FIRST Technology Challenge

A big crowd at Rethink Robotics checking out Baxter in August 2013. Ever wonder who the people are that come up with the annual FTC Game? Chaired by JoAnn Halloran, FTC Program Manager, the Game Design committee (or GDC) is made up of select volunteers who meet every week over the course of the year to plan and refine the Game before and after Kickoff in September. They research real world robots, up-and-coming technology innovations, and then design a game that can be accomplished by rookie and veteran teams with multiple scoring options. It is no easy task, but these hard-working volunteers truly love the challenge. The planning for the CASCADE EFFECT challenge started in September 2013 with a trip to Rethink Robotics to explore Baxter the manufacturing robot, as well as the Baresearch robot. The next day the GDC brainstormed four ideas which were developed a little, then reduced to three, then worked on more, then reduced to two, and then fully-developed before a decision was mad...

Photo:  Jurvetson /Creative Commons. Growing up in New England, one of my favorite parts of the holiday season is all the gorgeous lights. When I was little, my house had a really long driveway so we never bothered to put lights up. But my whole family would pile into the car and drive around town to look at and appreciate all the sparkling displays everyone else put up. During the darkest days of the year there’s something comforting and beautiful about having houses, shop displays, trees and bushes and lamp posts all covered in twinkling lights. It feels magical. Now if you’re wondering what this has to do with robots , we’ll get there. There is definitely a range of technology involved in light displays. Some people plug in an extension cord and others create this:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-y-SjYBfNc Have you ever seen an elaborate light show set to music? Feel free to post a video link in the comments section. Using lights, strobes, flood lights, cosmic color ribb...

FIRST Tech Challenge Teams design some awesome t-shirts. You might remember last year's winning design by Team 5086 the Chatham Hall Turtles: Back by popular demand, we are holding the 2 nd Annual FTC T-shirt design contest. The winning team will get bragging rights for having the coolest t-shirt of 2015 and also receive a prize from the FTC swagbag. Are you in?  Here's how to play: 1.  Send a picture of your Team's T-shirt to ftcteams(at)usfirst.org with your Team number, name and the words "T-shirt contest" in the subject line.   T-shirt designs must reflect our values of GP and those with vulgarity, innuendo, or obscenity will not be accepted.  (note: please coordinate with your team to make sure you only submit once) 2.  Submission Deadline: January 15, 2015 at 8:00 a.m. 3.  We'll upload the photos to an album on Facebook and the t-shirt with the most "points" by January 20, 2015 wins. Only 5 days for voting! How does my Team's shirt sco...

FIRST is an organization whose mission is to show students of every age that science, technology, and problem-solving are not only fun and rewarding, but are proven paths to successful careers and a bright future for us all.  Yet, for so many of us, FIRST touches so much more of our lives than just introducing us to a world of science and innovation. For George Marchant, FIRST has been a part of his life for fifteen years, ten of which was spent volunteering for FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC). His initial introduction to FTC was at its very inception. “When I heard about the demo event that was scheduled for the 2005 World Championship. FTC was always attractive to me as I see the entry cost of the FIRST Robotics Competition as a barrier to many school districts in lower income communities, or areas without major engineering sponsors.  I also think that FTC allows teams to be formed from groups outside the school system such as Girl Scouts, 4-H, or Home school organizations.”...

Picture this; you’re in the woods going on an easy hike. You have a backpack with snacks and a water bottle and maybe an emergency first aid kit, just in case. All of a sudden a big loping creature comes climbing up the hill after you. It’s the size of a deer and moves like a dog that prances. It’s Boston Dynamics BigDog and it’s carrying an enormous amount of bags and materials. BigDog is a dynamically stable quadruped robot that was created in 2005 by Boston Dynamics with Foster Miller, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Harvard University Concord Field Station. It can maneuver up and down hills, in leaves, in snow, and even on ice. An onboard computer receives input from sensors and manages locomotion, navigation, and balance. It was funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to act as a mechanical pack mule in terrain that is too rough for traditional vehicles with wheels or treads. Big Dog’s four legs function with the help of four low-friction hydra...

Kathie Kentfield and Jenny Beatty at the 2014 New England District Championship in Boston NEMO (Non-Engineering Mentor Organization) was formed twelve years ago when three FIRST Robotics Competition mentors started exchanging information on Chief Delphi, an online forum for FIRST teams.   They realized that even though they were from different areas of the country (California, Connecticut, and Maryland) their teams were experiencing the same struggles – how to plan travel, raise funds, and recruit more mentors among others.   And although there were plenty of resources available for technical topics, not as much existed to support the mentors dealing with the non-technical areas.   They decided to form a virtual organization to provide resources and support to mentors like themselves. Jenny Beatty, co-founder, is the organization’s Chief Learning Officer.   Kathie Kentfield, also a co-founder, is the organization’s Director.   Together they run NEMO.   “...