Calling all FTC innovators!

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

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)

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?

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

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?

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!