SMU UIL Robotics Training FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)

2017-07-10 @ 9:00am - 2017-07-14 @ 4:00pm, SMU Lyle Engineering Camp

Robotics is now an UIL activity! During this one week training you will learn about the fundamentals of coaching a robotics team in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC). Teachers and coaches will learn how to organize your team, understand project management for the season, implement the most effective ways to build and program a robot. We cannot promise you a winning team, but we will promise you will learn a lot in this training that will make you a better coach and give your team a leg up on the competition.

Cost: $600

Dates: July 10th – 14th, 9am – 4pm

Register at http://www.smu.edu/Lyle/Institutes/CaruthInstitute/K-12Programs/EngineeringCamp/Teacher-Professional-Development .

2017-05-15 0 Comments

SMU Classroom Robotics for Teachers Grades 4-8

2017-07-10 @ 9:00am - 2017-07-14 @ 4:00pm, SMU Lyle Engineering Camp

This one week training provides an introduction to using the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 System in a classroom setting or on a FIRST LEGO League team. Participants will learn the basics of EV3 programming and building. They will receive curriculum materials to use in the classroom and be introduced to strategies for running and managing a robotics team.

Cost: $600

Dates: July 10th – 14th, 9am – 4pm

Register at http://www.smu.edu/Lyle/Institutes/CaruthInstitute/K-12Programs/EngineeringCamp/Teacher-Professional-Development .

2017-05-15 0 Comments

SMU Advanced Robotics (FTC) Program for High School Students

2017-06-26 @ 9:00am - 2017-06-30 @ 4:00pm, SMU Lyle Engineering Camp

The Advanced Robotics (FIRST Tech Challenge) Program is for rising high school students in grades 9th through 12th. During this week-long camp participants will work in pairs and learn how to build a competitive robot, a more complex ,and robust robot than LEGO robots. They will also learn to program their robot, both autonomously and with remote controls, and use their knowledge to complete different tasks and challenges with the robots. This camp will provide the basics of robot building and programming for students planning to compete in UIL sanctioned robotics competitions. Particiapants will learn basic physics concepts of work, energy, power, force and velocity. This camp also fulfills requirements for the Robotics Boy Scout Merit Badge and the Robotics Girl Scout Badge.

Cost: $550

Dates: June 26th- 30th, 9am – 4pm

Eligibility: Camp is open to all girls and boys who will be entering the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades in the Fall 2017.

 

Register at http://www.smu.edu/Lyle/Institutes/CaruthInstitute/K-12Programs/EngineeringCamp/Apply11-12Camp .

2017-05-15 0 Comments

SMU Competitive Robotics FIRST LEGO League Program

2017-07-31 @ 9:00am - 2017-08-05 @ 4:00pm, SMU Lyle Engineering Camp

The Competitive Robotics FIRST LEGO League Program is for rising middle school students in grades 6th, 7th, and 8th. This week-long camp is an introduction to robotics using the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 System (for more information on the competition please see the FIRST website. This program is intended to prepare students to successfully compete in the FIRST LEGO League Competition in the Fall 2017 season. Participants will be able to build and program a robot to do tasks on the new field, develop a sense of what it’s like being on a FLL team, and provide a head start for the upcoming season. This camp will cover information and activities required for the Robotics Boy Scout Merit Badge and Girl Scout Robotics Merit Badge.

Cost: $375

Dates: July 31st – August 4th, 9am – 4pm

Eligibility: Camp is open to all girls and boys who will be entering the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades in the Fall 2017.

Register at http://www.smu.edu/Lyle/Institutes/CaruthInstitute/K-12Programs/EngineeringCamp/Apply7-10Camp .

2017-05-15 0 Comments

SMU MINDSTORMS Robotics Program for Middle School Students

2017-07-24 @ 9:00am - 2017-07-28 @ 4:00pm, SMU Lyle Engineering Camp

The Mindstorms Robotics Program is a camp for rising middle school students in grades 6th, 7th, and 8th. This camp is an introduction to robotics using the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 System. Students will work in pairs to learn the basics of building a EV3 Robot and programming using the EV3 software. Pairs will work on different tasks and challenges for a showcase at the end of the session. The participants will learn how to calculate speed and distance using the circumference of the wheels and the physics of work, power, and energy. This camp will cover information and activities required for the Robotics Boy Scout Merit Badge.

Students who already possess a basic knowledge of EV3 building and programming are encouraged to register for our Competitive FLL Program.

Cost: $375

Dates: July 24th – 28th, 9am – 4pm

Eligibility: Camp is open to all girls and boys who will be entering the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades in the Fall 2017.

Register at http://www.smu.edu/Lyle/Institutes/CaruthInstitute/K-12Programs/EngineeringCamp/Apply7-10Camp .

2017-05-15 0 Comments

DPRG 22nd Roborama Competition

2017-05-13 @ 10:00am - 4:00pm, Dallas Makerspace

This spring, dprg_logo_250x225Dallas Personal Robotics Group (DPRG) will conduct its 22nd annual Roborama competition. The competition will be held on  the 13th of May, 2017  at the Dallas Maker Space located at:
1825 Monetary Lane
Suite 104
Carrollton, TX 75006 (Map).

The competition will begin at 10:00 AM and last until 4:00 PM. The event consists of four indoor contests. Roborama is open to the public. Anyone can compete and all are welcome to watch.

The competition contests are:

  • Plastic Fasteners-only Sumo  (students only)
  • Line Following (both Beginning and Advanced with student and adult divisions)
  • Big Table Top 2 (open to anyone)
  • Can-Can Soccer (open to anyone)

Start times for student events:

Plastic Fasteners-only Sumo will start at 11:00 AM, followed by Beginner (student division) Line Following. Student events should be completed by 2:00 PM.  The Sumo rings are open for practice between 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM.

Registration:

Pre-registering helps the events run more smoothly and makes sure you are aware of any important news about the events. Also, the Plastic Fasteners-only Sumo event has a limit on the number of teams that can participate. Pre-registered teams are given priority.

2017-04-24 0 Comments

2017 UIL FTC State Championship

2017-05-19 - 2017-05-20, Austin Convention Center

The UIL Robotics State Championship – FIRST Division for FIRST Tech Challenge will be held on Friday, May 19th and Saturday, May 20th (See Schedule page) at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, TX. 64 UIL eligible FIRST Tech Challenge teams (32 from 1A to 4A schools and 32 from 5A and 6A schools) will qualify based on their performance at their FIRST Texas Region Championship tournaments (See Qualification page) and compete in two separate tiers.

 

For more information, see http://firstintexas.org/uil/state-championship/ .

2017-04-11 0 Comments

Plastic Fastener Sumo Workshop

2017-05-06 @ 10:00am - 2:00pm, Dallas Makerspace

DPRG is proud to announce its annual Plastic Fastener Sumo Workshop. The  workshop will be manned by experienced volunteers from the Iron Reign FTC team and DPRG members to help participants in the Roborama 2017 competitions (or similar) plastic fastener Sumo contest. If you need help with your Lego or Vex IQ system Sumo or line follower robot, this is where you want to be on Saturday, May 6th. The purpose of the workshop is to help competitors either get started or improve their Lego or VEX IQ based Sumo or line follower robot.

The workshop will be held at the Dallas Makerspace located at 1825 Monetary Ln #104, Carrollton, TX 75006 (map) between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 6th in the Interactive Classroom. The courses will remain setup until 4:00 PM for practice after the workshop.

You must bring your robot or robot parts (don’t forget your battery and charger). No parts will be provided.

In addition to the workshop, the courses for other Roborama contests will be set up so that they can be used to test robots and practice for the competition.

The event is open to everyone.

2017-04-11 0 Comments

Wild West Robot Rumble

2017-05-13, Splash Kingdom Wild West Waterpark

Finally after much planning and some unexpected delays, here are the details to what I think is the most adventurous off season robot contest of its kind in North Texas involving FLL teams.  The Wild West Robot Rumble will happen on Saturday, May 13 at Splash Kingdom Wild West Waterpark in Hudson Oaks near Ft. Worth.  The contest will include FLL Animal Allies game, sumo wrestling for Lego type robots, Battle Bots for Lego type robots, a line following race, and a team video contest.  Details of all the contest rules will be attached to this email, on Roboplex.org very soon, the Eventzilla sign up website, and directly from me by email.  The contest is open to any FLL team, school, group, or individuals with Lego like robots that want to enter.  We have not limit on the number of groups, robots, or contests you can enter.  Pick and choose what you would like to do.  I want your teams to have fun and be excited about all the possibilities robotics has to offer.  If you’re interested, here is what to do:

  1. Sign up and purchase entry into the park and contest.  Park admission, contest admission, awards, and meal is all tied together in one simple package for ease of entry.  The cost is $25(plus tax, unless you are non-taxable) per student or adult wanting to attend.  The price is the same regardless of the number of robots or contests you want to enter.  You sign up for admission through the website and can pay by credit card there as well.  If you are using other payment methods, it will allow you to partly register without payment.  However, payment must be made before the contest to complete entry.  Specific questions about this should be emailed directly to me.
  2. Once I have your sign up information, I will contact you about what contest(s) your kids want to enter and how to enter them.
  3. Arrive at Splash Kingdom on that Saturday for a great time of fun, robots, and water!

Again, if you have very specific questions, please email them directly to me.  General comments or questions can be posted to  North Texas FLL Goggle group or sent directly to me as well.  Thanks for your interest, survey results, and feedback.  I hope many of you can enter and use this to grow and promote your programs.

Additional posts with more details will follow as the contest nears.

 

Also, I will need referees for the various contests.  If you are interested, email me directly.  Referees and contest officials will receive free entry to the park.

http://skwildwestrobotrumble.eventzilla.net/   (Sign up here.  You can also pay by CC here.  Email me after signing up if paying by check or purchase order.)

Michael Young
Grand Saline Middle School
6th grade Science
6th/7th/8th grade Robotics
UIL Director
Coach of FLL Teams: 19366 Real Steel, 19367 Radioactive Tater-Bots, 19368 Nimrod Squad, 19369 When Pigs Fly, 23224 Loose Screws, 23354 Bird Brains,23590 Space Unicorns, 23591 Gummy Gears, and 29804 Spare Me 2.

2017-04-11 0 Comments

Yellowjacket Blacklight Bug Zapper [CANCELED]

2017-05-06, Ferris High School

[05/01] This event has been canceled.  🙁

 

Ferris High School (FTC 11242 – ERROR 404) is hosting an off-season blacklight Velocity Vortex tournament on Saturday, 06-May-2017.

The tournament will be capped at 20 teams and registration is $50/team. Teams can register at the following:

[event canceled]

Teams will compete in fast-paced qualification rounds in the morning, followed by alliance selection, and then elimination rounds in the afternoon.

The entire tournament will be held in blacklight at Ferris High School – 1025 E. 8th St, Ferris, TX, 75125.

Best Regards,
Eric Evans, M.Ed.
CTE – STEM Teacher
Robotics & Computer Science
Ferris High School
1025 E. 8th Street, Ferris, TX, 75125
Phone: (972) 544-3737
Web: http://www.funmultiplies.com

2017-04-11 0 Comments