to the REV Hardware Client for real-time telemetry.

The REV Mini Power Module (MPM) is a compact power distribution module that allows you to securely and quickly power peripheral devices to your robot. Need more low-current channels on your PDH? Wire the MPM to one of the high-current channels on the PDH to power more peripheral devices and custom circuits.

The NI-roboRIO is the main robot controller used for FRC. The roboRIO serves as the “brain” for the robot running team-generated code that commands all of the other hardware.

The 120A Main Circuit Breaker serves two roles on the robot: the main robot power switch and a protection device for downstream robot wiring and components. The 120A circuit breaker is wired to the positive terminals of the robot battery and Power Distribution boards.

The power supply for an FRC robot is a single 12V 18Ah Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) battery, capable of meeting the high current demands of an FRC robot.

The Robot Signal Light (RSL) is required to be either Allen-Bradley 855PB-B12ME522 or AndyMark am-3583. It is directly controlled by the roboRIO and will flash when enabled and stay solid while disabled.

This is a new component as of 2025, and replaces the previous Blinkin REV LED Controller. It acts as an entry level controller for RGB-IC/Addressable LEDs, and now uses a USB-C power. 

The Orange Pi 5 pairs with the MitoCANdria and replaced our Raspberry Pi. The Orange Pi works for object detection and image processing, being the robots vision paired with built-in AI, and faster automotive tasks.

“Grapple x The Thrifty Bot present: The MitoCANdria – the powerhouse of the robot. Power up to a 100W (continuous, 150W transient) load at a variety of voltages with smooth, regulated power.” The MitoCANdria is a new component of the 2025 season, and comes paired with the OrangePi and primarily works to regulate power with built-in safer features.

Snap action breakers are used in mobile robot applications inside the robots Power Distribution Hub. The breakers design will use snap action release to ensure circuit breaks over a wide variety of conditions.  

The SPARK MAX Motor Controller is an advanced brushed and brushless DC motor controller from REV Robotics. When using CAN bus or USB control, the SPARK MAX uses input from limit switches, encoders, and other sensors, including the integrated encoder of the REV NEO Brushless Motor, to perform advanced control modes. The SPARK MAX can be controlled over PWM, CAN or USB (for configuration/testing only).

The SPARK Flex is a new smart motor controller that is compatible with the REV ION System. Its dockable form factor allows for the direct mounting onto a NEO Vortex, simplifying wiring while maintaining flexibility. Improving upon the foundation of the SPARK MAX Motor Controller, new features include 3-phase current sensing, reverse polarity protection, and an expanded Data Port with additional interfaces. When docked to an adapter, the SPARK Flex can control any existing NEO or compatible brushless/brushed DC motor.

The navX2-MXP is a robotics navigation sensor commonly used in FIRST Robotics Competition for precise orientation and motion tracking. It is an upgraded version of the original navX-MXP and is developed by Kauai Labs. It’s used for autonomous navigation, field-oriented drive, collision detection, and pose estimation.

Our cameras for this years robot are the customized 1280*720 at 120fps 1/4′ CMOS Ominivision Camera Sensor Module. They allow the drivers to find where they are on the field, and use APRIL tags to help with aiming.

The Vivid-Hosting VH-109 radio is a cutting-edge, next-generation radio designed for use in the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC). Engineered to meet the demanding requirements of FRC robots, it features unfiltered power input capability, allowing it to handle various power sources without additional filtering. The radio’s ruggedized construction ensures durability in tough competition environments. It also offers configurable Passive Power over Ethernet (PoE) outputs, which can be adjusted using DIP switches to power downstream devices, with these outputs disabled by default. For wireless connectivity, the VH-109 supports both Wi-Fi 2.4G 802.11b/g/n and Wi-Fi 6E 802.11ax, ensuring a modern, high-performance wireless experience that enhances reliability and speed during competitions. This radio provides a robust, adaptable solution for teams seeking to maximize their robot’s performance.