The team discussed the following data on this week's meeting:
* FIRST Robotics Competition - Kickoff: Overview
* FIRST Robotics Competition - Kickoff: Forms and Laptops
* FIRST Robotics Competition - Kickoff: Schedule
* FIRST Robotics Competition - Kickoff: Workshops
* FIRST Robotics Competition - Kickoff: Online Broadcast
* FIRST Robotics Competition: Events
* Robotics Membership Dues
1. FIRST Robotics Competition - Kickoff: Overview
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The spring season is almost here! We will participate in the FIRST Regional Competition during the second semester. FRC allows six weeks to build and ship a robot - after the ship date, a second robot is built to "practice and fine-tune" for the actual competition date. Students will collaborate to construct a robot that will compete with other teams' robots in a specified game. The FRC event is often considered to be the "big game" for the RoboLions - the FRC robot is on a much larger scale than the VEX robot and requires much more innovative ideas and skills.
We will participate in the Kickoff event on Saturday, January 8, at the Ferst Center for the Arts on Georgia Tech’s campus via carpool. Parents, please contact Mrs. Rutland if you are available to carpool during this all-day event.
Parents who are available for only certain periods of the day are also encouraged to attend and leave the event - it would be an exciting event for you and your student!
2. FIRST Robotics Competition - Kickoff: Forms and Laptops
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To participate in the Kickoff event, the team requests the attending members to obtain, get student and parent signatures, and return the following materials to Mrs. Rutland by this Friday:
- FIRST Consent and Release Form
- Georgia Tech RoboJacket Waiver
Member will not be allowed to participate in the Kickoff event if he or she does not return the signed forms to Mrs. Rutland by Friday, January 7.
It is also highly suggested for members to bring their laptops to this event; we will be use them to read the game and rules sections after the Kickoff ceremony.
3. FIRST Robotics Competition - Kickoff: Schedule
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Our current schedule for the event is:
- 8:45 AM - Gather at PRHS and leave for Ferst Center for the Arts via carpool by 9:00AM
..... (Please eat breakfast before arriving)
10:00 AM - Participate in the opening ceremony
12:00 PM - Game field viewing and Kit of Parts handout
12:30 PM - Lunch
..... (We will order pizza while downtown; please bring $5 to 7$ to cover the costs- in five and one dollar bills)
1:30 PM - Workshops begin
3:00~4:00 PM - Return home
4. FIRST Robotics Competition - Kickoff: Workshops
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We will participate in the RoboJacket workshops to learn and receive guidance on constructing the FRC robot. The workshops will be held at Klaus Advanced Computing Building, and the courses offered at the workshops will be:
Mechanical: Building the mechanical parts of the provided Kit of Parts
Electrical: Assembly of the electronics, wiring guide lines, basic cRIO setup, and a few pointers on past problems
Game play: Going over rules and discussing game play strategies
LabVIEW: A crash course of LabVIEW basics, vision, simple autonomy, and cRIO setup. Laptops will be provided during the workshop with LabVIEW so that groups may follow along.
Please note that members may attend only one workshop, and that most of our team will meet in a room to have our brainstorming session.
5. FIRST Robotics Competition - Kickoff: Online Broadcast
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For members whom are unable to attend, you will be able to watch the online broadcast of the Kickoff event through the NASA TV website. The video will be streamed live on the Public and Education Channels from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
Members are also encouraged to watch the broadcast through YouTube.
6. FIRST Robotics Competition: Events
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Team 1261, the Robolions, will participate in the following events:
March 17 - March 19: Peachtree Regional at the Gwinnett Civic Center [Suwanee, GA]
March 31 - April 2: Smoky Mountain Regional at the Knoxville Convention Center [Knoxville, TN]
If we perform in an excellent manner in these two events, we may also participate in:
April 27 - April 30: FRC Championship at the Edward Jones Dome [St. Louis, MO]
7. Robotics Membership Dues
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Members, please bring your $25 membership dues to Mrs. Rutland at D216.
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Thank you for reading this week's Syndication. I hope to see you at the Kickoff event!
Sincerely,
Paul Han
