Don't be blocked out-register now

I’d like to remind you that there are 3 days left to register your FTC team(s) for a second FTC event (or first event if that is the case).

The December events are full with waiting lists but so far we have room at Highland Park, Marion, Argenta and Batavia.

The second round of registration goes much faster.  Note, registration closes on 10/25 and then opens to out of state teams. Indiana had 75 out of state teams(from 6 states) apply for 10 slots at their regional tournament and after Nov 5, I predict that all slots will be filled.

See http://www.ilfirst.org/ftc/teams/ftcregistration.html to register soon.

3 scrimmages in Nov-Get your Blocks in a row

Barrington Fall Classic: FTC Scrimmage

Date:	Saturday, November 9, 2013
TImes:	Pits open at 7 AM, Competition starts at 9 AM, and ends at approximately 2 PM
Venue:	Barrington High School Student Cafeteria
Address:	616 West Main Street (Lake/Cook Road), Barrington, IL  60015 (note the cafeteria is in the front of the building near the flagpole)
Contact:	Tom Bredemeier tbredemeier@barrington220.org
:	to register http://bit.ly/BarringtonFallClassic

McKinley Park Block Party: FTC Scrimmage and Robot Clinic

This year its going to be a real (block) party in Illinois!   One of our veteran teams is offering a Scrimmage for teams who will be ready to test their robot creations in a friendly competition.  They are also offering a Robot Clinic for anyone who could use a little help.  There is a small fee (see below) to help defray the cost of hosting the event.  Please mark your calendars and hope to see you there!  http://roboconchicago.com/scrimmage/

Location:		HSA McKinley Park 2245 W Pershing Rd Chicago, IL 60609
Date:		Friday, November 15, 2013
Tentative Schedule:
	4:00 PM 4:30-5:00 PM 5:00-9:00 PM	Doors open Team registration and Samantha Flashing Matches
Robot Clinic Tentative Schedule:
	4:00 PM 4:30-5:00 PM 5:00-9:00 PM	Doors open Team registration Robot Clinic
Contact:		akgul@cmsaonline.net

Event Name: " WildStang FTC Tune-up Scrimmage"

Date: Saturday, November 30, 2013

Times:  Pits open at 9 AM, Competition starts at 10:15 AM, and ends at approximately 5 PM.

Venue: Rolling Meadows High School

Address: 2901 Central Rd, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Contact: Any questions please feel free to email us at Wildstang.FTC.2013@Gmail.com

Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1bFCqYD2kIjp9cMPtNvLp_Ua3tlGk-nsLFKlP8fco0uQ/viewform

Cost $30 

Illinois FIRST FTC Registration now open

1. http://www.ilfirst.org/ftc/teams/ftcregistration.html Start here

2. Click on Illinois First FTC Registration

3. Login screen-click-register here

4. Setup your profile (edit profile) with address and contact info

5. Now you are ready to register (more things to fill out) and pay

How to be a better FTC Team Mate-What Can I do now

Study

a.      the game video http://youtu.be/UPAATO-NpcM?t=2m16s,b.      study the two parts of the game manual(download the pdf from http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc/game) ,c.       study the online forums http://ftcforum.usfirst.org/forum.php where all of the details parts of the game or reviewed. Every team needs to have a legal expert there are often controversies at events and it helps to have somebody who knows the rules inside and out.

2.      Learn to program-robot C. 

• You can learn Robot C at home, on your own,  right now. http://www.education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/previews/robot_c_products/teaching_rc_tetrix_preview/index.html    
• Check out the Virtual RobotC Worlds at CS2N https://www.cs2n.org/activities/cs2n-learn/robotc-programming-for-ftc-teamshttp://www.robotvirtualworlds.com/curriculumcompanion/ 
• The virtual world has a “block party” game field setup for you to work with as an online virtual programming challenge. 

Learn Labview. 

• http://www.ni.com/pdf/manuals/372668f.pdf LabView is an industrial tool in wide use in all tech industries today.  LabView runs modern factories. Self Training Videos http://www.ni.com/academic/students/learn/  (note most FTC teams use RobotC )

4.      Download PTC for your home computer.

• PTC has weekly lessons on how to be a PTCdesigner. See Robotalk.  This is a weekly webinar with Q&A Session offered by PTC from September through November to all FIRST teams. To register for the weekly seminar see http://www.ptc.com/appserver/wcms/standards/free.jsp?&im_dbkey=150516&icg_dbkey=841  I deally, every team should have a CAD oriented design for their robot. This can give your team the ability to pre -build your robot on the computer before you waste time design building it.

5.      Do some research on the computer;

•  study  youtube videos of  FTC robots,  taking pictures of or  copying down drivetrain options.  Analyze the benefits of each? Diagram them. Look at and study lifting mechanisms, arms.

6.      Find the VEX youtube videos 

• when their competition used blocks- how did they solve problems? Take screen shots? Diagram parts.

Suggestions to make building a field set up go faster

Welcome to the block party !
I built 4 fields, the first two took almost 10 hours plus a few more hours for painting, The next two went faster but I still need a few hours of painting. 

1.  Can’t decide if one should paint first- build second. Paint first- lots of flat pieces of wood. Paint second might make cutting easier but lots of corners and details to paint.I
2. IF the field is not going to be moved and taken apart-skip the metal inserts  H6.  Use 2 ½ or longer screws to hold everything together. Read page 14! Before you proceed without inserts.
3.    I found that a power drill hex driver made using the threaded inserts much more pleasant
4.  Note you can use 8- 10 foot 2X4 which are much cheaper than 12 foot ones-Might have some waste but if cost is a factor.
5.   Clamp the uprights-page 24 esp if using insert
6. Clamp the balance arm frame-when building the box

FTC "Ask an Expert" Call on Google Hangout

FTC Mentoring 101

Date: September 09, 2013 7 P.M. ET  ( 6 P.M. Central time )

Register to attend: FIRST Tech Challenge Google+ Hangout

Expert: Jill Wilker, FTC Affiliate Partner, Northern California

Overview: Join Jill Wilker, the Northern California FTC Affiliate Partner, as she talks through important aspects of leading your FTC Team.  This webinar is a great opportunity to learn more about the program and ask questions about mentoring your team.

Update:  The video recording of this Google+ Hangout has been posted on  https://www.youtube.com/firsttechchallenge

FTC kickoff workshops hosted by teams in Illinois

4-H RoboStorm's FTC Kick Start

Saturday, September 14, 2013

12:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

University of Illinois, Macon County Extension office

3351 N. President Howard Brown Boulevard

Decatur, IL 62521

Contact: ftc5202@gmail.com

Chicago Northside Kickoff Worskhop

Saturday, September 14, 2013

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Chicago Math and Science Academy  

7212 N Clark St  

Chicago, IL 60626

http://roboconchicago.com/2013start/

Contact: akgul@cmsaonline.net

Chicago Southside Kickoff Worskhop

Saturday, September 14, 2013

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m

Richard J Daley Academy 

5024 S. Wolcott

Chicago IL. 60609

Contact: octagon.robotics@gmail.com

The Art of Failure-How FTC Changes Lives-Dr. Woody Flowers and Students

How Building Robots Captivates Kids' Imaginations (Is School Enough? Series) http://youtu.be/bL-SrNJ0ZP     There are only 4 seasons of the year my friend, build season, competition season, post-season and pre-season ( a tweet from got robot? - FTC Team #5037 )

 If you need help with programming- try Robot C-great learning resources.http://www.robotc.net/teachingmindstorms/ 

Are you counting down? To Kick off

Note- Il First has 2 kick-off events scheduled for 9/14 (see the field elements).  One event on the northside (Chicago Math and Science Academy (CMSA) 7212 N. Clark St.) and one on the southside of Chicago (address to follow). Kickoff events in Southern Illinois are coordinated with our Missouri friends. Events might also occur in Decater.

“Build a Better Bot” from the 2013 FTC World Champions?-Registration info

Do you want to learn how to “Build a Better Bot” from the 2013 FTC World Champions?

If your answer is YES!, then you are invited to attend an FTC robotics workshop led by Cougar Robotics, FTC Team #4251.  Cougar Robotics was this year’s captain of the FTC World Champion Alliance and winner of the Asia Pacific Invitational.

When: August 31^st, 9am – 4pm

Where:  East Troy Middle School        3143 Graydon Avenue     East Troy, WI  53120

Hosted by:  The Patronum Bots, FTC Team #5972

What to bring:                 

•  Last season’s robot            Tools/spare parts
•  Programming laptop – focus will be on RobotC, but programming concepts can be applied to Labview
•  Safety Glasses         Other equipment will be recommended - details to follow (i.e. empty spray bottle, power-pole connectors)

What to expect:

•  No fee for the workshop
•  Workshop will include presentation segments by Cougar Robotics followed by hands-on time to apply concepts being discussed
•  Space is available for ~15 teams/125 people so don’t wait to register

Food:  More details will follow about lunch options and cost

How to register:  Click HERE to fill out the registration form – registration will close August 17^th or when we have reached capacity for the event

Questions? Contact Us: Shawn or Meg Hunter - easttroyrobotics@gmail.com

Build a better Robot Seminar- meet the World Champion in Kenosha, Wisconsin

FTC Teams:

Cougar Robotics, one of this year's FTC World Champion teams, is interested in having a hands-on seminar focused on "How to Build a Better Bot" in our area (Southeast Wisconsin).  The tentative date for this seminar would be either Saturday, August 31st or Sunday, September 1st.  I am writing to see if your team would be available on that weekend and also if your team would have an interest in attending the 6-8 hour event?

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1xRb4n4c_tKEH3OkTAOCnU14J6MCFJUrHPdnJ5jcdI10/viewform

Please RSVP by Monday Aug 5- Sorry for the late notice

Time to register, Season info

Thank-you to all the veteran teams who have already signed up for another season of exciting FTC competition, learning and fun.  If you have not yet signed up, please do so.

FTC is the fastest growing FIRST Robotics program.  To keep up with that amazing growth, adjustments are being made at the state, national and world levels.

In Illinois, we have adjusted our season schedule to fit the national model.  Here is an outline of this season’s dates:
Sept 7, 2013:  Worldwide Kickoff and game release.
Sept 14, 2013: IL State Kickoff workshops (save the date!).
Dec 7, 2013 to Feb 8, 2014:  Qualifying events.
Feb 22, 2013: State Championship.
April 2013: Super-Regionals in Iowa
April 23-26, 2013: FIRST World Championship

This year, all Illinois FTC teams will be allowed to compete at two qualifying events.   We also plan to hold several unofficial scrimmages throughout the state so teams can get more practice.  If your team would like to host a scrimmage in your area, please contact khall@usfirst.org.

There are still some $500 rookie grants available, if you know of anyone interested in starting an FTC team this year, please be sure to send them here: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc/grow

John Deere and PTC have released their FTC grants for this year.  If you qualify, please apply before the specified deadlines.
http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US/corporate/our_company/citizenship/john_deere_inspire/jdi.page
http://www.ptc.com/appserver/wcms/forms/index.jsp?&im_dbkey=130376&icg_dbkey=482

The kits are currently shipping and with the rapid growth, we recommend you order early.  Also, be sure to double check your Samantha module and order a replacement or a spare.

Illinois FIRST has a new website: http://www.ilfirst.org/ .  Navigate to the FTC portion and take a look around.  If you have photos, stories or news articles about your team, please send those to khall@usfirst.org and we will do our best to feature them on your state website.

The IL FTC Co-partner and the Senior Mentor are experimenting with a blog, http://ftcillinois.blogspot.com/ .  Please take some time to look through the blog and give us your feedback and suggestions for how to improve FTC in our state.  Your comments will be reviewed before making them public.

Finally, if your team is facing unusual hardship, please contact khall@usfirst.org.  The Illinois team will do all we can to help your team!

FTC Robotics in the News- Read more

Robotics contest gets kids excited about science  (click to see some photos) BY PHIL ROCKROHR

FIRST Tech Challenge robotics competitions are so popular that some 150 students from six states and Romania converged here last weekend — during summer vacation — to do battle.  “What I am most amazed at is this is what they want to do with their time off,” said Tom Bredemeier, a computer science teacher at Barrington High School, who took one of his school’s 10 teams to the event held at Deerfield High School.

It almost didn’t matter that Fish in the Boat, the World Champions from Minnesota, tied with Barrington’s That’s a Good Question team for first place.  What seemed to matter more was the joy of designing, building, programming and operating their own robots to complete tasks designated in the competition.  It is no coincidence that FIRST is an acronym for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.

Asked why he is spending his summer vacation in a high school gym operating robots, sophomore A.J. Priola first explained how he and friend J.J. Xu petitioned to launch the robotics team at Barrington High School and how they spent countless hours in Bredemeier’s lab every day after school.

Roshaan Siddqui, a seventh-grader at Chicago Math and Science Academy said: “I want to be a computer engineer. I can get a scholarship doing this.”

Jonathan Weiland, a biology teacher and robotics mentor at Highland Park High School, confirmed that Siddqui is not exaggerating. The FTC awards between about $15 million in scholarships each year, Weiland said. Last year one of every three robotics students who applied received a scholarship, he said. “Of the 10,000 students I’ve taught at Highland Park in 10 years, about five or 10 turned professional in sports,” Weiland said. “But we’ve sent thousands of kids to high-powered science and engineering schools. We know every kid on this field today will be successful professionally.” 

Dan Green, executive director of Illinois FIRST, said the goal of FTC is simply to get kids as excited about technology as they usually are about sports.

---

Copyright © 2013 — Sun-Times Media, LLC

The new game rules?

Did you check  out the new game rules? 

Some very interesting tweaks. Game Manual Part 1

 Some  highlights 

1. Springs of any type and material (coil, extension, compression, leaf, etc.)that are used in a safe manner.
2. . Wheels of any type up to 4” diameter. Wheels that have exposed features likely to cause damage to field and/or 
3. Pulleys including sheaves, timing belt, etc

Taste of Chicago-A Great Event for FIRST Teams

Taste of Chicago-A Great Event for FIRST Teams

Wed 7/10 Thursday 7/11 Friday 7/12, 10am-4pm

Join the other Illinois FIRST programs at the Family Center of Taste Chicago

This is a fun time to share the joy of FIRST FTC to the general public,  All you need is some pads and your robot! Your welcome to bring the game elements but kids want to drive robots or see the robots driving.  Also, you will get reduce prices for Taste Tickets.

If you and your team can attend- please email me jweiland1@gmail.com

taste of chicago                                                                                       http://www.ilfirst.org/ftc/ 

FIRST teams build communities that grow people

FIRST teams build communities that grow people. Robot teams build robots and compete.  They are VERY different!  We at ILFIRST will be working with experienced teams to host virtual and in-person workshops and support groups.  Since FIRST teams build communities, you should never feel like you are alone.  

Hello to the FTC teams in Illinois!

If you have not met me, I'm Keith Hall, the FIRST Senior Mentor for Illinois.  My role is to support the teams.  Experience has taught me that in a region as large as Illinois, it is an impossible job for just one person.

That's where FIRST Gracious Professionalism and Cooperatition shine.  Since there are so many teams and only a few FIRST staff members, the only way to make sure that teams get what they need to succeed is to encourage everyone make it a priority to help each other.

That help can be as simple as pointing the person to a web site that has the information they need.  It could also mean organizing several teams together to hold training, workshops, and even off-season scrimmages.   This doesn't have to be expensive.  For example, teams can schedule a room at the local libraries to learn about programming together.  Teams with fields can host short "check-up" clinics to help other teams and play a few practice rounds.  Several long-established teams already do these sorts of things, but to build a stronger FTC community we need more!

To locate teams in your area visit http://www.usfirst.org/whats-going-on  select teams, FTC, add a state, zip code and a distance.  Once you find the teams around you, if you are having difficulty making contact please let us know, we will make the introductions.

So if you are having issues, please let us know!  If you would like to help other teams, please let us know!  We all want to see all the teams give the judges some really tough choices at competitions, and see some really competitive robots!   Don't forget, the judges do give awards for community service and involvement. Get involved in creating your own FTC community in your area and inspire your students to excellence!

Anyone can learn robot c-see below

1.     Learn Robot C http://www.robotc.net/wiki/Tutorials/Getting_Started/Getting_Started_with_NXT_and_TETRIX

2.     The Robot C web lessons with video tutorials http://www.education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/previews/robot_c_products/teaching_rc_tetrix_preview/index.html

3. Earn a ROBOTC Student Certification this Summer for FREE! Don't forget - Free ROBOTC Live Trainings Start this Week!  Every student who completes a ROBOTC Summer of Learning course will have the opportunity to take a ROBOTC Student Certification Exam! This certificate will represent a student’s programming and robot problem solving accomplishments.

Throughout the summer course, the student will earn badges as they successfully complete challenges. Each badge contains information to help others understand what a student knows: who awarded it, who recognizes it, when they earned it, links to example student code, their videos, their scores, the types of questions they answered, or other information designed to show off their accomplishments.  At the very end of the course, students will have the opportunity to take an exam. This certification exam will consist of 125 questions to be completed in 100 minutes. Students will need to earn a score of 70% or higher in order to earn the certification.

Every student enrolled in one of our Robotics Summer of Learning class will have the option of taking the ROBOTC for LEGO or the ROBOTC for VEX student certification exam. Sign up for a class today: