2010 FRC Game Announced – BREAKAWAY
Well AIR Strikers, the 2010 FRC challenge BREAKAWAY has been announced. Our kickoff this past Saturday was a great success. 50 students, mentors, and family members gathered at Building 80 to view the kickoff live from Manchester, NH. After viewing the game animation, students broke into groups to analyze the game and understand its’ rules and constraints.
At our meeting today, students recapped our kickoff meeting for members not in attendance on Saturday. We discussed the many ways to play this game and our top priorities for design. Students then broke up into mechanical, electrical, programming, and strategy sub-groups.
Summary:
Two alliances of three teams each compete on a 27′ x 54′ field with bumps attempting to earn points by collecting soccer balls in their goals. Additional bonus points are earned for each robot not touching the field at the end of the match.
Robots:
• Dimensions at start of game 28″ x 38″ x 60″
• Max. dimensions during last 20 seconds of game not to exceed 7′ in diameter or 90″ in height.
•Weight not to exceed 120 lbs., excluding batteries and bumpers.
Simplified Game Play Rules:
• Robots may not possess more than one ball at a time, but they may herd and kick multiple balls at a time. Balls must remain in contact with the floor while in robot’s possession.
• Alliances must return scored balls to the field quickly.
• Only one robot at a time is permitted to play defense in front of the opponent’s goals.
Link to the game animation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex90Aw4PdAI&feature=player_embedded
Link to rules: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=452
Our meeting schedule this week is Monday through Thursday, 6:00 pm to 8:45 pm at Building 2 on the Naval Station. Saturday we will be meeting from 12-4 at Building 2 and then go over to Building 80 for a game night! The game night is for our FRC team members to get to know each other. More details later this week. ALL STUDENTS SHOULD BE READING THE RULES! Especially section 7 about the game.
If families or students have any questions, please reply to this email.
Great kickoff everyone!
For AIR student members that are on FIRST Robotics Team 78, AIR Strike, please take the time to fill out the release form in the FIRST Student Team Members&Parents/Legal Guardians Information System. Once you register, please have a parent or guardian complete their section. If you have any questions, please contact Rick Blight.
FIRST Student Team Members&Parents/Legal Guardians Information System
Below are all the important dates for AIR in January 2010. The calendar of events may change. Please check the calendar page regularly.
FIRST Lego League
- January 9, 2010 – RI FLL State Championship
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Roger Williams University
One Old Ferry Road
Bristol, RI 02809
FIRST Tech Challenge
- January 2, 2010 – All Day Meeting
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Building 2 - Build Meetings
Sundays: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Mondays: 6:00 PM – 8:45 PM
Building 2 - January 15, 2010 – Delaware Travel Decision Deadline
Contact Mike DeSousa or Rick Blight - January 27, 2010 – Delaware Pack Up
6:00 PM – 8:45 PM
Building 2 - January 29 – 31, 2010 – Delaware State FTC Championship
FIRST Robotics Competition
- January 9th, 2010 – FRC Season Kickoff
9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Building 80 UCTOC
No food will be provided. Please bring your own snacks/bag lunch (refrigerator and microwave available). - Build Meetings
Monday through Thursday: 6:00 PM – 8:45 PM
Saturdays: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sundays: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM - January 22, 2010 – BAE Regional Travel Decision Deadline
Contact Sue Violet
FIRST Tech Challenge Team 121, Rhode Rage, will make the trip down to Delaware for the event scheduled on January 30, 2010. This is the third year Rhode Rage has traveled to an out-of-state event and the second year we have left the tri-state area. Last year, Rhode Rage traveled to the New Jersey FTC Championship and won. This year we were unable to register due to the influx of New Jersey teams.
Rhode Rage plans on attending three state championships this year: Delaware, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Since the Rhode Island championship of 2008, the team has won their last three state championships, each time being the first seed or the first pick. The team is on track to continue its success with robot design innovations not yet seen on robots this year.
The meeting minutes have been updated on our Meeting Info page. We are now current on all meeting minutes. Interested and new members may find the information from our meetings useful. Missing agendas will be updated soon.
This is a must read for all members who would like to help build a robot on any of our teams. Take the time to read this white paper. White paper available here. Excerpt from the introduction:
Introduction
This paper is designed to provide a basic understanding of the engineering design process and how to apply it to design of a competition robot. Though the engineering design process can be implemented in a variety of ways, this paper will highlight one particular method. This paper is targeted primarily at beginners but may also be useful for more advanced designers.
About the Author
John Vielkind-Neun has been involved in competition robotics since he was in 11th Grade at Shenendehowa High School in upstate New York. He attended Clarkson University and graduated with a BSME in 2005. Out of college John accepted a job working for Innovation First International as a Mechanical Engineer and relocated to Greenville, TX. He is actively involved as a mentor and lead engineer for Greenville Independent School District Robotics – the “Robowranglers” Team #148.
The SEAP application deadline is January 8, 2010. From http://seap.asee.org/:
The Science and Engineering Apprentice Program (SEAP) provides an opportunity for students to participate in research at a Department of Navy (DoN) laboratory during the summer.
The goals of SEAP are to encourage participating students to pursue science and engineering careers, to further their education via mentoring by laboratory personnel and their participation in research, and to make them aware of DoN Research and technology efforts, which can lead to employment within the DoN.
SEAP provides competitive research internships to approximately 250 high school students each year. Participating students spend eight weeks during the summer doing research at approximately 15 DoN laboratories.
Program Details
The apprentice program is designed to encourage students to pursue science and engineering careers; acquaint qualified high school students with the activities of Department of Defense (DoD) laboratories through summer science and engineering research experiences; to provide students with opportunities in and exposure to scientific and engineering practice and personnel not available in their school environment; to expose those students to DoD research and engineering activities and goals in a way that encourages a positive image and supportive attitude toward our defense community; and to prepare these students to serve as positive role models for their peers by encouraging other high school students to take more science and math courses. SEAP places academically talented high school students with interest and ability in science and mathematics as apprentices in DoD laboratories for eight weeks during the summer. These students work with scientists and engineers who act as mentors. The program offers students a unique and positive experience in their fields of interest, thus encouraging them to pursue careers in science and engineering.
Eligibility Requirements
- High school students who have completed at least Grade 9. A graduating senior is eligible to apply
- Must be 16 years of age for most laboratories. Some laboratories may accept a 15 year old applicant. Please check individual lab description for more details.
- Applicants must be US citizens and participation by Permanent Resident Aliens is limited. Please check individual lab descriptions for participation of Permanent Resident Aliens.
Award Duration and Stipend
* Participating students spend 8 weeks during the summer doing research. Program dates are fixed and cannot be changed. Students are expected to participate 8 continuous weeks. No vacation time is allowed during these eight weeks.
* It is strongly recommended to apply to laboratories that are close to your residence. No travel/relocation allowance will be provided.
* The stipend amount for students will be $3000 for the 8 weeks, which will be paid in two installments. Returning students will receive $3500 for the 8 weeks. The first check will be distributed in the middle of the internship and the second check at the end of the internship.
The AIR Wall
: http://www.firstwiki.net/index.php/78#Robot
: Season three of American Robot starts soon!
: Getting ready for FRC!
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