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FIRST Washington ▸ News ▸ Freight Frenzy Coach Email Volume 7: 9/28/21 – Register, register, register!
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    • Freight Frenzy Coach Email Volume 7: 9/28/21 – Register, register, register!

    Greetings Coaches & Mentors!

     

    If you are new to this email this is the place where you will find all of the Washington specific FIRST Tech Challenge information. Coaches in the FIRST system for the FREIGHT FRENZY season will be added weekly. Every email from me will be numbered and that number lets you know which update it is, if you miss an update you can find it on our website.

     

    Here are the updates I have for you today.

     

     

    1. Teams will be placed in leagues next week, we need you to register now!
    2. Teams interested in a FIRSTWA grant, need to register by October 1.
    3. First FTC Coaches Chat 7:00 pm Thursday, Oct 7
    4. Save the date! We will be having a remote build session Saturday, Oct 9
    5. Onshape workshop, session one tonight at 6:30 pm
    6. Schedule for FTC Tuesday’s with Kevin

     

     

    We will be putting teams into leagues next week so register with FIRST and FIRST Washington now if you haven’t already!

     

    It seems like Sept just started so I’m not quite sure how we are at the end of the month already but time is flying by! What that means for all of you is that I will be assigning leagues early next week. We need you to register both with FIRST and FIRST Washington now! I know some teams are waiting for grants to show up on their FIRST dashboard. If there is something preventing you from registering with FIRST, please notify me right away and register with FIRST Washington. Any team not registered when I assign leagues, will be placed in the league closest to them that has available space.

     

    You can register with FIRST though your dashboard on firstinspires.org. To register with FIRST Washington, click here

     

    You can find the event weekend dates on our website here. Once you have been assigned to a league, your league coordinator will let you know the exact dates of your league events.

     

     

    FIRST Washington Grant closes Oct 1!!

     

    As stated in earlier emails, we no longer have a FIRSTWA grant application form. When you register with FIRSTWA, there is now a box that you can chat to be considered for a grant. In addition to registering this week so you can be placed in the closest league, you will want to fill out the FIRST Washington Registration form by Friday, Oct 1 to be considered for a grant. Click here to access the FW Registration form.

     

     

    First coaches chat 7:00 pm Thursday, October 7

     

    We will be having our first coaches chat next Thursday, October 7 at 7:00 pm. At that meeting we will talk about what the season looks like, COVID protocols as we currently know them and hear from all of you! Feel free to forward the meeting info to any coaches or mentors that you would like to attend the meeting.

     

    General FIRST WA Zoom Account is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

     

    Topic: FTC Coaches Chat

    Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime

     

    Join Zoom Meeting

    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83846694396?pwd=SGNWeVpiZFVreTd4b1Y5WWJhL1g0Zz09

     

    Meeting ID: 838 4669 4396

    Passcode: 128537

    One tap mobile

    +12532158782,,83846694396#,,,,*128537# US (Tacoma)

    +13462487799,,83846694396#,,,,*128537# US (Houston)

     

    Dial by your location

    +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

    +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

    +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

    +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

    +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

    +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)

    Meeting ID: 838 4669 4396

    Passcode: 128537

    Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdj51hKBaa

     

     

    We will be hosting a remote build session Saturday, Oct 9from 10 am – 1 pm

     

    Experience mentors will be online ready to help you navigate all of the intricacies of building a robot. Teams can get help with:

    • Design
    • Construction Tecnhology
    • Debugging software/hardware
    • Programming
    • much more!

    The format will be an “open house” format so feel free to drop in for however long you like. meeting information is listed below, please pass on to you students & mentors:

     

    General FIRST WA Zoom Account is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

     

    Join Zoom Meeting

    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85611118152?pwd=VitjQUZ6QzQxdTMvZVJ6Z05EMk90Zz09

    Meeting ID: 856 1111 8152

    Passcode: ILoveFIRST

     

     

    Wonderful learning opportunity for FTC & FRC Mentors & Students who are interested in Design!

     

    We are going to do a class about Onshape for three evenings starting next Tuesday (9/28/21), Thursday (9/30/21), and Tuesday (10/5/21). Each of these days the session will be from 6:30pm to 8pm. If you would like to take a guided tour through Onshape and how it will work for your team, you are welcome to join. We will record these sessions if you can’t make them.

     

    We are going to do a class about Onshape for three evenings starting next Tuesday (9/28/21), Thursday (9/30/21), and Tuesday (10/5/21). Each of these days the session will be from 6:30pm to 8pm. If you would like to take a guided tour through Onshape and how it will work for your team, you are welcome to join. We will record these sessions if you can’t make them.

     

    Tue 9/28: We will assemble a simple robot using existing parts to learn about libraries and assemblies so your team can make very fast progress. We will learn how to import parts from vendors like AndyMark and Rev Robotics. We will see how to find parts using public sources.

     

    Thu 9/30: Creating our own parts using the CAD functions of Onshape. We will see about part studios, extrusions, sharing dimensions, referencing other parts for dimensions, and editing in context.

     

    Tue 10/5: Creating our own library parts using configurable parts and other Onshape features.

     

    Topic: Onshape guided tutorial

    Time: 6:30pm to 8pm Tuesday 9/28, Thu 9/30, Tue 10/5

     

    Join Zoom Meeting

    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82913817510?pwd=SEZPeC9UQmk2dkpWRFFsaXdkaWxvdz09

     

    Meeting ID: 829 1381 7510

    Passcode: NerdyTalk

     

     

    If you are interested, there is a signup form below.

     

    https://forms.gle/kTc9tmfwmgbQbCer6

     

    Things you will probably want to have for the first session

     

    1) A computer with a mouse. You want a mouse with a left and right button, and scroll wheel. Track pads on computers work poorly for this. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B005EJH6RW/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_NB9TWECNX0A3Y0DFSSER is a $8 mouse that would work just fine if you need to buy one. For a computer, most computers will work fine for this, even Chromebooks, but you will need a mouse. Onshape no longer supports tablets. Recommend using the Chrome browser. There are issues with some off brand browsers.

     

    2) Signup for an Onshape account. A quick video about that: https://youtu.be/sQ_Nza4ZnQ8

     

    3) Send an email to FIRST@ptc.com and request access to the “FTC Robotics Parts Users” team. You should do this a day or two in advance of the class, it takes a little time.

     

    Please signup by Monday evening on this form so I can add your email account to the shared libraries.

     

     

    FTC Tuesday’s With Kevin 5:00 – 6:30 pm every Tuesday

     

    This year Kevin is plans to organize various topics for his Tuesday afternoon workshops and we plan to post those topics and descriptions at the end of our regular team blast. Here is the information for the this weeks Tuesday’s with Kevin!

     

    9/28/21 – Using Git and GitHub to help you keep your programmers safe and happy! Git is a source code control system. GitHub is an online service that allows you to store versions of your code in an organized way. Mentor Mike Magruder is going to show us how you can make Git and GitHub work for your team regardless if you are using OnBot Java or Android Studio. Mike is a veteran senior software engineer with a long pedigree including Microsoft and Facebook.

     

    10/5/21 – Making custom parts in Aluminum. Sometimes when you build a robot, you need a part that just doesn’t exist in your kit. Many teams have access to high school or machine shops. Many are using 3D printers. What if you don’t? We will spend about 30 minutes talking about how you can make some custom aluminum parts for your robot using typical household tools (drills, hacksaws, and a printer). Kevin will demonstrate some techniques to get a good precision part using very common tools. It is all in the technique!

     

    Here is the link to join the meetings. The link will stay the same from week to week. Feel free to forward this info to the students & mentors on your team!

    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82913817510pwd=SEZPeC9UQmk2dkpWRFFsaXdkaWxvdz09

     

     

    Important Dates & Deadlines

    Sept 30: FIRSTWA registration deadline to be guaranteed a spot in the closest league

    Oct 1: Deadline to fill out FIRSTWA registration to be considered for a grant.

    Oct 7: Coaches Chat

    Oct 9: Virtual FTC Build Day

    Nov 8: OSPI Grant closes (Public schools only)

     

    Have a great week everyone!

    Kevin Emery

    FTC Program Delivery Partner

    FIRST Washington

    kemery@firstwa.org

     

    Adrienne Collins

    Director of Programs

    FIRST Washington

    acollins@firstwa.org