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2013-2014 Minnesota FTC Kickoff Announcements

Scott McDowellVolunteer Head Official for FTC

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• New FTC Affiliate Partner for MN, (July 2013)– Thanks to: Joe Passofaro & FRC 2169 – KING TeC

• FLL Affiliate Partner for MN since 1998 pilot year– Expect close to 600 FLL teams in MN this year– 19 Tournaments planned

• http://www.hightechkids.org/– Keep up to date by signing up for their FTC newsletter!

• MN Renewable Energy Challenge• Cheryl Moeller is the Executive Director• Vicki Coaty is the Programs Manager• Bethany Juhnke is the new Program Assistant• Evan Hoel is a FIRST AmeriCorps VISTA assigned to MN

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HTK Mission Statement

High Tech Kids delivers fun, hands-on science, engineering and technology programs and events that inspire Minnesota kids in their

formative years.

We inspire kids to BUILD confidence, CREATE opportunities

and THRIVE in the 21st century.

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Minnesota FTC Sponsors

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Minnesota FTC Teams

• 36 Teams last year– 18 Rookies & 18 Veterans– 18 Middle School & 18 High School

• 40 Teams, so far this year– 25 Rookies & 15 Veterans– 25 Middle School & 15 High School– Approx. 18 More Veteran teams yet to register– New unregistered teams still forming in schools

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FTC Grants

• FTC Rookie Team Grants– $500 for Rookie FTC teams– 1000 grants on a first come first served basis– 1500 teams registered, 780 veterans

• National Instruments FIRST Robotics Grant– Up to $1,500 for FTC teams– November 1, 2013 deadline– Must use LabVIEW for Mindstorms

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Qualifying Tournaments

• Tournament Dates (tentative)– November 16th – Eagan– December 7th – Lakeville– December 14th – **– January 5th – Elk River– January 11th – **– January 25th – ****Tentative - Keep an eye on HTK Tournament Page

• Registration will open in October– $100 to $150 Registration Fee per tournament

• Up to 24 teams per Qualifier– 6 to 8 teams will advance to MN FTC Championship

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Advancement Criteria1. Qualifier Host Team2. Inspire Award Winner3. Winning Alliance Captain4. Inspire Award 2nd place5. Winning Alliance, 1st team selected6. Inspire Award 3rd place7. Winning Alliance, 2nd team selected8. Think Award Winner9. Finalist Alliance Captain10. Connect Award Winner11. Finalist Alliance, 1st team selected12. Rockwell Collins Innovate Award Winner13. Finalist Alliance, 2nd team selected14. PTC Design Award Winner15. Highest Ranked Team not previously advanced16. Motivate Award Winner17. Highest Ranked Team not previously advanced

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Stratasys Minnesota FTC Championship Tournament

• Prior Lake High School• Saturday, February 22, 2013• 30 - 36 teams• $275 Registration Fee• 4 - 6 teams will advance to the North Super-

Regional

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North Super-Regional

• Carver Hawkeye Arena• Iowa City, IA• April 3-5, 2014• 72 teams• 2 Divisions• 20-25 will advance to the FTC World

Championships in St. Louis, MO on April 23-26, 2014

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200 Volunteers Needed!

• 20 Trained and Certified Key Volunteers– 4 Judge Advisor (Head Judge)– 4 Head Referee– 4 Field Technical Advisor (FTA)– 4 Head Scorekeeper– 4 Head Hardware and Software Inspectors

• 100 Trained Volunteers– 35 Judges, 25 Referees, 10 Scorekeepers, 10 Inspectors, – 10 Field Control Operators, 10 FTA Assistants

• 80 Volunteers– 20 Judge Assistants, 20 Field Reset, 20 Team Queuing, – 20 Pit Administration

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Volunteer Training

• 2 Hours after work or evening• Dates– Nov 7th 6:30-9:00pm in Bloomington– Nov 18th (Tentative) at PTC in Blain– Nov 20th 6:30-9:00pm at GoFIRST @ UofM

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MN FTC “Showcase Teams”

• Florida & New Jersey• Outreach Events• Volunteering• Showcase Blue Ribbon for your pit• Recognized on High Tech Kids Web page• Showcase Icon for your website and

promotional materials

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Leonardo’s Basement

• Leonardo's Basement has been a long time partner of High Tech Kids

• We are asking FTC coaches and mentors to help us identify your fabrication, 3D printing and workshop needs

• Depending on the interest of coaches and mentors we will be offering time at their facility and/or training classes designed specifically for FTC teams

• We are encouraging all teams to fill out the survey and chat with Steve Jevning or Cheryl Moeller while you are here today

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Stratasys 3D Printing

• In addition to Stratasys providing financial support for Minnesota FTC, we are also piloting a BETA program with Minnesota FTC teams and 3D printing

• If your team does not have access to a 3D printer, FTC teams will have access to the soon to be Stratasys 3D printer at Leonardo's basement

• More information will be on the High Tech Kids website as details are still being finalized

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Stratasys Award

• Best use of 3D printed part at the Minnesota State Championship

• More information will be on the High Tech Kids website as details are still being finalized

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Control AwardThe Control Award celebrates a team that uses sensors and software to enhance the robot’s functionality on the field. This award is given to the team that demonstrates innovative thinking in the control system to solve game challenges such as autonomous operation, enhancing mechanical systems with intelligent control, or using sensors to achieve better results on the field. The control component should work consistently on the field. The team’s Engineering Notebook should contain details about the implementation of the software, sensors, and mechanical control.

Guidelines for the Control Award:• Control Components must enhance the functionality of the robot on the field• Control Components must work reliably• Teams are encouraged to demonstrate control components to the Judges• Advanced software techniques and algorithms are encouraged• Prototyped sensors and custom hardware are encouraged

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Evan Hochstein

MN FIRST Senior Mentor

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Colton Mehlhoff

Keynote Speaker

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2013-2014 FTC Game Reveal