FIRST Tech Challenge

You want data? - we've got that

2012-02-02T11:45:00.000-05:00

Hey FTC teams,

FIRST commissioned a study this summer with Brandeis University to measure the impact FIRST participation has on a variety of important things.

Why is this interesting? You already know the good stuff about FIRST – but you may want to:

• Find more money/sponsors
• Attract more teammates
• Start more teams
• Use FIRST to get you in that college (and scholarships)

How does this help you do that? Look at these stats – anyone you’re talking to about the bullets above will quickly “get it” with regard to what you’ve been doing with FIRST!

• 92% of FRC and 94% of FTC students report their program helped them understand and explain the engineering process of designing complex systems (robots).

• Over 93% of FRC and FTC students report learning how to solve problems programming and designing robots.

• Over 90% of students in FTC and FRC gained real world planning and problem-solving skills in areas of iterative design, unstructured problem solving, and working in teams.

These are just a few highlights of the data gleaned from this survey. To see the full executive summary of the survey click here. Use this for the purposes above or other things to show the rest of the world what you’ve learned – and how valuable that makes you in the future.

Ken

Calling all FTC innovators!

2012-01-26T11:05:00.004-05:00

FTC and FRC continue to get lots of attention from companies that want YOU! Why do they want you? Because if you're involved with FIRST you're learning and putting into practice the skills these sponsors NEED. In recognition of the cool stuff FIRST teams are doing the following is being announced for both FTC and FRC teams - got a great idea? Do something with it!

From Timm Huffman - FTC

Do you have an invention or “intellectual property creation” that has come out of the FTC engineering and design process?

You’ll get your chance to take your innovation to the next level on Friday (Jan. 28) when FIRST opens up the application process for the brand new Future Innovator Award, presented by the Abbott Fund.

This judged award is your opportunity to receive recognition for your accomplishment as well as the real-world opportunity to meet with a venture capitalist firm to discuss the invention and possible business application!

Since this is an award open to all North American FTC and FRC teams, the competition will be fierce. So, put your game faces on (and your gracious professionalism) and get inventing!

There is a formal application process, make sure you follow the instructions closely and fill out all the forms correctly. There is also an option for attaching a video.

The application process closes March 16, 2012 and the winner will be announced at World. For full details on how to apply for this award, judging criteria, etc., go to http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/future-innovator-award.

New High Score

2012-01-16T16:56:00.004-05:00

You may have thought the high score listing to the right was broken.... it has not changed for several weeks - until this last weekend. A new HIGH score was set.

The alliance of 2818 G-FORCE and 4240 4-H Techno Clovers (Both from Garrett County MD) racked up a score of 437 points in a single match! Whaaaaat?

Way to go, you've set the bar (box) high.

BTW this was at the Maryland Qualifying Tournament held at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD this weekend.

Innovation Award (in case you missed it)

2012-01-11T11:40:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to FRC for a great kickoff to another wonderful season. The game looks exciting and there's a definite "buzz" all around the FIRST community.

One of the announcements leading up to the kickoff regarded a new Innovation Award. Not to be confused with the existing in-season Rockwell Collins Innovation Award, this new award is not directly connected to the FIRST season(s) but is intended to recognize teams innovation outside the competition. The Abbot Fund is the sponsor of this award.

More importantly it is open to any FIRST high school team - yes that means you FTC!

Check it out here: http://www.usfirst.org/aboutus/first-celebrates-student-inventors

How did this work?

2012-01-06T08:15:00.000-05:00

Hey FTC - wondering how many of you were able to use (or encourage others to use) some of the new tools we made available to teams this year. Specifically the TETRIX getting started guide and FTC Extensions. They're located here http://www.tetrixrobotics.com/ftc/.

We're asking folks to give us their opinion here (comments) and with another quick survey (top right of this blog) as to how useful you found it.

The new ones will not be like the old ones

2012-01-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

We're knee deep in strategic planning here at FIRST. One area of great interest is FTC. The growth of the program has outstripped our expectations and continues to be the fastest growing robotics program here at FIRST.

One thing is clear, those that come on board in the future will not be like the ones that got started with FTC originally - and that's OK, it's great in fact. The mission is to change the culture - and that means more kids and coaches that had not considered technology and robotics start considering it.

Keep that in mind as you start new teams and recruit for the teams you've got. Look at those kids who might not be "in your circle" now and let them know about FIRST's ethos and scholarships, tell them about the excitement of competition and the progression of programs, point to what you and others have gone on to do based on your experiences.

You build your team, build your circle, and you help change the world - all at the same time. That's a pretty good return on the effort!

Are you ready?

2012-01-02T06:00:00.001-05:00

I hope you all had a great holiday break and we wish you the best of luck for a wonderful new year. To get your heads back into FTC we've got a great guest post from Terri Willingham, leader of Team Duct Tape and an active FIRST'r for many years - enjoy!

Keys to Competition Readiness

As competitions heat up all over the country, it’s a good time to review some key aspects of competition readiness – and it involves a lot more than what goes on down on the field!

FIRST things first

This one’s pretty basic but there are still a surprising number of students who don’t what program they’re in. FIRST stands for: For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology .

Remember your FIRST Values!

This is really is the whole point of all of this. Judges may ask, in some way, how you think these relate to real world experiences, or how you feel your team exemplifies the Core Values.
• We are a Team.
• We do the work to get the job done with guidance from our coaches and mentors.
• We honor the spirit of friendly competition.
• What we learn is more important than what we win.
• We share our experiences with others.
• We display gracious professionalism in everything we do.
• We have fun!

Be Competition Ready!

It’s good to have a good looking, high performing robot. But that’s only half the competition, and the most variable half. Lots of things can go wrong on the field, from technical, mechanical and electrical failures to poor strategy to failed alliances. The only thing you have complete control of in a competition (or anywhere) is – YOU! To make sure you’re in the best possible shape for the competition:

1) Look sharp! Dress as a team. Wear closed toed shoes – and tie them! And don’t have any dangling strings or straps that can get caught on things.
2) Be Gracious Professionals! Mind your manners, in the pit, on the competition field and everywhere in between. Hold doors for people, help other teams whenever you can, and be good to each other – you’re at the competition because of ALL of you, because of the gifts, skills and talents each of you brings to your team. Recognize, respect and celebrate that. You succeed or fail together, but your chances of being successful are far, far higher work as a solid team. Communicate with each other – fully, clearly and consistently. Think and act, instead of reacting without thought.
3) BE at the competition! To get the most out of this great opportunity, you have to BE there in body, mind and spirit. Avoid recreational or superfluous cell phone use. Support your team actively and enthusiastically from the stands, and support your alliance team from the field.
4) Use your pre- and post-match competition lists – Every time! (You do have those ,don’t you?)
5) Stay till the end. Win or lose, stay for the full competition and cheer on remaining teams, just like you enjoy being cheered on when you’re competing. Staying for a full competition, regardless of your own success in it, does several things:

• It establishes you as GP competitors
• It might provide you with an additional opportunity to the next level (sometimes there are extra lottery picks)
• You’ll learn a lot and get some new ideas for your own robot watching the finalist matches

Be Judge Ready

• Show the judges you’re happy to be there, shake hands, and welcome them to your pit area.
• Arrange yourselves so that your main speakers are scattered throughout your group, rather than grouped on one side.
• Be ready to showcase everything and anything – have your display board area clear for viewing, your community service notebook handy, design sketches at ready
• Be prepared to talk about at least one thing you’ve worked on or enjoyed with the team.

It can’t be emphasized enough that the field matches are only one part of the game. How complete your Engineering notebook is, how well you showcase your achievements and your teamwork during visits from judges, and your conduct and teamwork throughout the day are all major and equal components of the award recognition process.

Aim High!

Here’s the criteria for the Inspire Award:
• Team must demonstrate respect and Gracious Professionalism both for team members and fellow teams
• Engineering Notebook must be submitted, and must impress the judges
• Team must work beyond their Robot to help spread awareness of the team within the community
• Team displays good communication and teamwork skills within the team as well as with their alliances
• Team communicates clearly about their Robot design to the judges
• Team presents themselves well in the judges interview
• Robot effectively competes in the game challenge and impresses the judges
• Team and Robot consistently performs well during matches
• Team is a strong contender for all other judged awards

Aim for nothing less!

Another FTC Success Story

2011-12-27T08:30:00.001-05:00

This story is another among many wonderful FTC stories - and we're looking for even more!

Submit yours to stories@usfirst.org. They'll be kept as confidential as you like with names and team numbers used or not based on your preference. Feel free to share as much detail as you'd like - your privacy will be protected if you'd like to remain anonymous.

This was submitted by Brenda Semmelrock in Connecticut:

Before I became involved with FIRST FTC, a new student joined our sophomore class from a large, nearby high school where she was an FRC member and loved it. When she enrolled in our school, we were not involved with FIRST.

Cassie Scully did everything she needed to do to convince our Head Master and faculty members that we needed to be involved with FIRST. That first year, Cassie, along with a couple of other students and a couple of faculty members, drove every afternoon after school to participate with the FRC team mentioned above. It made for a long day for everyone. Cassie was determined to bring FIRST to our school and she did.

An FTC team was formed. Cassie asked me to become assistant coach as I had expressed an interest in the FRC robot that she displayed here at our school. Cassie taught all of us about FIRST as the captain of the team.

FIRST inspired her to the point that nothing would stop her from forming a team at a school that knew nothing about FIRST. She inspired others to become involved, including me. This will be our third year as the CT FTC Affiliate Partner, thanks again to Cassie.

Cassie has since graduated and is a student at the Florida Institute for Technology, with an engineering major. She did return to help us out with our CT tournament. FIRST inspired Cassie to inspire others and she has left her mark at our school.
Our FTC team has since grown in numbers and we are hoping to inspire others as AP to become involved with FIRST.

Try this

2011-12-22T16:30:00.004-05:00

Several of my recent posts have revolved around communications regarding FIRST and FTC. The topic has been on my mind, specifically - how we get the word out about the important stuff we're all doing and get more people involved?

Over the holidays many of us are reacquainted with groups we don't regularly interact with, family members, friends of spouses, whatever. Invariably the conversation turns to "what's new" type stuff.

Try out an "elevator pitch" about what you've been doing with FIRST without it taking 5 minutes to explain. It's harder than it sounds. The only goal in such a pitch (I hate the term too) is to get the listener to ask more about it - really just to hook him to want more info.

Let me know how you do - maybe we'll pass the tips along to others.

Have a great Christmas, Hanukkah, or whatever you celebrate!
Ken

Who are you competing against?

2011-12-21T04:59:00.000-05:00

The company - who wants innovation and change, and schedules out long meetings each week with large groups to talk about it.

The non-profit - who wants to change the world, and articulates it in vague ways.

The government - that promises reform when elected, but can't get it through the legislature once in office.

The team - that sketches out big ideas for the design/programming/sensors... and doesn't have enough time to test it.

In all these cases, and in most of life, the real competition is ourselves - not those who we traditionally categorize as competitors.

Why post this here?

Because you, and the groups you lead, have the chance to recognize this and avoid it. FIRST can be a microcosm of change and it starts with you. Luckily that feedback loop is pretty rapid within FIRST competitions. Other organizations learn this (or don't) only after years and years.

What do you do?

2011-12-18T10:23:00.003-05:00

Let's say you're a FIRST coach - what do you tell people who ask?

'I coach a FIRST team' or
'I show kids science and technology are fun'

'My team works on robots' or
'My team develops fairly complex machines'

'The students learn about STEM' or
'The students learn they can actually DO the things technologists do'

'These kids learn about technology' or
'These kids learn that they can use technology to change the future'

Each statement is absolutely true - it's just how you frame it. If you're a coach you're making a huge difference. You see some of the results now - but more will come in the future.

Positive or Negative?

2011-12-15T13:57:00.003-05:00

I got into an interesting conversation recently. It evolved into a discussion about how FIRST is presented to the world. In general it's all positive. What I mean by that is we talk about all the great things FIRST does and the opportunities that open up to FIRST kids as they move into college and beyond.

The interesting point of the discussion however was how most of the population makes decisions - and it's instructive. First, people are not "hard wired" to accept change, in fact we are programmed over years and years to resist it. FIRST represents change. Second, most people are not "early adopters" partially for the reason above but as much because they don't want to stand out or look foolish if they choose something different.

I am convinced that most of the FIRST community is unlike the average. You have adopted FIRST and you each understand it.

So... if we turned the conversation around along the lines of "you haven't got your kids into FIRST? you realize that jobs are out there, scholarships are available, and at the present rate of change your kids risk being left behind..." what would happen?

Following the line of reason above, that negative approach would appeal to the later adopters, the ones that don't want to be left behind (and thus stand out). The fear of being without FIRST would then outweigh the fear of not changing.

Don't take this as any type of mandate in how you talk about FIRST, but do use it as food for thought as you think about how we grow - and who get's left behind...

Who starts FTC teams?

2011-12-14T11:30:00.002-05:00

I just added a quick poll question to the FTC blog (on the right) - "Who starts FTC teams?"

Teams are formed in a variety of ways, including each category listed - and more. What FIRST is trying to get at is how big those nodes are... relatively speaking.

Let us know what you think - and sorry, you can only pick one! and voting closes midnight New Year's Eve.

Tell us your story

2011-12-13T17:20:00.002-05:00

Those of us involved with FIRST are lucky enough to be part of a movement - one which is changing the world. We often talk about the "really big" issues associated with an educated population, the ability to solve tough environmental problems, and how cultures evolve based on their ability to use technology effectively.

All that is absolutely true - and it's powerful. It's also true that these really big changes come from thousands of people involved in FIRST as team members, volunteers, and a small staff. Every one of these people have individual stories about how FIRST changed them, their communities, their schools, and their prospects for a better future.

We are lucky to hear many of these stories in "real time" as we interact with you.

What we'd like to do is collect these stories - and pass them along to others. This is how tribes grow, and this is how FIRST has grown. The fact we can communicate easier than ever before makes this story telling easier.

Please send your story to us at stories@usfirst.org. The only guideline to submit is total honesty in conveying your story. If you don't want real names used please tell us - but also please send these stories from a valid email address in case we need to get in touch with you. We will respect your privacy completely.

I'd like to sprinkle these stories into this blog to give you all an feel for what is going on in the FIRST world. Please share your stories with us and help us continue to change the culture.

Below is a story recently submitted by a team:

My husband and I home-school our four children, and neither one of us is an engineer. We first heard about the robotics activities through another parent while attending an unrelated science-technology-engineering-mathematics (STEM) activity held at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). Excited, I tried to initiate a robotics program for teens within the engineering department of UDC, but it was not be. The good news was that during those struggling weeks, I met Denise (Job) Lewis, Washington DC's robotics missionary. She let us tag along with her teams for the rest of the season. Hooked, we joined Mrs. Lewis' fledgling FTC team for our rookie season.

Our children will never be the same! They built engineering skills, vocabulary and networks, not just a machine. They are confident--they speak to, answer questions for, and demonstrate their robot for strangers comfortably. The children think laterally and understand the essential nature of planning. They own the design cycle and are already incorporating the lessons from last year in this season's strategies. The kids are more ambitious and less fearful as a result of the immediate feedback that only hands-on experiences can lend. They believe that they can contend on a playing field that was out of reach for most of my generation. I could go on and on, not just about my own children, but about the flowering of the entire FTC team. We are all looking forward to an even mightier FTC season this year with an eye toward the FRC level eventually. We are exceedingly blessed to be involved and to share what we learn about the robotics community with other families.

A month of travel

2011-12-09T09:27:00.002-05:00

I know this internet thing works in multiple places but I have to admit I've (again) been remiss in posting as is obvious if you have me on an RSS feed.

The good news is that lot's of great things have been happening since the last post and I'll be sharing some of that with you in the upcoming days. The competition season has kicked off, team growth has exceeded expectations (and continues to grow), and "Bowled Over" is proving to be a challenging and fun game to play and watch.

Over the last month I've traveled to Mississippi, Las Vegas, Abu Dhabi, and New York City. While most of us appreciate the cultural differences around the world, to come face-to-face with such a range in under 30 days was interesting.

I'll leave you with a proverb that stuck in my head from the trip - which unfortunately I can't attribute. "The small man builds many cages for men. The large man scatters many keys." FIRST is a key - and if you're reading this your part of the process of scattering them.

Crowd Sourcing FTC Classroom Materials

2011-11-07T15:09:00.002-05:00

One of the projects we've been quietly working on here at FTC is the creation of an on-line resource portal for classroom materials. I can't tell you often I get approached by FTC volunteers telling me about how they've adopted the FTC robotics kit into the classroom.

Often times these volunteers ask if we at FIRST want copies of those materials. Our general answer is "no" but we encourage these folks to keep going and offer the tools to their peers.

Thanks to JoAnn Halloran we've now setup an area in our Forums pages for just this purpose. Here is the link: http://ftcforum.usfirst.org/forumdisplay.php?51-FIRST-Tech-Challenge-Curriculum-and-Classroom-Resources

As of this blog post we've uploaded the links for the TETRIX and FTC getting started lessons that we'd previously communicated in order to "prime the pump." If you check these out you'll see the format which includes the ability to comment on the material and give it a user rating similar to the way Amazon allows customers to rate products.

The comment and rating tools should be a great way to help you determine which tools might be most useful in your particular situation. For instance if you were looking for a good way to teach principles of force and motion for a physics class using the FTC kit you might find user supplied content for this purpose, with feedback on how well suited the content was for that topic.

The eventual quality of the content will be decided upon by you! If you've got materials, lessons, or other ways you've used FTC in the classroom post them here. Start a new thread and follow the instructions. None of the content will be sold and all content used will benefit your peers in FTC Nation!

Electric Multicopter

2011-11-04T17:28:00.004-04:00

You may have already seen this, it seems to be burning up the internet today - but if you haven't it's worth checking out.

Reportedly it's the first electric multicopter capable of transporting a human.

I know I've said this before, but the folks working on this kinda stuff are using the same technology as FTC (and FRC) teams. Pretty cool.

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=L75ESD9PBOw

New FTC Materials Available

2011-10-31T09:41:00.002-04:00

All,

We've just released some new training materials for FTC teams at: http://www.tetrixrobotics.com/FTC/.

There you'll find basic building instructions for a standard FTC based robot as well as step-by-step instruction on using Samantha WiFi, interacting with the field control system, and other FTC specific info.

This was designed to take new teams (or newer team members) through the process. With annual growth of 30%-50% per year we have lot's of rookie teams out there who want to hit the ground running.

Those of you who teach may find these useful in the classroom too. Nothing like using FTC and TETRIX for multiple applications!

Ken

Community Networking in 5 Easy Steps

2011-10-17T11:29:00.004-04:00

Guest Blog by Terri Willingham

Terri is an Assistant RD for the state of Florida, leads FTC Team Duct Tape, and has been a tireless FIRST supporter for years.

Among the many great attributes of the FIRST experience is the emphasis on teamwork, and that can include learning how to build your team of coaches, mentors and community supporters. The fact is, the more recognition teams have in their communities, the more support they can count on – from funding to mentoring. There are lots of ways to build a supportive local FIRST community, but here are five easy steps to get you started.

1 .Take Stock of Your Neighborhood!

Whether you’re meeting at a school, a community center, or a private home, go to Google maps (or something similar), type in your physical address and then “search nearby” on any combination of “robotics”, “mechanical engineering”, “computer engineering”, tech businesses, or industry. Look for universities, colleges and technical or vocational schools that might have an engineering component.

Drill down to find websites, email addresses and phone numbers of nearby businesses and educational facilities. Consider businesses that might be able to provide funding or sponsorship, even if they aren’t engineering or robotics related. T-shirt companies and printers can make very helpful friends and supporters. And local eateries might be willing to provide team snacks! Don’t overlook local chapters of groups like the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, IEEE, Manufacturing associations, retired engineers groups or software user groups, too.

2. Market Your Team

• If you don’t have a website, make one! A free blog is perfectly sufficient.
• Create an informative and attractive team packet featuring information about FIRST (check the FIRST website for resources) , team members and your needs.
• Keep an introductory letter on hand that can be emailed or included with the packet, that introduces your team and invites specific in-kind or financial help and support.
• Send out PSAs (Public Service Announcements) to local newspapers and other media about upcoming events and appearances.

3. Say Hello!

Send a note of introduction to everyone on your new list. Include:

• Photos of the team
• Exactly what you’re looking for: mentors, money, space, materials
• Your team packet with interesting team and FIRST robotics information

Be open to all types of help! Support can include:

• opening businesses or research facilities up to team field trips
• tutoring or mentoring help in any of a number of fields, ranging from computer programming, to building and design, general robotics instruction, team presentations
• coaching support
• team sponsorship
• donations for registration, kit or competition fees
• materials support and more.

4. Follow Up!

Wait a couple of weeks and then follow up with a second letter, email or phone call. Rinse and Repeat as needed. Be sure to let those you reach out to know that your team is happy to come visit, do demos, and talk to staff and personnel.

5. Be Gracious!

Be prompt, polite and profuse in your gratitude for any and all support you receive. Make it a point to thank sponsors, donors and mentors on your team website, identify sponsors on your team shirts, in team literature and on your robot, if possible.

Team members should write or sign thank you notes with a team photo on them. Update sponsors, mentors and supporters often and mention them regularly to others. Gratitude goes a long way towards encouraging others to support you, too. Exhibiting gracious professionalism in your community, as well as at competitions, can net your team long term and enduring support for years to come!

Dean interview last night

2011-10-12T10:00:00.003-04:00

In case you missed it there was a big Republican Presidential debate last night at Dartmouth. The debate topic was centered around the economy. Dean was interviewed for his take on what can be done to help the economy - and as you'd guess the answer is FIRST.

You've heard variations on this theme from Dean before however this is a great video to share with others who may not already be part of the FIRST movement. Also some nice highlights of FTC are part of the footage.

Here is the link.

X Prize - Oil Sucking Robots

2011-10-10T09:40:00.003-04:00

If a former (or current) FIRST team does not win an X-Prize in the next few years I'd be surprised. Check out this link. The people working on this problem are a bit older than FIRST teams but they're doing almost exactly the same things our teams do.

They're presented with an unstructured problem, work as a team to prototype and test multiple solutions, then prove it out in a competitive format... all to deal with one of our really big problems.

FIRST really is the competition where everyone can "go pro."

Another note on Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T08:51:00.003-04:00

"Before Steve Jobs, digital music was math class. After, it was recess."

This is the best quote I've seen regarding Steve Jobs impact in technology, and it applies far beyond music.

The genius in his work was making technology fun and available to the masses. He knew its not all about how many features can be baked in but how the user interfaces with the technology. If the user experience is positive and even playful the technology gets adopted and used. Over time that builds trust that the next products will do the same.

We've seen thousands of tech leaders, most of them pushing new technology. Most of that technology was introduced before it was ready for prime time. Let's hope future creative visionaries step up with ways to make that technology work for us in ways that delight and inspire us.

BTW the quote above was from Bill Werde, editorial director of The Billboard

We want you(r) feedback!

2011-09-29T17:14:00.003-04:00

Timm Huffman joined the FTC team here in Manchester recently. Part of his role is to improve the communications we provide you. That starts with how you presently get your information.

Please take 15 minutes to take a quick on-line survey. It will help us better tailor our communications to you.

Survey link

Thanks!
Ken

Preparation

2011-09-26T15:13:00.002-04:00

I spent most of the weekend running between football games. My two sons play on different teams and one had back-to-back games, the other had an away game that required even more driving.

Each of them practice 4 or 5 days a week. Keep in mind that one is in 8th grade and the other a high school freshman.

That got me thinking about successful FTC teams. You already know (or should by now) the effort that goes into a successful FTC event. That's why we often ask/remind you to thank those wonderful volunteers, but what about the teams?

You've all seen the team that shows up at the event unprepared. In 99% of those cases this situation turns into a mini-success because others jump in to help the ill-prepared team. Those teams don't win, but hopefully they get enough "good stuff" that they come back next year ready to compete.

Something for you teams to consider - if you want to be successful it's all about preparation and practice. "You play like you practice" is an age-old sports adage that applies in FTC, entertainment, and in life.

Get going FTC teams!

Resource for FTC team programming

2011-09-18T09:35:00.003-04:00

National Instruments, LEGO Education North America, and FIRST have combined to provide FTC teams with a single site to find programming info and getting started tips. The site is http://tetrixrobotics.com/ftc/

Content in the left column is soon to come. The TETRIX getting started guide (at top) is live now. On the right side you'll see a list of webinars that are scheduled and happening now.

Maybe this will get you moving to figure out how to move those bowling balls!

Question - Reporting high scores

2011-09-16T14:17:00.002-04:00

Over the years I've posted several things in this blog from different FTC events. A couple times I showed pics or video from impressive robots.

I'd like to add something, probably via this blog, about teams who are doing well with this year's game. Nothing that gives away any secrets but perhaps just the reported high scores in matches.

Of course they would have to be reported as alliance pair teams - but it might setup some friendly competition to see which teams (and events) are scoring highest....

What do you think?

FTC is underway all over

2011-09-15T16:55:00.003-04:00

The photo above is from Pune, India where Jordan Cox and the PTC folks are partnering with NRB Bearings and John Deere to extend FIRST Tech Challenge further into India. PTC has been great at encouraging other companies to lend their support to growing FTC.

Jordan flew from Needham, Massachusetts to Pune, India immediately after the FTC kickoff Saturday to put on an FTC workshop there. The sun never sets on FTC nation!

New stuff and special offer

2011-09-13T17:06:00.003-04:00

Two quick things - HiTechnic is the source for the IR beacons used in this year's game. They also sell the magnet sensors you'll want to use this year. While supplies last they have a special offer for FTC teams. Any FTC team placing an order with HiTechnic will also get an Extended Connector Cable Set which are 4 different length sensor connectors. Thanks HiTechnic.

Also - teams buying new kits this year will see a cool getting started guide and startup box in the kits. Teams can follow this guide and build a pretty cool robot. This robot is not designed to compete in any specific game but will get new teams (or new team members) up to speed quickly on how to build and program. Once teams get their feet wet at that level a good chunk of the learning curve will have been traveled.

This new feature is specifically aimed at helping new teams succeed. Its also a cool option for bringing the FTC kit into the classroom. Check it out.

Ken

Game hints... Explained

2011-09-12T13:33:00.012-04:00

I had fun posting hints again this year on the blog. I'm continually impressed by those of you paying attention - you got most of them. Hopefully you got confirmation of your guesses when you saw the game.

Here they are chronologically:

August 12th - Reference to Jeff Bridges and "The Big Lebowski." A central theme throughout the movie was The Dude's love of bowling. Many scenes occurred in a bowling alley.

August 15th - No clues - just a ping about the i.am.FIRST show

August 18th - More bowling clues. The photo included a bowler hat and a penguin. Penguins kinda look like bowling pins.

August 22 - There are groups of folks who re-purpose old vinyl records for a variety of things - including bowls. This upside down bowl is an oblique reference to the game name "Bowled Over." I also liked the title of the record "Learn-A-Language" - made me think about teams picking up RobotC or LabVIEW.

August 24 - The clue here was the form factor of the apples in a round basket - very similar to the starting orientation of Bowled Over's racquetballs.

August 27 - I really did take a couple days off that week and rode up the coast. The clue however is the motorcycle - it's a Victory Kingpin - another bowling reference.

August 29 - The photo of the lobsterman stacking crates is the main clue here. The post also referred to tropical storm Irene "bowling over" trees etc.

September 1 - Lighthouses are iconic as beacons. This photo shows two. The "Old and New" title refers to the fact we're re-using the beacons from last season but in a new way. Hopefully the programming skills developed in previous seasons can be built upon this year.

September 7 - Three clues were embedded in this one. Two around racquetball. I was impressed someone found the actual artwork and recognized the title "Racquetballs" of the painting. The term "hinder" was inserted because "hindering" is a category of fouls in the game of racquetball. Finally "ramping up" was in there to give a clue towards the starting locations and goals for the bowling balls.

September 9 - This Haiku was all about the points teams get for stacking the crates. On one hand it's a pretty obvious clue, on the other hand many had figured out the scoring elements but how those would be used for points based on height????

Other - I really wanted to get a photo of a boat being pushed up a ramp prior to tropical storm Irene - couldn't find one. I was also trying to get a shot of something with a Crate and Barrel store in the background. Throughout the process "Angry Birds" kept coming to mind with knocking over crates but when I tried to use shots of that they just didn't flow.

Hope you had fun looking for clues this time. Have a great season. I'll see you out there!

Ken

Thanks!

2011-09-12T13:14:00.003-04:00

On Saturday approximately 20 different locations hosted live FTC kickoff events. We've heard from most of them and all seemed to have gone tremendously well.

The shot above was from the PTC event held at their world headquarters in Needham Massachusetts.

As FTC continues its incredible growth it is clear that the power of FTC is in the people involved. From wonderful sponsors like PTC and Rockwell Collins to the thousands of volunteers who donate time and knowledge to the tens of thousands of students involved.

FTC is a product of "FTC Nation." This is your program and the things you accomplish this season will continue to amaze all of us here at FIRST.

Thanks!
Ken

Kickoff Day!!

2011-09-10T11:59:00.001-04:00

It's here, the big day. There are about 20 live kickoffs around the world happening as I write this. The official posting of the game happens at 3:00pm eastern time on the FIRST website.

PTC is hosting the northeast kickoffs at theory corporate headquarters in Needham, MA. They're also streaming the unveiling at 3pm here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ptc-ftc-kick-off.

If you're not already at a live kickoffs check it out.

Also, the links on this blog will be updated early next week directing you to the same spots covering this years game.

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Things are looking up

2011-09-09T16:57:00.004-04:00

Tomorrow's the day

You now know it all and more

Reach great heights and score

Almost Saturday...

2011-09-07T09:53:00.003-04:00

What a whirlwind late summer huh? Back to school, crazy weather, and all kinds of things ramping up. None of that will hinder the roll we're on to launch the FTC game Saturday.

Old and New

2011-09-01T07:51:00.004-04:00

Hard to believe it's already Thursday, and already September. Feels a bit cooler this morning, maybe it's just my imagination?

Life resumes

2011-08-29T10:08:00.004-04:00

Hard to believe Irene blew through here just yesterday. New Hampshire made out OK. Other than bowling over trees and causing about 100,000 power outages in the state Irene was mainly wet and windy.

Many of the fisherman had to pull their traps and either remove their boats or otherwise ensure their safety.

Today the sun is out, the winds are light, and it's back to work.

Heading Out

2011-08-27T15:16:00.001-04:00

As we enter the last couple weeks before the insanity of the 2011/2012 FTC season begins I'll be taking a few days off. For the better part of next week I'll be soaking up some (hopefully) good riding weather as I make my way up into Maine.

I'll try to find some good camera shots on the trip and get them up on the blog - maybe ones that give you some idea of what will be released September 10th...

On a serious note - stay safe this weekend if you're anywhere near Irene!

Ken

That time of year!

2011-08-24T07:51:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe the school year starts soon... Up here in New England that marks the start of apple season. Apple cider donuts, apple pies, cider. Enjoy the last days of summer but look forward to the fall release of the new game!

On our way

2011-08-22T10:25:00.003-04:00

FTC just completed a tremendous brainstorming weekend around the 2012/2013 game. Thanks to all that flew into Manchester from around the country. A fun and productive weekend. We're a long way from THAT game but really close to announcing this year's game.....

Questions

2011-08-18T11:22:00.004-04:00

Hey FTC Nation - believe it or not we're about to start brainstorming game design ideas for the 2012/2013 season!

I love this part of the process - blank sheet of paper, a huge variety of ideas, and working with some really cool (and talented) people.

We may share some hints about this year's game too - with a creative bunch like this the ideas will be flying...

If you have any crazy ideas - send them in, maybe we'll use some for the new game.

Did you see it?

2011-08-15T12:31:00.005-04:00

Hey FTC, hope you all got a chance to check out the show last night on ABC. Will and crew were all over FTC. I don't think I'm getting "Dirty Bot" back anytime soon. It showed up on Piers Morgan and the ABC special. Not sure when I tell Will about the age limit either... Maybe we can make an exception.

We got an enormous amount of feedback from the FIRST community on the show - but of course that's not the point. The FIRST community already knows what the Kool-Aid tastes like. This was to spread the net wider and allow everyone to see what a great thing we've all tapped into.

Talk this up! What a great way to recruit teams and get more people involved.

Congratulations to all FIRST from Jr. FLL through FRC.

Dean and will.i.am on Piers Morgan tonight 9pm

2011-08-12T14:47:00.003-04:00

Get ready, some fun stuff is on the way.

Unless you've been out of the country you've probably heard about the big will.i.am FIRST show this Sunday night (7pm on ABC). I think I originally posted it on this blog back in April. It's been a long time coming - but trust me, it's worth the wait.

Will and Dean have been doing a lot of press this week leading up to the show. Tonight they're both on Piers Morgan's CNN show (9pm). I watched his show last night (screen shot above) - Jeff Bridges was his guest, believe it or not he's still getting asked about The Big Lebowski??? Good movie but wasn't that like 20 years ago?

We're also about a month away from the new game release. Saturday, September 10th, at 3pm the world will know. We think you'll like it. In fact we're already getting started on next season's game.

Keep an eye on the blog - we'll start posting game clues soon.

And don't forget to check out i.am.FIRST Sunday night!

Checking In

2011-07-12T17:19:00.004-04:00

A not so subtle note was posted on my office door today -

That got me thinking, and resulted in this post.

My philosophy on communication is this - everyone has a fixed bandwidth for information. There is no lack of information, it surrounds us and bombards us every day. The challenge is finding the sources that provide valuable information. The most valuable sources don't waste our time, give us what we need, when we need it. (Yes, I agree the FIRST website is in need of serious help)

On the other side the challenge is being one of those sources, and not just another voice in the crowd.

One of my RSS feeds (I limit them to just those I read) is Seth Godin's blog. He recently posted one about the "attention economy" worth reading.

In any case, the FTC team has been working diligently preparing for the upcoming (current) season. Next season FTC will offer two new awards. The "Promote Award" will recognize teams that create a brief public service announcement (PSA) around a topic that will be announced in the fall. The idea is to get teams involved in spreading the word about the importance of FTC and FIRST with specific regard to how it influenced them.

The second award is formalization of the "Compass Award" which was piloted at the FTC World Championship in April. The Compass Award recognizes outstanding contribution by coaches/mentors.

Video submissions will be used for consideration for each of the new awards.

Hopefully you are all having a great summer and recharging your batteries for another outstanding FTC season.

Take care,
Ken

Why do sponsors give to FTC?

2011-06-15T10:25:00.003-04:00

This was a great topic of conversation last week at the FTC Partner's conference - worth summarizing again for those of you talking to potential sponsors.

FIRST and FTC appeal on a variety of levels. Number one is that FIRST exists solely to inspire the next generation of technology leaders.... period. We have the unique position of being just that simple and transparent. We have no other motivation. Funding that goes to FIRST is laser focused on that goal.

Beyond that the trick is listening to potential funders. FIRST works on a variety of levels and the discussion can be tailored to the potential donor's concerns.

On a global level, future technologists are critical to solve the world's really big issues. Nationally (any nation) is concerned about their place in the world among others in terms of global competitiveness. Greater percentages of technically adept citizens leads to healthier economies. Regionally (by state, county, or town) the same thing applies - specifically related to quality of life.

On a corporate level FIRST is a great option when organizations want to put effort into future workforce development. In technology driven companies this is easy to see - they need more engineers to keep growing. In non-technology based companies it's also important. Who will buy their products if the population is working at low skill/pay jobs? An educated, technically skilled workforce earns more, and spends more.

On a personal level FIRST programs directly impact the lives of students. This is a great discussion to have with sponsors who want to get their employees involved in organizations they support. More so than almost any other organization, investing in FIRST allows companies to not just give money, but to also provide their employees and their employee's kids a great way to give back and grow.

Finally, FIRST is the only STEM based non-profit with a hands-on focus that kids can get into from kindergarten through high school. Like other sports models FIRST provides age appropriate challenges allowing kids to matriculate through to college. Unlike other sports models this is something they can all "go pro" in.

Pretty good list - thanks to our Partners and key Sponsors for developing this last week!

A couple other hints include -

Use the kids, they can "sell" FIRST better than the adults!
Leverage existing Sponsors, they want FIRST to grow and have already taken the leap
Realize companies have budgets for this type of thing - you're not necessarily asking them to dig deeper, in some cases you're really just asking them to allocate differently

Good luck!

FTC Partner Meetings

2011-06-11T15:32:00.001-04:00

Hard to believe we are already at Partner Conference. Four days of tech updates, best practices, and networking. Lots of great energy!

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FTC Software Update

2011-05-23T08:56:00.001-04:00

By now you may have heard about a slight change in the way teams can renew their RobotC license. In the past a patch was provided to teams that wanted to use RobotC through the summer. Those teams could then formally renew their license in the fall when the new FTC kits shipped.

As FTC teams and volunteers have grown so have the number of "off season" FTC events. To avoid tying up teams we've decided to decouple RobotC purchase and renewal from the formal FTC kit. LabVIEW will continue to be offered in the kit.

FTC teams interested in using RobotC can now directly purchase the software though the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy here: http://www.robotc.net/ftc.

The best option is probably the $49 ten seat license of version 2.26. Version 3.0 is set to be released this summer, however those opting for the $49 license will be able to apply that to version 3.0 when released.

A new version of LabVIEW will be included in the kit for the 2011/2012 season. This version is specifically designed for Mindstorms and promises improved features over previous versions. National Instruments has donated the LabVIEW software for FTC for the upcoming season.

As a result of these changes the cost of the FTC kit will decrease by $70.

Ken

Team Registration Idea

2011-05-19T16:59:00.004-04:00

By know most of you have heard about the FIRST light bulb fundraising project. In short Dean and FIRST worked out a deal with Google so FIRST teams can purchase high efficiency LED light bulbs at a fraction of their retail price. The idea is FIRST teams can sell these to local businesses and individuals - at a discount off retail - and use the difference to fund their team.

A tech based, green initiative that also raises money, a win-win-win for FIRST teams who need cash.

Just in the last week or so the program was made even more accessible. Now, teams who have registered for the next season but not paid (and have received their temporary team number) can take advantage of the light bulb project. In addition the minimum order of light bulbs has decreased from 30 to 10 bulbs.

FTC teams can get started selling the bulbs with just a $65 outlay ($6.50 per bulb sold in 10 packs) and use the money raised to pay their registration fees and/or kit costs. A great option for teams who want to make an early registration push.

The link to get started is here: http://www.usfirst.org/e-wattresources

Good luck,
Ken

National Afterschool Champion

2011-05-17T09:04:00.001-04:00

Dean just received the "Afterschool Alliance" National Afterschool Champion Award being recognized for the impact FIRST has had over the last 20 years. We're getting some great national attention from CNN to Washington DC.

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The Party's Over

2011-05-01T11:45:00.001-04:00

Like any good party we're left with great memories, some funny stories, and a wider circle of friends. World Championships were exhausting and re-charging at the same time.

So many people put so much into FIRST it is truly uplifting. Seeing the teams triumph and celebrate, and watching the raw emotion of those teams who came close but did not reach their goals is powerful stuff.

So again, thanks to all who make this possible in FTC Nation. You're making a huge difference.

Ken

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FTC.We.R

2011-04-30T15:05:00.001-04:00

In case you were not in St. Louis to see Will.I.Am compete as FTC Team "Dirty Bot" you may not have heard he competed vs. Dean and team FTC.We.R (coined by Dean!).

I like the ring of that because we are one team, one family, one tribe. FTC.We.R!

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Words out!

2011-04-30T07:02:00.001-04:00

Great show last night at the Edward Jones Dome (FIRST Dome?) with Will.I.Am and the Peas. A ton of work went into it but what a payoff.

The real pop is when this hits those outside FIRST. We all know the power of what FIRST - really all of you - are doing. The trick has always been bringing the rest of society "inside" to show them.

We kick that door wide open with the special that will air August 14.... cultural change? we'd like to introduce you to FIRST!

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Will.I.Am

2011-04-27T08:51:00.003-04:00

I had to wait for the official FIRST word to say anything but by now you've probably seen the announcement that Will and the rest of the Black Eyed Peas will do a show Friday night here in St. Louis. What a great way to add even more excitement to the FIRST World Championships.

Not only that, but Will is so into FIRST that he wants to compete! I flew out to Los Angeles last week to meet with Will and an FTC Team from Folsom, CA to build an FTC robot. He and DJ Poet jumped right in. With help from the Folsom team 3509 - Phoenxtrix Will and Poet got hooked up.

Will and Poet will compete against FTC teams here in St. Louis.

A camera crew filmed the whole thing at the Record Plant - where Will (and artists from Jimmy Hendrix to Eminem to Elton John) have recorded. Pretty cool stuff.

More to report in the future as to how the footage will be used. Stay tuned!

Ken

Full Steam Ahead

2011-04-25T12:28:00.003-04:00

Looks like everything in St. Louis is moving ahead as planned. The FIRST folks on the ground report things are moving smoothly - see you in St. Louis!

St. Louis

2011-04-23T10:24:00.003-04:00

As the rest of you, we are all trying to figure out what the situation is on the ground in St. Louis. Official information will be posted on the FIRST website as soon as possible.

I can tell you everyone at FIRST has all the people in St. Louis on our minds and wish them the best. FIRST personnel already there are safe - and assessing the damage and options.

Ken

Friends of FTC

2011-04-20T08:48:00.002-04:00

I was cleaning out my phone images last night and came across this one. You all know Will.I.Am was a special guest at the FRC kickoff last January. While here we got this quick pic of the two of us.

Great having him at FIRST. Both he and Dean (and all of you) share the same passion for inspiring the next generation and making it a better place. Combining "worlds" of the Dean Army and Will.I.Am followers is a powerful mix. Good stuff!

Recollection of the Kickoff Video

2011-04-18T16:34:00.004-04:00

As we get ready for World Championship all kinds of things are flying around. The "real world" however continues to revolve.

Like most, you've probably been paying attention to the nuclear disaster in Japan. The images of the nuclear workers at the plant doing their best to minimize the radiation is both honorable and sad - realizing that their lives will never be the same.

The image above was posted today from Tokyo Electric Power. It is the robot that is moving through the failed nuclear plant taking readings to assess damage. It is almost identical the one we highlighted in the kickoff video. If you want a concrete example of how robotics can help solve real world problems you don't have to look far.

I'm certain that those in FIRST will be helping in similar ways in the future - with problems we can't even imagine yet.

Is this thing on???

2011-04-14T13:40:00.003-04:00

Yes, again the FTC blog comes out of semi-hibernation. Why? Too much to do - but all good stuff -

Over just the last couple months we blew our registration goals out of the water for the year. This was largely due to the wonderful FTC community and school districts (and entire states) getting on board with FTC.

Next year's game is 99% complete - just wait!

We've traveled to over 30 events, met with commercial partners in Texas, Pittsburgh, Miami, and Denmark to continually improve the FTC kit.

We've been working closely with FRC teams to help with their Minibots.

We're also running hard to put on a great FTC World Championship in conjunction with FLL and FRC. FTC teams will see some cool stuff at the WC and St. Louis is really rolling out the red carpet for all of FIRST.

Finally, we're in the midst of several international pilot FTC events. We just concluded a wonderful Romania event and China is holding a large pilot event the weekend prior to our WC here in the states.

So - again, I'll do better at using this forum to give you another view into FTC and insight into things from my perspective.

One thing to keep in mind looking forward - make sure your wiring is good (efficient, tight, well managed) for the WC. The biggest common denominator in robot issues this year has been inadequate termination and cable management. This can lead to a myriad of issues from haphazard robot control to complete lockup.

See you out there - Ken

Winter fun

2011-01-31T12:00:00.004-05:00

I came across this on the Make magazine blog: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/01/hunting_hydrogen_balloons_with_a_we.html and had to share it.

While most of the north is hunkered down with snow it's easy to find reasons to stay inside. Working with your FTC team is a great inside activity but these guys found a way to take some of the same engineering and get outdoors.

The "ordinance" used was a bit rudimentary but the whole project looked pretty cool. Now we need some FTC team to do this autonomously....

Check it out,
Ken

FTC and FRC

2011-01-17T10:36:00.003-05:00

Just in case your team has not yet discussed it, talk about helping out an FRC team with their game this year. It's a great chance to expand your network of FIRST folks and participate in multiple FIRST events.

The rules in FRC allow those teams to partner with FTC teams to create the TETRIX "mini-bot." Show those FRC folks what FTC is all about while you're at it!

Ken

Minibots and FRC

2011-01-10T09:33:00.004-05:00

In case those of you in the FTC world did not catch it, the new FRC game is using pieces from the FTC TETRIX kit.

Why? The Game Design folks in FRC wanted to add a new twist to their game and highlight the FIRST family of programs.

FIRST is all about inspiring the next generation of technology leaders. Robotics are the main "tool" we use - but there is so much more. Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition as evidenced by our awards, scoring, and ethos are the foundation of FIRST.

The sponsors involved, including colleges and universities (that will offer FRC and FTC alumni over $14M in scholarships this year), the coaches who make this work, and everyone from Dean to the day-of-event casual volunteer all combine to create the FIRST magic.

So, those of you in FTC, reach out to some local FRC teams. Give them a hand with design and some programming on the FTC robots. You'll make some great connections and help make FIRST an even stronger organization.

Ken

Last minute stocking stuffer

2010-12-21T10:13:00.003-05:00

I don't usually plug products in the blog however this one is worth checking out. The FTC team at Pope John XXIII Regional High School wrote and published a book about FTC. Inside are tips on building, programming, and competing in FTC.

They created this book on their own, with no financial support from FIRST. It's a great example of how the FIRST community comes together to create wonderful things.

You'd have to get overnight shipping to arrive by Christmas, however you might make an FTC team's day if you got them one.

Here's the Amazon link

Nervous and Excited?

2010-12-11T09:34:00.001-05:00

Week two of the FTC championship season is underway. This is a shot at the software inspection station here at the College of Southern Maryland in La Plata.

Event mornings are always the same, anywhere in FTC nation. Teams streaming in rushing to pass inspection. Volunteers scrambling to get them through.

The single most important determining factor to success? Read the game manual - as in life being prepared is key.

I am convinced the eventual winners (in competition and awards) can almost always be predicted at the inspection tables. Teams who have their stuff together succeed.

(BTW the team pictured had their stuff together)

Have fun,
Ken

Strategy Discussion

2010-12-09T16:04:00.003-05:00

After a whirlwind first weekend we are locked and loaded for week two.

A couple weeks ago I posted about scouting strategy with regard to choosing your elimination match partners and succeeding in events.

Earlier this season we hosted and recorded a conference call on this topic. If you, or your team members are interested in ideas on strategy check out this link.

Gracious Professionalism in practice

2010-12-08T11:39:00.002-05:00

Last weekend seven events were held. With only a couple exceptions the events went quite well. The wonderful combination of teams, volunteers, and others came together and continued the traditions of FIRST, traditions that FIRST was founded upon.

Our goal is to change the culture by inspiring technology leaders of tomorrow. You've seen this, and hopefully hear this quite often when talking about and experiencing FIRST.

The early vision of FIRST, which continues today, is to celebrate technology based competition in ways similar to other sports. Part of that vision was to leave behind some of the less desirable aspects of competitive sport.

We've all seen examples in other sports of parents too involved, singular focus on winning, and arguing about rules and "the other teams," as part of our individual experiences.

In the worst cases that has turned off participants in traditional sports, and that's a shame.

Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition are terms trademarked by FIRST designed to encapsulate the behavior we expect at FIRST events and within the FIRST community. The rules of the game from the scoring system to specifics on offense and defense all seek to reinforce these ethos in a competitive environment.

We can never lose sight of these goals. If we do, we become like any other gathering involving competition, where these values may not be as important.

Why this note now?

We're at the very beginning of our Championship season. We are growing incredibly fast. That means many of the FTC participants are new and may not have these specific values instilled in their approach to the competition.

That makes it incumbent on those who have been in the program to promote these values and live by them. Doing so perpetuates the vision of FIRST, allows others to benefit in their own lives from adopting them, and shows those promoting them that their efforts are making a difference.

We are all part of a larger effort, one that goes well beyond building and competing with robots, and one we should all be proud to perpetuate.

Ken

FTC Championship Tournament Season!

2010-12-03T16:54:00.003-05:00

This weekend is the first for FTC Regional Championships. Qualifying events have been ongoing for about a month now but this weekend is the first chance for teams to earn spots at World Championships in St. Louis.

As I write this Clarkson University is holding their FTC Regional Championship. Tomorrow Southwest Oklahoma State University will hold their Regional Championship.

Qualifying events are being held in Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Virginia, Washington, Florida and Georgia, whew!

Good luck to teams that are competing. If you're not competing get to work! You'll need to sharpen those skills to compete with these guys in the future.

Ken

Building Tips - Polycarbonate

2010-11-29T09:49:00.003-05:00

A couple years back I put together this video to provide tips on forming polycarbonate material for use on an FTC robot. I was recently reminded that this was still being used by teams.

If you are looking for some fairly easy how-to info on forming polycarbonate check it out here.

Please take the Survey

2010-11-27T09:42:00.001-05:00

You'll notice to the right is a poll question we'd like your feedback on. In addition to gearing up for the season we are also planning next year.

The photo here is an interesting adaptation of the Get Over It cliff. Look close and you'll see a hole cut into the back side. A camera was mounted there and run to one of the video screens. It provided a unique view to the audience. Another Michael Coleman advance in Florida!

Finding the Perfect Balance

2010-11-26T11:18:00.002-05:00

The end game in "Get Over It!" is turning out to be quite the crowd pleaser. Balancing in the game requires teamwork if you hope to get more than one robot balanced - and it get's crowded up there.

We've heard that there have been some events where all four of an Alliance's elements (two bots and two scoring caddies) have been balanced. This shot was from the Pennsylvania Qualifier last weekend. Pretty good. Can't wait to see what happens as we move into Championship tourneys.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Ken

NASA Sponsors FTC

2010-11-24T10:46:00.003-05:00

Just this week NASA announced that FIRST was awarded a generous 5 year grant! NASA has been a great supporter of FIRST Robotics Competition over the years. The 5 year grant further cements this relationship.

More important to the FTC world, NASA has committed significant funding to help the FTC program as part of the 5 year grant!

The funding will impact FTC starting next season - more details to follow.

Knowing the rules

2010-11-23T17:20:00.003-05:00

Just like any sport you gotta know the rules if you expect to succeed.

FIRST teams always demonstrate Gracious Professionalism but that does not mean there can't be honest disagreements - they key is knowing what you're talking about...

The responsibility for making calls on the field is the referee's. FIRST referees have the unique challenge of calling a new game each year - as opposed to developing expertise in a game that stays the same. By-and-large they do a great job.

Part of the reason for this is that they are trained. Part of the training is taking an on-line certification test. They are not infallible, but they've done their homework.

If you are competing in FTC do yourself a favor, read the rules!

The game animation is a good overview but the details are much more involved that what can be covered in a 5 minute video. There is a simple link on this page (just look to the right) with a direct link to the game rules. Check them out, you'll be happy you did.

Ken

Scouting in FLA

2010-11-09T13:47:00.003-05:00

We had a great qualifying event in Florida Saturday. Michael Coleman and his organization are outstanding and pulled off a wonderful event.

One thing I've never commented on this blog is scouting. We talk about it a bit in the documentation and there is a bit of buzz out there about it. I would bet that newer teams learn about scouting in "real time."

This is a shot looking over the shoulder of Exploding Bacon's scouting data. They use MiniTab as a tool to analyze team performance of each team competing including points scored by individual robots (as opposed to Alliance total score).

This date is reviewed in aggregate and over time to objectively determine performance. Impressive way to pick your Alliance Partners - and very effective.

FYI teams!

Ken

Time to Get Over It

2010-11-05T19:39:00.002-04:00

We're ready to roll in Florida for their first Get Over It qualifier Michael Coleman and his crew have a great setup. The FTC game design crew just arrived to help, learn, and get an early start on next years game... based on some of the designs we see here teams better get moving. Some pretty cool robot designs here in Florida.

Helpful CMU links to get you moving!

2010-11-03T12:01:00.001-04:00

Carnegie Mellon continues to provide FTC teams with resources to make the build season better. If you have not checked them out you should.

Carnegie Mellon University has posted the whole ROBOTC for TETRIX and MINDSTORMS curriculum for FTC teams only! http://www.cmuroboticsacademy.com/solt/lessons/trctetrix/content/index.php

And… their most recent webinar is on Continuous Rotation Servos http://www.education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/fire/competitions/ftc/#webinars

Good Stuff!

New FTC Teams

2010-11-01T16:15:00.002-04:00

All,

Today is the day for newly formed teams from either FLL, FTC, or FRC to register and take advantage of discounts on registration. Any new team formed by a current/past FLL member, a current FTC team, or a current/past FRC team is eligible for some big discounts on FTC registration, TETRIX kits, and future FRC registration.

There are limits to how many of these grants are available to get moving!

Ken

Catching our breath

2010-10-18T17:35:00.002-04:00

All,

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind. If you have not heard we just today announced a really cool benefit to the FIRST community. Specifically, we are offering incentives for FTC, FLL, and FRC to form even more FTC teams!

If you're reading this you probably already know that FTC is growing quick, we're up about 40% over last season so far (year-over-year). You also know the national conversation on STEM is heating up. Just today FTC, FLL, and FRC teams were at the White House being recognized for their accomplishments.

More and more people are realizing that to reach more kids a program is needed that is re-usable, rugged, includes a range of technology, and is supported by a dedicated organization. Our mission to inspire the next generation of technical leaders fits perfectly.

Seems to be the culmination of a perfect storm. So... the additional grants being made available are to ensure that our community spreads the word, and that even more students can "matriculate" through the FIRST family of programs.

The national PR will hit in the morning - keep an eye out!

Ken

FYI on a router deal

2010-09-30T12:49:00.003-04:00

All,

I've not used this forum for commercial stuff in the past however there is a deal today on woot.com for a Linksys/CISCO router for $18. Pretty good deal if teams need one (or Partners need extras). I'm told by the experts this one will work fine for FTC.

Woot offers deals for one day, or until the offered item sells out...

Ken

Kickoff Video

2010-09-22T15:20:00.002-04:00

All,

The "Get Over It" kickoff video has been getting quite a bit of attention. In fact Time Warner Cable has offered to broadcast it as it's own "show" to promote FIRST and FTC. More interestingly is that they approached us after seeing it.

As you already know, those outside FIRST seem to be getting it faster and faster - the Time Warner Cable offer is another sign.

If you'd like to ask your local cable operator to broadcast the kickoff video contact Dennis Garrigan here at FIRST HQ. The main number is 800-871-8326 and his extension is 454.

Ken

Minivan Requirement - Get Over It! Field

2010-09-20T15:48:00.004-04:00

The process of designing FTC games is involved. The level of challenge, technical content, tie to real world engineering, ability for veteran and rookie teams to succeed... it's a long list.

In addition to that the "practical" considerations of availability of materials, tools required, and cost all factor in.

Near the top of this practical list is the Minivan Requirement. Specifically, the game has to fit inside a minivan to make it feasible to transport by Affiliate Partners and teams.

This photo shows Get Over It! packed up on the standard gray cart. It was going to be one of the hints but we couldn't make it too easy.

So - At a minimum teams can build field elements, if not the whole field. The dispenser is probably the most critical piece to practice. If you're feeling ambitious build a whole field and hold a scrimmage in your area.

Good Luck,
Ken

CISCO Donation

2010-09-17T17:42:00.003-04:00

FIRST is lucky to have so many wonderful people involved. From Affiliate Partners, to Game Design, to Volunteers and Sponsors across the land - FIRST folks are tremendous. I can confidently state that we here at FIRST are as inspired by our community as anything else.

You've already heard about Samantha, the new WiFi interface for the NXT. John Toebes and his team put over 2,500 person-hours into the development of Samantha. The Kauffman Foundation provided $130,000 to make these devices free of charge to teams this year.

John and many of the Samantha developers work for CISCO. Just yesterday 110 E3000 Linksys routers arrived at the loading docks of FIRST as a donation from CISCO (they own Linksys). These will be provided free of charge to our Affiliate Partners to offset the cost of running local events.

Another example of the great support we continue to get from the community.

Thanks CISCO for the donation!

Ken

Kickoff - complete!

2010-09-16T13:17:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to all those who carried out regional kickoffs of Get Over It! We've heard back quite a few reports from the regional events. Teams descended on the new fields with tape measures and note pads. Quite a few ways to strategize the new game...

A couple of shots from kickoffs -

Iowa is on track for more than 40 FTC teams. Just two years ago Iowa had just 2! Here's a shot of their kickoff event at Iowa State:

Maryland continues to field strong teams. Here's a shot of their kickoff held at Laurel College:

FYI - Jeff Tjiputra and his team in Maryland built and distributed baton dispensers to every team that attended his kickoff - great idea!

Most kickoff organizers also used the event as an opportunity to show teams the new Samantha module and hold workshops on software and other program specifics.

Way to go FTC Nation!

Autonomous

2010-09-14T10:00:00.001-04:00

Quad Quandry had 20 seconds of autonomy, FaceOff! and HotShot! each had 30 seconds of autonomous operation. Get Over It! has 40 seconds of autonomous. The trend is pretty obvious.

Why?

The reason we're all here (at FIRST and in the FIRST community) is to inspire the next generation of technical leaders.

The recipe for that is heavily loaded with competition, excitement, teamwork, resource constraints, and technology. If we're doing our job right designing challenges, teams will be flexing multiple skill sets. The mechanical elements are obvious. Electrical... certainly part of how you design your bots. Software programming has always been part of FTC - and it's becoming more prevalent.

When you get into the game rules you'll see that there are quite a few points for autonomous operation. Just getting on to the center sections gets you something. Successful teams have always had good autonomous programming - but I'd like to see all teams find success.

I have a request. I'd like to see the FTC community (teams, mentors, coaches) reach out to work with novice teams in the area of programming. There is absolutely no reason we can't have an exciting autonomous period at every event. Help those teams you are competing with and against. Get them started with some basic code and let them play with it, whatever you can do to help.

One of the reasons the hidden magnet batons were incorporated this year was to increase programming options in the tele-operated section as well.

Don't necessarily assume we'll increase autonomous again next year, but you can expect another great game. One that will reward the best designs and strategies.

See you out there,
Ken

Clues Explained "Get Over It!"

2010-09-13T09:30:00.002-04:00

Hey FTC - the list below is an explanation of the clues posted over the last 10 days or so. The bold sections reference the original blog post headings.

Hope you like the game!
Ken

School’s in Session

Picture included a bridge, mountain and cliff. Clearing hurdles references getting over something.

Last long weekend…

Everyone just needs to…. “Get Over It”, March 9th is National “Get Over It” Day. Picture was of three actors from the movie “Get Over It.”

New Definition of Rock Star

OK Go! pic, one of their most popular songs is “Get Over It”

Perspective

Represents the yin yang symbol for balance, a critical part of “Get Over It”

Simple is as Simple Does

Guidance and direction refer to IR beacon and IR seeker.

One of Forrest Gump’s quotes is “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get” is a reference to hidden magnets in batons.

Luck

Drawing straws is a reference to the design of the dispenser.

The photo is the Horseshoe bend of the Colorado River. The horseshoe shape is the universal symbol for a magnet.

(No clues in India reference – at least not intentionally)

On the cusp…

Reference to being on the edge of something (cliff or mountain top).
“Level of competition” & “Strike a balance” = end game reference
Clues “Looking the same” = hidden magnet batons
Tall “thales” Thales was a Greek philosopher credited with the earliest reference to magnetism – he is credited by some for discovering the phenomenon
The image is of the “Where’s Waldo” Glasses – finding Waldo among a variety of things = finding magnet batons

On the cusp....

2010-09-10T07:34:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is the big day. Kickoff events will be held in various areas around the country. Team registration is up 50% over last year! I'm sure the level of competition will be great.

I struggled with how much to share with you on this last post before the launch. The best clues strike a balance between being too easy and too arcane. Many of the clues start to look the same. Hiding clues is harder than it looks. A photo of a screw or some shrink wrapped parts from a Home Depot delivery... fun but not necessarily helpful.

So for this final post I decided to avoid telling any tall thales and wish you good luck. We can't wait to see how you like the game, Samantha WiFi, and the new stuff available this year.

Good luck teams, see you out there

Hot Shots! in India

2010-09-08T09:11:00.005-04:00

FTC keeps growing. As I write this the first ever India FTC event is wrapping up. PTC and NRB Bearings came together to make this happen. They are running a pilot event with 7 FTC teams. Each team has 10 members plus mentors. Over 4,000 kids applied for the 70 slots! Talk about interest in robotics. In the center of the first pic is John Stuart, our key guy at PTC.

They are playing HotShot with equipment supplied by FIRST and kits supplied by PTC and NRB. As you can see they put a lot of effort into it and it looks great. We expect FTC to continue to expand internationally following the great model established by FLL. Techtronics helped get the equipment in-country and has experience doing this with FLL.

Great team in India! Congratulations.

Luck

2010-09-07T14:29:00.003-04:00

Ever wonder how much of your success is based on hard work and perseverance and how much is.... luck? Personally I'm in the camp of "you make your own luck" through doing the right things. At the same time you should do all you can to help others - adding to that Karma bank never hurts.

Who gets to drive, who heads programming, who holds onto the robot... sometimes you're just drawing straws - hopefully you're not holding the "short" one next time luck is involved.

Simple is as Simple does

2010-09-05T08:43:00.005-04:00

Great movie, a powerful message about taking what life gives you and making the most of it. Also makes an interesting statement about how much you can plan your life and how much just happens... yes I'm digressing again.

In any case we can all use help, guidance, and direction - sometimes we just need to know where to look for it.

Perspective

2010-09-05T08:33:00.005-04:00

At any FIRST event it's hard not to focus on the robots. Based on the kit of parts and the annual challenge many robots show off their skeletons well. For folks like me that's cool. I love to see how teams have solved problems by seeing inside your designs.

Most vehicles, including industrial robots, hide those skeletons to protect what's inside. In the process there is the ability to add style etc. That's what we had in mind when we started allowing various plastics to be used in the kit a couple years back.

Over just the last two years I've been impressed with the solutions you have developed using the kit and these materials. The additional range of function and form achieved has been impressive.

Not sure if the developer of this one participated in FIRST however...

New Definition of Rock Star

2010-09-03T17:19:00.004-04:00

I was thinking recently about how the FTC Game Design Committee works. If you don't already know, our GDC is a group of talented volunteers who put countless hours into each year's game. Some of you may curse them throughout the season as you struggle to come up with solutions, but most of you rise to meet the annual challenges. Your accomplishments are the fuel that powers the GDC.

So, to some of the smartest, socially relevant, and successful folks involved in FTC - thanks Game Design Committee. Since we typically protect their identities - we'll celebrate them here as our "Rock Stars."

Last long weekend before the new game....

2010-09-03T12:33:00.004-04:00

The east coast is getting buckled down for "Earl." My two cents is that storms should have more fierce sounding names. Nothing against any Earls out there but using it as a storm name doesn't instill fear. Watching all the talking heads on the news telling people to buy plywood, duct tape, bottled water, everyone needs to just... again, I digress...

The season is shaping up, many FTC events are already scheduled. As we look at our calendars here we're in for another busy season. With only a few exceptions FTC regional events should be winding down by March 9th.

In any case, enjoy the long weekend. Next weekend we'll release the game.

Take care,
Ken

School's in session

2010-08-30T18:02:00.003-04:00

Can you believe it, time to put on those new back to school shoes.

I spent last week in Denver at the AUVSI show. Talk about some cool careers. We need to bottle some of that stuff and show others what's going on in the world of robotics and unmanned vehicles.

Anyway, we're clearing the final hurdles to release the new game September 11th. We think you'll be pleased.

Going though some of the stuff from the summer I came across this pic. Inspirational no?

What HAVE you been doing?

2010-08-23T12:09:00.003-04:00

All,

Thankfully the FTC "off season" is almost over. What's been going on you ask? Lot's of Game Design final details. Dean got a sneak peak at the game a week ago and loved it. Of course that also resulted in a few tweaks - but what better guy to tweak the game than Dean right?

It seems we've also been attracting a lot of attention here in Manchester. The number of folks coming through FIRST has been really high. Just this morning I bumped into Dave Patterson from Alaska, not the person you'd expect to just drop by. No, he was not wearing his kilt. In addition to Dave, John Deere, Senator Shaheen, various film crews, and a big group of international media has streamed through in just the last couple weeks. Looks like we're reaching that tipping point with regard to people "getting" it.

We've also been traveling. This week Nancy Paul is on her way to Pittsburgh Kansas for the LEGO North America annual meetings. I just got back from Rockwell Collins and John Deere headquarters last week and I head to the AUVSI conference in Denver later this week. If any of you are in Denver feel free to stop by and say hello. I am moderating a talk on "The Value of Robotics Competitions" on Friday the 27th. (You may already have an idea of where I stand on the issue...)

Thanks to the folks at Rockwell Collins for their generous support of all FIRST programs and particularly as the title sponsor again this year for FTC. They were kind enough to host me at their annual breakfast where I got the chance to talk "FIRST" to over 400 attendees. Pretty good turnout for a 7:00am meeting!

After the meeting I was able to tour Rockwell's Virtual Reality Lab. Really cool stuff. They can take assemblies, model them, and actually get inside them to see how it all comes together - all before finalizing the design. Amazing - another example of a cool engineering/technology based career. People say the photo below is my best angle...

So - what's coming up? The next big thing is the game announcement. We'll reveal the game Saturday, September 11th. Look here for hints - let's see if anyone can figure it out. The hints should start coming later this week.

Hard to believe it's already time to kick off another season!

See you out there,
Ken

Carnegie Mellon

2010-07-29T12:14:00.003-04:00

Several of us spent yesterday with Robin Shoop and his team at the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy in Pittsburgh. You all know that the Carnegie Mellon group produces RobotC but you might not know that they also provide extensive training for all types of platforms.

Holding the training in the same building that they're conducting all kinds of cool testing and development work is a nice setup.

Robin and his group were recently awarded a DARPA grant to develop tools to get kids more interested in Computer Science and they've put together some impressive plans. Check them out if you get a chance. http://www.education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/

Ken

Baaaack

2010-07-15T16:22:00.004-04:00

Hello FTC Nation - Another four weeks has flown by without a blog post. Part of the reason is that we're burning off some vacation time, part of the reason is that the things going on are "behind the scenes" and part of the reason is that I get distracted too easily.

So, what's been going on behind the scenes? We've now produced 2,500 Samantha WiFi modules and they are in transit to PITSCO/LEGO for inclusion in the new kits! As a reminder these are being provided free of charge thanks to the generous donation of time and money from John Toebes and his CISCO team and the Kauffman Foundation. Final touches are being put on the documentation for the WiFi modules. The setup of the modules is not too difficult but does require some knowledge of connecting through the WiFi router you'll use. There are also versions of the documentation based on the operating system of the computer. We determined the best way to make this available was via the web. The decision tree format of the information required lends itself well to a web interface.

Game Design is chugging forward. We're now putting the final touches on rules and allowable materials. Stay tuned for game clues in this blog.

We've also been spending a lot of time with some new potential sponsors. Seems that word is continuing to spread about the fast growing FTC program and more sponsors are getting on board.

Finally, Jon Dudas started with FIRST as President just last week. Great to have him aboard. You'll undoubtedly see him at some FTC events this year.

More to follow, sooner next time!
Ken

LEGO Denmark

2010-06-10T11:35:00.004-04:00

The FTC "off season" continues to be full of great work. I spent last week in Billund, Denmark holding talks with LEGO. The purpose of the trip was to present our goals for the program and to talk about areas where LEGO may be able to help us grow.

The meetings were a success. Both groups now have a much better understanding of our respective objectives and how we can cooperate.

In the future you'll start to see FTC growing in other countries. Having a distribution partner like LEGO allows us to get the necessary products where they need to be. LEGO's history of developing and producing high quality products, and their ability to create high value learning experiences, are a great fit with the goals of FTC.

The folks in Denmark were great. We had the chance to understand not only LEGO's culture but a bit about Danish culture too.

Above is a shot of the LegoLand Hotel where we stayed - a nice reminder that we're all in this for the kids and a big part of that is making the FTC experience a fun one.

FTC Sponsor Summit

2010-05-19T13:40:00.002-04:00

Just a quick note to fill you in on the first annual FTC Sponsor Summit meeting held yesterday at PTC headquarters in Needham, MA. Rockwell Collins, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems and PTC all attended.

We spent over six hours sharing with them the vision for FTC while they shared with FTC and FIRST their ideas and offers to help us realize the vision.

It was a great connection and we're really fortunate to have such great sponsors.

Some things to look for next season include a rev'd up FTC kickoff, more grants for teams, and more visibility of FTC both within the FIRST family of programs and abroad.

We'll be running international pilot events and further expanding the international presence that FTC enjoyed this season.

Lot's of great stuff going on during the "off-season"

Stay tuned!
Ken

Patch to update RobotC through August

2010-05-13T14:18:00.003-04:00

I posted earlier in response to a number of emails we got regarding the expiration of the license for RobotC. The 2009/2010 season license ran out at the start of this month.

Why did it run out?

The business model that Carnegie Mellon Robotics employs (the developers of RobotC) is based on software licensing. The commercial arrangement they've made with PITSCO, distributor of the FTC kit, is based on some amount of money for each FTC kit sold. The FTC kit includes the season license for RobotC.

The FTC business model is a hybrid falling somewhere between the FLL and FRC models. As you probably know the FLL kit is wholly a LEGO set of parts, which LEGO offers to registered FLL teams.

The FRC kit is a combination of parts from a variety of sponsors who donate and/or discount parts and vendors that sell FIRST parts. FIRST kits these and arranges logistics to ship about 2,000 FRC kits to arrive to teams at kickoff.

The FTC kit is a combination of parts from PITSCO, LEGO, Carnegie Mellon Robotics, National Instruments, and HiTechnic. PITSCO is the "general contractor" to pull together these parts and ship them to teams eligible to buy them after registering with FIRST. PITSCO also developed the actual TETRIX portion of the FTC kit.

All in all this system works pretty well to provide a kit with enough variety and capability to give our teams the raw material they need to solve the annual challenge or game.

Each of these commercial partners believes in FIRST and the mission. Each also has to make some return on their investment to justify developing, manufacturing, and supporting their part of the overall kit.

You can probably see areas where this causes friction, but for the most part it works pretty well.

So - now that we've come all the way around the barn - what can we do to support RobotC events (workshops, scrimmages, etc.)?

The folks at Carnegie Mellon have agreed to offer a bridge to get teams, coaches, and mentors to the next season by providing a patch. If you go to this website http://www.robotc.net/ftc/ you can extend your current version of RobotC through August.

Thanks to the people at CMU Robotics.

Talk soon,
Ken

Ideas for FTC kickoff

2010-05-12T14:15:00.002-04:00

FTC Nation is preparing for a variety of things including the AP conference, 2010/2011 game design, launch of the new Samantha WiFi module, and a huge influx of FTC teams in Texas. Thank goodness for the off season.

In addition we're also thinking about FTC kickoff. This year that will happen Saturday, September 11th.

In past years we've released the game animation video with commentary from myself and several others. We encouraged our Partners to hold regional kickoffs with their teams and unveil the game there too. Last year there were 17 of these regional kickoffs.

This year we want to amp it up a bit more.

Post some ideas on what you'd like to see for the FTC kickoff. We've got a great opportunity to carve out a kickoff that's fun and exciting without being tied to any existing "cook book."

If you're an adult reading this - make sure you ask your teams. One comment I recently got back is "we need to stop asking the adults what the kids want - let's just ask the kids!" I agree.

Thanks,
Ken

RobotC Expiration

2010-05-07T11:14:00.004-04:00

The team license for RobotC expired at the start of May. This has put several volunteers at a significant disadvantage in planning/executing workshops and other events.

I am working with the Carnegie Mellon folks now to try and arrange a fix for this.

One patch type fix is downloading the free 30 day trial from the RobotC/CMU site for the new version 2.02. Programs that you developed on version 2.01 (last seasons version) will work on 2.02.

More to follow... but don't stop holding workshops, scrimmages, and other FTC events this summer!

Ken

FTC Outreach

2010-05-06T10:56:00.003-04:00

All,

Just a couple thoughts on how we reach out to new FTC teams. I'll take any feedback you care to share in the comments section.

We've been experimenting with different forms of outreach here at FTC. With a small staff and limited resources we have to "pick our spots" with regard to larger scale activities.

At this point I'm pretty confident saying that most teams get involved in FTC through word-of-mouth. Teams that have experienced FIRST and FTC are the best advertisements for the program.

That method is great - and it's really how FIRST has grown to date - but there are ways to get more folks involved. The FIRST mission is to change the world by inspiring the next generation of technology leaders... and the sooner the better.

This year FTC exhibited at the NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) Conference in Philadelphia. We collected many "leads" from interested teachers, followed up with some information, and sent these contacts to the appropriate Affiliate Partners. We're also participating in the Boy Scout Jamboree later this summer. Some 43,000 Boy Scouts will have a chance to see what FTC's all about including getting their hands on robots.

We've been asked, and will speak at a few events that should pull in more technical volunteers and sponsors.

We're expanding in India, China, and a few other selected regions. Right now Nancy Paul, one of our Partner Services Managers, is in Taiwan working with new potential Affiliate Partners.

Lot's of stuff going on. Part of all this is to measure the return on effort/expense with regard to how effective we are at attracting new teams, volunteers, etc.

If you're taking part in any of these activities yourself give us some feedback and let us know what's working. If you've got any great ideas share them here.

Thanks,
Ken

HotShot Lives

2010-05-03T17:24:00.002-04:00

Thought you all might want to know that HotShot lives on.

Tomorrow, May 4th, India will rollout a seven team pilot event using HotShot as the game. Thanks to a partnership between NRB Bearings, and PTC, seven kits, a full field, and the HotShot game was shipped to India for the pilot.

The initial response in India was overwhelming. In one region over 3,900 students applied for just 30 openings on three FTC teams.

Cost is always an issue, and India faces more economic hurdles than many regions. Scaling up FTC in India presents several challenges however the tremendous interest there is a great starting point.

Registration Opens Tomorrow

2010-05-02T08:36:00.001-04:00

Don't forget to register with FTC starting tomorrow. This season registration is again $275 per team. Also keep an eye out in your area for off season FTC events. Contact your local Affiliate Partner for any that are in your area