FTC Clinic – season updates, discussions, and TensorFlow programming

2019-10-05 @ 1:00pm - 4:00pm, University of Texas at Dallas / SEEC

This clinic is open for coaches, mentors, and select team members.
Cost:  Free, but pre-registration is required:  https://forms.gle/EfLRZ2To7iqSybte7

The purpose of this clinic is to share details and ideas about the 2019 “Skystone” season, including game rules, platform changes, and more.  Specific details are being worked out, but it will be an excellent opportunity to network with other coaches and teams and hear ideas about preparing for the season.

We do plan to cover a small amount of OnBot Java programming, including the use of TensorFlow to locate stones and skystones on the field.

We have limited space for this clinic, so we ask teams to be considerate and bring only key team members to the event.

Please pre-register for the clinic and to be certain to receive the latest updates and details on this clinic event.

For more information, contact Patrick at patrick.michaud@utdallas.edu .

 

2019-09-26 0 Comments

FTC Qualifier at Woodrow Wilson HS

2020-01-25, Woodrow Wilson

This is a North Texas FTC Qualifying Tournament scheduled for Woodrow Wilson HS in Dallas, Texas.

To volunteer at this event, see the FTC volunteer page.

Teams can (pre)register or waitlist for this event at http://roboplex.org/ftc/registration .

Event results via the Orange Alliance (available shortly after event)

Registered Teams

(26 teams as of 2020-01-22, 4 pending reservations, 2 on waitlist)
4891 Prosper Pulse, Prosper High School, Prosper
8514 BA GREEN: Robotonics, Bryan Adams HS, Dallas
8633 Dragons, Seagoville High School, Dallas
8811** Sunset RoboBison 1, Sunset HS, Dallas
8830 EagleBot2, Prosper High School, Prosper
8831 EagleBot, Prosper High School, Prosper
9001 Rangers, Jesuit, Dallas
9256 Sunset RoboBison 2, Sunset HS, Dallas
10526 BA BLACK: ?icroBotixs, Bryan Adams HS, Dallas
10572 Bionic Bots, South Oak Cliff HS, Dallas
11164 Disruptive Technologies, Spring Hill HS, Longview
12167 Husky Robotics, Harmony Science Academy-Carrollton, Carrollton
12791 Hazardous Narwhals-Jaguar FTC, Flower Mound HS, Flower Mound
13537** RoboChargers – Lightning, Conrad HS, Dallas
13552 RoboChargers – Terremoto, Conrad HS, Dallas
14881 BeGone Bots, Flower Mound HS, Flower Mound
14904 Lakehill Bionicles, Lakehill Preparatory School, Dallas TX
15528 Einstein Chargers, Einstein School, Plano
16272 Mark X, Wheelhouse robotics, Irving
16407 RAMRobotics, Wilson Middle School, Plano
16928 Whitewright Robotics Team, Whitewright High School, Whitewright
16985* RoboChargers – Shockwave, Conrad HS, Dallas
16986 BA WHITE: Critical Error, Bryan Adams HS, Dallas
16987** RoboChargers – Flash, Conrad HS, Dallas
17323 The Techno Tigers, Robo Campus, Plano
17866 Garza Robotics, Trinidad Garza Early College HS, Dallas

* already advanced to the North Texas Regional Championship
** already advanced to the wildcard qualifier

2019-09-26 0 Comments

UTD FLL Coaches Clinics – FLL Programming

2019-10-19 @ 9:00am - 4:00pm, University of Texas at Dallas / SEEC

Slides – Beginning Programming
Slides – Intermediate Programming

This clinic is for coaches/mentors and up to TWO (2) team members.
Cost:  Free, pre-registration is required

UT-Dallas will again be holding clinics on programming Mindstorms for FIRST LEGO League.   The clinics are offered all day, with a beginning programming clinic from 9a-12p and intermediate programming clinic from 1p-4p.

UTD’s Coaches Clinics are free of charge, but we ask that you pre-register for the event so that we can communicate event details directly to you and have an estimate of attendance size. Attendance is limited to coaches, mentors, and up to two team members.

In each clinic session we will provide opportunities for attendees to try some (not all) exercises using their own robots and laptops.  We won’t be providing any robots or laptops at the clinics, so you need to bring your own if you want to do that.  Be sure your laptops and robots are fully charged, as there may not be power outlets available.  Also make sure your laptop has the EV3 Mindstorms software already installed on it, and that you’ve been able to get it to communicate with your robot (e.g., with a USB cable).  Even if you’re using an NXT robot, we recommend using the EV3 software to program it.

If you don’t have a robot already, we recommend building the “Educator Vehicle (with attachments)” for the clinics.  This is the robot typically used for demonstrations.  The instructions for this build are included in the EV3 Education Kit, and you can also find a PDF download at the top of http://robotsquare.com/2013/10/01/education-ev3-45544-instruction/ .

Of course, don’t feel as though you need to bring a laptop and robot to the clinics.  Many coaches and members have found that it’s much easier to just watch, listen, take notes, and ask questions.  And it’s always helpful to have people around who can help troubleshoot others’ programs and robots.

In each clinic there is a lot of material to cover in a short period of time, so please arrive on-time and be prepared that we’ll be proceeding at a fairly good pace.

Beginning Programming topics

  • Overview of EV3 Programming environment and programming basics
  • Motor block basics — moving forward and backward
  • Turning using a gyro sensor (EV3 robots only)
  • Using “port view” and “view mode” to see sensor values
  • Detecting lines, borders, and colors
  • Simple My Blocks (creating blocks for turning and missions)

Intermediate Programming topics

  • Programming and robot game strategy
  • Loops and sensor blocks
  • Moving along a heading with gyros
  • Line following / edge following
  • Specifying distances in centimeters
  • Understanding navigation error

Also, Builderdude35 created a YouTube video about using the gyro for driving the robot.

For more information about these clinics, please contact Patrick Michaud at patrick.michaud@utdallas.edu .

2019-09-24 0 Comments

UTD FLL Coaches Clinic – Chassis Building and Attachments

2019-10-05 @ 9:00am - 12:00pm, University of Texas at Dallas / SEEC

Presentation slides

This clinic is for coaches/mentors and up to TWO (2) team members.


On October 5 from 9am-12pm the UT-Dallas Science and Engineering Education Center (UTD/SEEC) will be hosting a clinic on FLL chassis building and attachments.  The clinic will start with an overview of the LEGO building pieces most commonly used for building FLL robots, and then present the design principles important to developing a good chassis and efficient Robot Game execution. The clinic will then demonstrate a wide variety of attachment types and mounting options.

UTD’s Coaches Clinics are free of charge, but we ask that you pre-register for the event. so that we can communicate event details directly to you and have an estimate of attendance size.  Attendance is limited to coaches, mentors, and up to two team members.

Location: On the UT-Dallas campus, specific room and parking details to be announced and sent to registered participants the week before the event.

For more information about the event, please contact Patrick Michaud at patrick.michaud@utdallas.edu .

2019-09-24 0 Comments

FTC Wildcard Qualifier at Hedrick Middle School

2020-02-01, Hedrick Middle School

This is a North Texas FTC Wildcard Qualifying Tournament scheduled for Hedrick Middle School in Lewisville, Texas.

To volunteer at this event, see the FTC volunteer page.

Teams cannot register directly for this event — teams are invited to this event based on performance at an earlier Qualifier Tournament or League Tournament.

Registered Teams

(36 teams as of 2020-01-30)
8130 Vikings, Lamar High School — FTC TEAM 8130, Arlington
8204 Re-Minted, Wylie East High School, Wylie
8291 Bulldog Robotics, Trimble Tech High School, Fort Worth
8811 Sunset RoboBison Amistad, Sunset HS, Dallas
9161 Overload, Aledo High School, Aledo
10143 Aero, Harmony School of Innovation-FW, Fort Worth
10437 The Rusty Nuts, Hughes Springs High School, Hughes Springs
10577 ThunderChicks, Irma Rangel YWLS, Dallas
11030 Metal Jackets, Arlington Heights High School, Fort Worth
11242 Hail Storm, Ferris High School, Ferris
11419 Jasper Jaguar Robotics, Jasper High School, Plano
11472 Ravenclaw Robotics, Rice Middle School, Plano
11629 ToDoians, Robo Campus, Plano
11745 Red Scare, Woodrow Wilson HS Academy of Engineering, Dallas
12167◇ Husky Robotics, , Carrollton
12645 Nimbus, Ferris High School, Ferris
12925 Carpenter CowBots, Carpenter Middle School, Plano
12927 Shepton Robotics, Shepton High School, Plano
13227 Mechanicats, Woodrow Wilson HS STEM Academy, Dallas
13657 Wonder Women, HEBISD, Bedford
13850 The Odyssey, Wylie East High School, Wylie
14242 Blackstar 4-H Robotics, Tarrant County 4-H, Fort Worth
14355 Jaguar FTC 1, FMHS Tech Club, Flower Mound
14445 Poseidon’s, Marine Creek Collegiate High School, Fort Worth
14626 RoboFalcons, RoboFalcons, Irving
14883 ZipTies, FMHSTech, Flower Mound
15198 Spicy Servos, McKamy Middle School, Flower ound
15524 Cardinalbots, John Paul II High School, Plano
15536 Liberty Cyberhawks, Liberty High School, Frisco
15648 Wonder Pets, Alcuin School, Dallas
16296 WATTEVER, COPPELL ISD, COPPELL
16756 Winnsboro Raider Prime, Winnsboro ISD, Winnsboro
16859 Starfleet, SRA-Stem & Robotics Academy, Frisco
16986 BA WHITE: Critical Error, Bryan Adams High School, Dallas
16993 ROBOMAKERS, SRA, Plano
17011 Mercenary DMS, Dowell Middle School, McKinney

◇ not yet registered for the event

2019-09-20 0 Comments

FTC Qualifier at Lamar HS

2020-01-25, Lamar High School

This is a North Texas FTC Qualifying Tournament scheduled for Lamar High School in Arlington, Texas.

To volunteer at this event, see the FTC volunteer page.

Teams can (pre)register or waitlist for this event at http://roboplex.org/ftc/registration .

Registered Teams

(27 teams as of 2020-01-22, 1 pending reservations)
4705 Adamas Robotics, Diamond Hill Jarvis, Fort Worth
6728 Frostbyte, Johnson CTE Center/ Crowley ISD, Crowley
7172* Technical Difficulties, Technical Difficulties, Plano
8130 Vikings, Lamar High School, Arlington
8242 Steerminatorz, North Side High School, Fort Worth
8291** Bulldog Robotics, Trimble Tech, Fort Worth
9386* Elmer & Elsie Robotics, Home School, Frisco
9402 CyberSwarm, Henderson JH, Stephenville
10985 T3xSupp0rt, Wedgwood Middle School, Fort Worth
11341 ViBoTs, Vines High School, Plano
11419 Jasper Jaguar Robotics, Jasper High School, Plano
12139 Mini Adamas Robotic, Diamond HIll Jarvis, Fort Worth
12927 SRT Innovations, Shepton High School, Plano
13472 The DorkSide, Young Womens Leadership Academy, Fort Worth
13780 Steer Clear, North Side High School Robotics, Fort Worth
14445 Poseidons, Marine Creek Collegiate HS, Fort Worth
15176** Broken Axles, Broken Axles, Plano
15197 Robot Ravagers, McKamy Middle School, Flower Mound
15204 Dork Side II, Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Fort Worth
15536 Liberty Cyberhawks, Liberty High School, Frisco
15851 Ultrabotics, Newman International Academy, Cedar Hill
16405 Federal Bot Institute, Renner MS PISD, Plano
17337 Power Steering, North Side High School, Forth Worth
17499 Athena Circuit Breakers, Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Grand Prairie
17505 I.M. Terrell Academy JV, I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA, Fort Worth
17510 I.M. Terrell Academy Varsity, I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA, Fort Worth
17802 Tech No Logic, Hallsville High School, Hallsville

* already advanced to the North Texas Regional Championship
** already advanced to the wildcard qualifier

2019-09-20 0 Comments

FTC Qualifier at Aledo HS

2020-01-18, Aledo High School

This is a North Texas FTC Qualifying Tournament scheduled for Aledo High School in Aledo, Texas.

To volunteer at this event, see the FTC volunteer page.

Teams can (pre)register or waitlist for this event at http://roboplex.org/ftc/registration .

Event results via the Orange Alliance (available shortly after event)

Registered Teams

(25 teams as of 2020-01-15, 2 open reservations, 0 on waitlist)
4745 Computer Cartel, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, Bedford
6169 System Overload, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, Bedford
6566* Circuit Breakers, Aledo High School, Aledo
6728 Frost Byte, Crowley CTE Robotics, Crowley
8406* Filthy Horde, Hughes Springs High School, Hughes Springs
9161** Overload, Aledo High School, Aledo
9386 E+E Robotics, N/A, Frisco
10437 The Rusty Nuts, Hughes Springs HS, Hughes Springs
11030 Metal Jackets, Arlington Heights High School, Fort Worth
11563 Hedrick Garage, Hedrick Middle School, Flower Mound
11978 Allies of Innovation, Colleyville Heritage Robotics Team, Colleyville
12925 CowBots, Carpenter Middle School, Plano
13657 Wonder Women, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, Bedford
13811 High Voltage, Aledo High School, Aledo
14459 Automatic Anacondas, TCC, Fort Worth
14962 Robo-Sapiens, Hughes Springs HS, Hughes Springs
15137 The P-51 Mustangs: Viking Machine Gold, Richardson-North, Richardson
15226 Munchkin Teddy Bears, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, Bedford
16602 iUniversity Prep, iUniversity Prep, Grapevine
16721 Gibbins Warriors, Newman International Academy Arlington, Arlington
16802 Holliday Eagles, Holliday High School, Holliday
17152 The Cicadas, Coppell Community, Coppell
17184 Brock Robotics, Brock ISD, Brock
17193 Banana Sharks, Benbrook Middle-High School, Benbrook
17294** OverDr!ve, Independence High School, Frisco

* already advanced to the North Texas Regional Championship
** already advanced to the wildcard qualifier

2019-09-20 0 Comments

UTD FTC Coaches Training Workshop

2019-09-24 @ 9:00am - 2019-09-25 @ 4:30pm, University of Texas at Dallas / SEEC

This clinic is intended for coaches/mentors (adults) ONLY.
Cost:  $30/session, register at UTD Marketplace.

Calling all FIRST Tech Challenge coaches, mentors, and educators! Come brush up on your knowledge & skills and hear proven tips for improving team performance.

UT-Dallas is offering a 2-day training workshop for coaches and teachers where attendees get hands-on experience building and programming FIRST Tech Challenge Robots, including the new REV Robotics Expansion Hub controller and sensors.  Sessions are facilitated by Dr. Patrick Michaud, North Texas FTC Affiliate Partner and renowned FIRST coach with several world-ranked teams.

Workshops will consist of four half-day sessions on September 24 and 25.  Each session will cost $30 (thus $120 to attend all four sessions).  UTD will provide the robot materials, computers, and software to be used during the workshops.  (Lunch is not provided, but there are many on-campus options for lunch, and we have refrigerator/microwave for those who wish to bring lunch.)

Space is limited and registration is required — registrations will generally be taken on a first-come first-served basis.

Sep 24 (9a-12n): Intro to FTC and robot construction
– Introduction to FTC and season overview
– Basic components of the REV robotics kit
– Key robot mechanical principles
– Hands-on build of a simple competition robot

Sep 24 (1p-4:30p): Beginning Programming for FTC
– Introduction to control system components (REV Robotics)
– OnBot Java programming environment
– Basic gamepad programming for navigation
– Arm and servo programming
– Touch sensors

Sep 25 (9a-12n): Intermediate programming and competition prep
– FTC competition: robot game, awards
– Engineering notebooks
– Other building systems, materials, and tools
– Autonomous mode programming
– Motor encoders

Sep 25 (1p-4:30p): Programming and building for success
– Basic game, robot design, and alliance strategies
– (Un)Successful robot designs and devices
– Principles of leverage, gears, center of gravity
– Color sensing
– Gyro/IMU sensors
– Driver automation

Registration is available via the UTD Marketplace at https://ezpay.utdallas.edu/C20239_ustores/web/classic/store_main.jsp?STOREID=135.  Again, space is limited and registration will be generally first-come first-served.

For more information regarding the workshops, please email <patrick.michaud@utdallas.edu>.  We look forward to seeing you at the workshops!

2019-09-12 0 Comments