FTC!!!!!!!!

Our whole FTC kit came in yesterday. We have both the Lego NXT and full Tetrix kits. I thought the Tetrix was backordered but was wrong.

Student Generated Money (thus far)

You have (through a very very generous parent donation and a handfull of very generous donations and numerous $1 bills) collected $2505 for the robotics club!  This (and other money you collect like this) will be the last money we spend as it can carry over into next year.

Info about cRIO

Kickoff!!

Almost the whole team (31 students) met in my classroom at 5:45 am this morning to travel to Mountlake Terrace High School for the kickoff video and brainstorming. Then we came back to the classroom for a pancake breakfast and brainstorming. We finally broke up after 3 pm and will meet again on Sunday mroning for robot construction and more brainstorming. Aside from the very early start it was a fantastic day and FIRST Raiders FRC is off and running!  Watch the intro game video and whole insprirational FIRST video is online. Download the game rules, too.

Programming Class

The second of the programming classes dealing with Autonomous mode will be held at the UW on Jan 15th. This is a good idea for those doing C++ code on their robots and wish to see where to stick Autonomous mode in. This is intended for students and mentors.

From: Ashoat Tevosyan
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 4:22 PM
Subject: FIRST Robotics Programming Workshop

Hi everyone,

Happy New Year! I hope everyone is preparing well for the upcoming build season!

I'm writing to remind everyone about the FIRST Robotics Programming Workshop we have scheduled at the University of Washington on the 15th of this month. So far only two groups have responded, and the registration (https://edumail.seattleschools.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://www.cs.washington.edu/diversity/FIRST.html) closes this Monday. This workshop will be focusing on programming autonomous mode, an invaluable skill for the upcoming competition.

We urge you all to attend and RSVP as soon as possible!

Thanks,
Ashoat

More Kickoff News

Greetings Rookies:

Kickoff is this Saturday, January 8^th!

Bring your Consent and Release Forms with you to your Local Kickoff.  Team Leaders are responsible for printing team rosters from TIMS and then stapling any hard copies to this printed roster.  If you have any questions, please visit our website at: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=8128&terms=consent.

Rookies must image their Classmates for them to work.  Your rookie kit will contain a classmate.  The classmates ship without an operating system.  You will need to use the USB key (included in the Kit of Parts) to install the image before it can be used.

Make sure you read the manual: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=452

Don’t forget to take inventory of your Kit of Parts (KoP) after Kickoff:

After receiving and checking all items in your Kit of Parts (KOP), should you determine you are missing a part(s), or need a replacement part(s) you must use the FIRST "Replacement Parts Request" system to order replacements.

Parts requests will be handled through this online system only.

The Replacement Parts Request system will be accessible via the Team Information Management System (TIMS) at noon (Eastern Time) on Saturday, January 8.

To begin the process of submitting a Replacement Parts Request, team Main or Alternate contacts will:

• Login to TIMS
  
• On the right side of the Team Summary page, under the "What’s New" header, click on the link to "Submit a Replacement Parts Request HERE"
  
• Follow TIMS instructions to complete a Replacement Parts Request

VERY IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!!

This is a "one time only" opportunity to submit a Replacement Parts Request. Please make sure your request is both accurate and complete prior to pressing the "Confirm Request" button.

Once the request is submitted and confirmed there can be no changes to it.

Replacement Parts Requests will be processed and shipped to teams in a timely manner. Please make sure your Shipping Contact information is accurate and complete in TIMS as this is to whom the parts will be shipped.

Please note the system will not allow teams to request a quantity of parts higher than the number originally sent with the KOP. This system is also not to be used to order additional or purchased parts.

Deadline Date and Time
All requests must be placed by 8:00 PM ET on Wednesday, January 12th, 2011.

FIRST^® Choice site opens for ordering Kit of Part (KoP) items on January 10, 2011.  For more information, visit our website: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=18619

You will need to bring a list of all student medical needs to all competitions.  Make sure you have parent permission to tend to students needs if there is an emergency.

We’re here to help:
If you have any questions, please contact Team Support at frcteams@usfirst.org or 1-800-871-8326, “0” – they are eager to help you during this rookie season!

Go Rookies!

FRC Team Support

FIRST^® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)

200 Bedford Street

Manchester, NH 03101

Phone: (603) 666-3906  Fax: (603) 666-3907

http://www.usfirst.org

Kickoff Specifics

Greetings FRC Teams,

Are you ready?! 4 Days, 6 Hours and 29 minutes to kickoff!!!

I for one, am VERY excited and can’t wait to see all of you.    If you are receiving this email it is because I show you attending the Mountlake Terrace Kickoff.  Your kit has been shipped to our location and we are planning on you. 

A few quick reminders about kickoff….

21801 44th Ave W
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043

Doors open at 6:30.  There is PLENTY of parking at the high school (around the back of the building if needed) but PLEASE DO NOT park in the visitor parking (it will be coned off)  We are leaving that area open for when you load your kits.  PLEASE remember to bring a cart of some sort.  One adult and 2 students will be allowed to pick up the kits.

We will be offering donuts, coffee, chocolate milk and other breakfast like items for reasonable prices.  Please do not take food into the gym or classrooms.

When you arrive, there will be a team registration table.  Please have ONLY ONE mentor/coach check in for your entire team.    Teams MUST bring their TIMS-generated roster of students and mentors that have signed-up using the electronic consent form OR the signed paper consent form for each student and mentor at the event. No consent form means no admittance. See TIMS for details.

You will receive your kit pick up time when you register.

Opening ceremonies start at 7:10.  Live kickoff feed is at 7:30.

After the live feed is over, we will go to classrooms for brainstorming.  If you are NOT a rookie team coach, I will be asking each of you to get the brainstorming going in your classroom.  To make sure I have an experienced mentor in every class room, you will receive a class room number for yourself when you check in.  *Please note, this is NOT a classroom for your team to go brainstorm….Students will take numbers as they enter the gym that will give them their breakout room number. This will hopefully ensure a good mix of veterans and rookie students and ensure an experienced mentor in each room.

***Do we have any ROOKIE teams interested in a kit bot build class?  It would run from 11-4 and would cost your team $40.00 (due in cash that day)  lunch would be ordered for those attending at the cost of $5.00 per person.  I need to hear from you VERY SOON if you are interested in this!!

Please feel free to email me with any questions. 

GO TEAMS!!

~Lindy Baker

FIRSTWA Program Coordinator

206-418-6679 Office

425-239-9010 Cell

P.S. Does your team have a chant they are known for? Ie; “What time is it?...488!!” or “CHILL….OUT!!”?  Please let me know.  ~thank you

Students signed up include:

Bettty
Kaeley
Eric
Matt
Kelsey
Sam
Jesse

Those of you (the rest of you) whose names are not listed here have incomplete applications and will not be able to attend Saturday's kickoff  or any of the other FIRST events unless you complete your application.

Encripted Manual Download

Greetings Rookies:

Download your encrypted Game Manual ASAP:

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=452

The FRC Game Manual will be released in encrypted form early next week.  Download it as soon as you can.  The encryption code will be announced during the Kickoff broadcast.  With the encryption code, you can gain access to the Game Manual right away.  If you wait until after the broadcast to download the unencrypted version, your team may run into difficulties and loose time if the website is busy.

You can test the decryption process right away by visiting the 2011 Decryption test page on our website http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=11570 and following the directions.

The FRC Administrative Manual (Sections 1-6) is available now.  It is a good idea to download and read it now.  The Administrative sections contain information that you will need during the season, so familiarizing yourself with the manual will save time and trouble in the future

Save yourself some trouble:

Rookie teams from last year stressed the importance of understanding FRC rules are rules, not guidelines.  The weight is a limit.  The size is a limit, the wiring requirements are requirements, the robot shipping rules are rules.  If you read the FRC manual and check the Team Updates twice weekly (http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=450, you improve your team’s chance for success.

We’re here to help:

If you have any questions, please contact Team Support at frcteams@usfirst.org or 1-800-871-8326, “0” – they are eager to help you during this rookie season!

Go Rookies!

FRC Team Support

FIRST^® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)

200 Bedford Street

Manchester, NH 03101

Phone: (603) 666-3906  Fax: (603) 666-3907

http://www.usfirst.org