Rapid React Coach Email Volume 8: 9-28-21 – Slides & recording from coaches chat are posted on the website
Greetings Coaches!
If you are new to this email this is the place where you will find all of the Washington specific FIRST Robotics Competition information. Coaches in the FIRST system for the RAPID REACT season will be added once teams are able to register for events. 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 is what I have for you today:
- Sept 23rd coaches chat recording & slides are posted
- FIRST Washington Registration is open
- Off Season Event info
- 3 part Onshape workshop starting tonight at 6:30
- FTC Tuesday’s with Kevin – agenda for the next two weeks
Sept 23 Coaches chat recording & slids are posted
A few highlights from the meeting:
- Kickoff events listed
- Event schedule posted in slides & on firstwa.org
- First round of event preferencing opens 10-14. Some pro tips
- Make sure your lead & alternate contact have signed their forms and passed ypp
- Choose your preferences by Wed even though FIRST says it will be open until 9 am Thursday (historically, they have to close the system to place teams into events and with the second window opening at 9:00 am Thursday, we expect the system may be down late Wed night/early Thurs morning so plan ahead
- Don’t make any coach/lead/alt mentor changes during the preferencing windows or it may affect your ability to select your preferences
There is much more info in the briefing itself. You can access the recording & slide deck on the FRC Workshops & Webinars of firstwa.org
FIRST Washington Registration is Open
For our planning purposes, it would really help us if you fill this form out now so we can see which teams are returning.
We have shifted gears a bit and changed our FIRST Washington Grant form to a FIRST Washington Registration form. We will still offer grants and there is a spot on the form where you can choose to be considered for a grant. It is important to capture certain demographic for all of our teams so we can continue to raise funds to support our teams as well as our programs which means we need all teams to fill out the registration form. This form will not close but to be considered for a grant, you must complete the form by October 29.
Registration link: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/9dfebe9fcdac41d89994759f7150002f
Off Season Event Info
1) Robot Rodeo, Wilsonville, OR – Hosted by 1425 Oct 9:
Robot Rodeo – is a one-day event for the first 24 teams to sign up. It will be in the format of a District Qualifier on the real field, with scheduled matches and a playoff, to give teams the chance to roundup their robots and get their new drive team members familiar with the rhythm of a season event. The emphasis will be on getting every robot and drive team run time, so there will be plenty of help, patience and gracious professionalism available. Don’t worry if your drive team is new or your robot isn’t doing everything it was back in 2019. Get the straw out of that robot and come have some fun! In past years this has been a “Girls Gen” event, but this year in the spirit of helping all teams get “back in the saddle”, any and all drive team configurations are welcome. 2021 Infinite Recharge rules will apply.
Register to attend this event October 9th.
2) Bordie Recharge! Team 2412, the Robototes, has taken over the cancelled Auburn event with a few changes. The event date is confirmed: Oct 16-17
The Robototes, Team 2412 invites to you join us at Sammamish High School in Bellevue October 16 and 17, 2021 for Bordie Recharge! Our plan is for setup Friday night and Saturday AM with load-in Saturday AM. Matches to run Saturday and Sunday. Cost will be $250 for the first robot, $100 for the second. If you are interested in coming to this event fill out our form at Infinite Reboot Reborn by Tuesday 9/28, after that email Laura Dooley dooley101@msn.com. We will take all teams registered for the Auburn event and then others as space is available up to 20 teams. First bots will be given preference. Payment details coming soon. Concerns or questions: email Laura Dooley at dooley101@msn.com. www.bordierecharge.com
*This event will be run based on current COVID Protocols and Policies. Masks will be required for all attendees and Team size will be limited. Vaccination required for Adult volunteers. Spectators will not be allowed as team size is limited.
4) Robot Rewind, Spokane, WA hosted by 2147 Oct 30:
“Robot Rewind” hosted by CHUCK Team 2147 is coming soon. The off-season event is a chance to play FIRST Infinite Recharge on the PNW District’s competition field. We do expect Robot Rewind to be competitive and FUN! This is a great training opportunity to get new team members involved early in the year, or another chance for your drivers to practice before the next season kicks off in January!
Where: West Valley High School -Spokane, WA- Centrally located within driving distance for teams in East/West Washington, Idaho, Montana, and maybe even Western Canada (“EH”).
When: October 30th 2021
Registration Fee: $250 first robot, $300 two robots, (Rookie Teams $0)
Event Website & Registration Link: chuck2147.com/robot-rewind
Questions/ Volunteer: email info@chuck2147.com
5) Storm Surge, Vancouver, WA hosted by 2811 Oct 30:
Come join the Skyview StormBots for StormSurge on October 30th. While it can be scary to try a new venue, we encourage you to bring your best costumes and candy to the north end of Vancouver, WA and graciously celebrate with us as we cooperatively compete together in Infinite Recharge!
Cost: $250
Questions, to volunteer or register email: Lucas Glassett Lucas.Glassett@vansd.org
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
Oct 21: FRC Coaches Chat
Nov 8: OSPI Grant closes (WA public school teams)
Have a great week!
Adrienne Collins
Director of Programs
FIRST Washington