Author Archive: roboplex

Control Hub Pilot Program

FIRST Tech Challenge has chosen North Texas to be a “pilot region” for the REV Robotics Control Hub in the 2019-2020 Skystone (presented by Qualcomm) season.

What this means is that teams from North Texas can apply to participate in the pilot and use a REV Robotics Control Hub on their robot in North Texas events and at the World Championship.  The REV Control Hub will not be legal for competition at events in regions that are not part of the pilot program (with some very limited exceptions).

Most of you are familiar with the REV Expansion Hub that was introduced in the Relic Recovery season.  The REV Control Hub combines the features of the Expansion Hub and the Robot Controller Android handset into a single unit, eliminating the need for a separate Robot Controller handset (phone) on the robot.  (An Android handset is still needed for the Driver Station.)  This will provide teams with an option that reduces space and cabling requirements, while retaining the same programming interface, driver controls, and the like.

If none of the above makes sense to you — you can safely ignore it.  Using a Control Hub and/or participation in the pilot is completely optional for teams — teams that wish to continue using the existing REV Expansion Hub and Modern Robotics components will be able to do so for this and future seasons.  There are no plans to retire or obsolete these systems.  

In addition, our expectation and experience is that the REV Control Hub does not create an “uneven playing field” between teams using the Control Hub and ones continuing to use the Expansion Hub setup.

More information about the Control Hub pilot program and how to apply is in the attached PDF document.  Note that teams must be in a pilot region and have completed team registration for the 2019-2020 season prior to applying for the pilot program.

If you have further questions on this program, double-check the attached Pilot Description document, and then send me an email at <patrick.michaud@utdallas.edu>.

FLL Qualifier Registration now open

(republished from email sent by Kristi Cantu)

Hooray!

REGISTRATION FOR QUALIFIERS IS NOW OPEN!

**REGISTRATION FOR QUALIFIERS WILL CLOSE ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 AT 5:00PM.

Paying by credit card (preferred)

If you are paying by credit card, you must go ONLY to this website:  http://tickets.perotmuseum.org/auxiliary/Reserve.aspx?p=13333. Every box must be filled out in order for your registration to be complete–you MUST pick FOUR choices or you will not be able to register. You must follow all of the steps, including creating an account, in order to register. Please do not try to register in any other website (TIMS, etc).

Please try to pay by credit card! That will vastly expedite the process!

Paying by other means

If you cannot pay by credit card, please email reserve@perotmuseum.org and CC ME (kristinecantu@perotmuseum.org) ON THE EMAIL! Include in the email:

  • Team name
  • Team number
  • Number of students
  • Number of adults
  • Team contacts (name, email, phone of both coaches)
  • FOUR choices of which qualifiers you’d like to attend

After the reservations department receives your email, they will send you an invoice.  If your district or someone else is paying via purchase order, make sure to send them the invoice as soon as you receive it, and remind them that the payment is needed as soon as possible in order to compete.

Full payments must be received no later than two weeks prior to your qualifier or you will be disqualified. Even if we have already sent you an invoice, that does not count as your registration-you still need to email reservations with the above information.

Other notes

  • If you have very special circumstances, such as needing multiple teams to go the site, or multiple teams that need to be split up, etc., please do not include that in your email to reservations. Just include your top four choices, and in a separate email to me you can explain your special circumstance to me and I’ll see what I can do to accommodate.
  • If you can be flexible in your dates and location choices, please show some nice Core Values and Gracious Professionalism and be flexible! A lot of teams have genuine difficulty securing transportation, funding, parental involvement, etc., so it makes it harder for them to be flexible.
  • There are many factors I have to consider in assigning teams to qualifiers, so I appreciate everyone’s patience and not expecting to get your first choice-all qualifier assignments will be final!
  • There are more competitions on Dec. 5th than any other day! If you can do the 5th, please do!
    • Don’t look at it as a disadvantage to compete early-you’ll be competing with other teams who have had the exact same amount of time to prepare as your team has, so everyone at your qualifier has the same chance of advancing.
    • Every coach I talk to says they don’t feel ready, they feel behind, etc. So you’re not alone! Remember that the competition aspect is just small part of the awesome FIRST experience-qualifiers are super-fun, exciting events even if your team doesn’t score a lot of points or do amazing in every judging session!
    • There is only one qualifier on the 19th, with very limited space, so if a ton of teams choose that as their first choice so that they “have more time,” a lot of them will not get it.
  • Advancement: I’ve almost confirmed two second-round qualifiers, so advancement will work like this:
    • Very top teams in all categories for each qualifier will advance straight to the Regional Championship on February 6.
    • Top teams in all categories for each qualifier will advance to one of two second-round qualifiers in January, and from there top teams will advance to Regional Championship.
    • The exact numbers advancing from each one will follow the advancement percentages set forth by FIRST and will be determined once I have made all of the assignments and know how many teams will be at each qualifier so we know proportionally how many to advance from each.
  • Once you have been assigned to a qualifier, I will notify you and you will be put in contact with the qualifier host. They will provide you with specific information such as lunch options, the general schedule for the day, and the detailed team schedule.

I think this is all for now, please let me know if you have any questions, and good luck!
KRISTI CANTU
Programs Educator/FIRST LEGO League North Texas Partner
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
P 214.756.5851 F 214.756.5890 | kristinecantu@perotmuseum.org

FIRST in Texas grants – Oct 15 deadline

From the October 2015 issue of the FIRST in Texas Newsletter:

Just Two Weeks to Apply

The final deadline is almost here! Submit your completed applications by October 15 at 5pm CST.

What is a completed application? Make sure you:

  • Submit our Team Grant Application
  • Upload Photo Release forms for each team member
  • Upload an Eligibility Form for Texas high school teams

Mark your calendars and ask your questions now! For other details on the grant process, like a timeline on notifications and awards, visit our Grant Calendar.

Apply for a FIRST in Texas grant by Sep 15

firstintexasAre you looking for funding for your team?  If you have a FIRST team in Texas, you should definitely apply for a grant from FIRST in Texas.

FIRST in Texas is a foundation that channels grant funding from organizations to FIRST teams in Texas.  The grants can often be in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars.  The application process is quite simple — it’s an online form.  Teams in all FIRST programs (FRC, FTC, FLL, and JrFLL) should apply.

Apply by September 15 to be included in the first round of evaluations.