Starting a Middle School FTC Team

Code Red RoboticsCorey Oostveen

Outline

• Registration and tournament info• Team management guidelines• Coach & mentor qualifications/time demands• Cost, budgeting and fund-raising tips• Programming and Controls resources• Where to find vital resources & updates• Q&A with area FTC coaches

About FTC

FTC in Michigan

• Middle School Program• 46 teams currently• Goal:100 new teams this season

FLL

FTC

FRC

Important Dates

• May 9, 2012– Registration Opens at noon for the 2012-2013 Season

• Sept. 8, 2012– Season Kick-off for the 2012-2013 Season

• Nov. 2012 - March 2013– Tournament Season (Late November/Early December)

• April 24-27 2013– FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship Event in St.

Louis, Missouri

Coach/Mentor Qualifications

• Does the coach need a technical background?• What is the time commitment?

– 3-6 hours per week• How many coaches are needed?

– 1 adult for every 5 kids– 10 kids per team

Cost, budgeting and fundraising tips

• Sample Budget• Grants• Fundraising

Sample BudgetITEM Costs Totals

ESSENTIAL COSTS:

FTC Registration $275

Initial Kit of Parts* $900

Essential costs before grants $1,175

Less Grant from GM ‐$600

Total Essential Costs $575

OPTIONAL COSTS:Extra parts team may want to purchase (optional) $400

Robot C software (optional‐ labview comes free) $75

Local tournament fee (Varies by event) $200

Food and entertainment of team (varies by team) $700

Travel to events (varies by team) $350

T Shirts‐ and banners/misc. (varies by team) $400

Total Optional Costs $2,125

TYPICAL FTC TEAM BUDGET$2,700

*KIT INCLUDES:

Kit TETRIX‐ kit with Mindstorm $650

Resource Kit (add on but needed) $200

Samantha Module $‐ 50‐ (Wifi module to connect robot to comp field) $50

Total Kit Costs $900

Grants

• GM Grant (Michigan Specific)– $600 to new FTC teams

• FIRST Graduation Grant– You are a registered, rookie FTC team (a new team that

did not exist prior to the 2012-2013 FTC season).– At least one member of your rookie team participated as

a member of an FLL team in one of the last four seasons.– Your team must have an affiliation with a non-profit

organization willing to accept funds on your behalf.– Covers Registration fee of $275 and provides $300

Grants

• Lego Foundation Grant– You must register and pay for their 2012-2013 FTC

season.– Have a valid rookie team number.– At least one member of your team must have

participated in FLL in one of the last four FLL seasons.

• $100 per FLL graduate, up to $300 max per team, towards an FTC Competition Kit (with or without MINDSTORMS) at FTCrobots.com.

Fundraising

• Participation Fee• Sponsors• Reasons Why a Company Should Sponsor an FTC Team:

– Funding FTC teams encourages a talented future workforce.– Sponsors help to develop the community in which they

exist by providing for positive experiences for young people.

– Sponsorship creates and enhances awareness of the company in the local community.

– Companies can add their logo on to team banners or T-shirts.

Fundraising• Always be sure that the host organization approves the chosen fundraiser.• To be more original, make and sell items that complement the community.• Make it fun! The more fun the fundraiser is, the more donors will want to be part of

the excitement.• Think of fundraising ideas that do not require additional Volunteers, or a greater

time commitment.• Ask community groups to support the team in any way they can. A number of major

retail franchises may match money raised at their sites, while others may offer community groups free or discounted products.

• Be sure to call local businesses and ask them what they might do to help. Every little bit raised is helpful!

• Visit local businesses and companies to grow the program in the area and bring community awareness for the team.

• $100 from ten businesses might be easier to attain than $1,000 from one Sponsor.• Several small fundraisers are easier to coordinate than a single large one.

Preparing the team

• Before Kickoff• Explaining the Rules and the Challenge• The Engineering Notebook• Preparing the Team for Judging• Preparing the Drive Team for Competition• Preparing the Pit Crew for Competition

Before Kickoff

• Familiarize with hardware and software• Tutorials and curriculums

Explaining the Rules and the Challenge

• Everyone read the manual• Watch the game video several times• discuss game rules without referencing robot

design at all

Engineering Notebook

• Very Important!!!• Document obstacles that will be faced.• Highlighted lessons that will be learned.• Sketch or draw ideas for development and

testing.• Record the results of development and

testing.• Document teams decisions.

Engineering Notebook

• Document everything! • Include:

– Sketches and photos– Discussions from team meetings– Design evolution– Processes– AHA! Moments– Obstacles and resolutions– Each team member’s thoughts throughout the journey.

Preparing the Team for Judging

• Hold mock judging sessions in each area• Be prepared to speak about

– how the robot was designed and built– Driving– game strategy– the Engineering Notebook– community service– outreach, and fundraising.

Preparing the Drive Team for Competition

• Timed trials• A way to keep track of score• Attend a scrimmage• Have backup drive team(s)

Tools Recommended Tools

Additional Power Tools

Helpful Supplies

• Allen Wrench, 7/64"

• Allen Wrench, 1/8"

• Wrench (open end / box end), 5/16"

• Wrench (open end / box end), 1/4"

• Hacksaw, 32 tooth blade

• Hand Files (flat and round)

• Wire Strippers

• Wire Cutters

• Needle Nosed Pliers

• Soldering Iron

• Jigsaw

• Drill

• Heat Gun

• Extra Vise Grip

• Shrink Wire Wrap

• Electrical Tape

• Black, Red and Green Wire

• Small Zip Ties

• Blue Lock Tight

• Fuses for 12 volt battery

• Gear and Axle Lubricant

• Extra Fuses for 12V Battery

• Cable Ties

Programming and Controls resources

• http://www.tetrixrobotics.com/FTC/• https://decibel.ni.com/content/community/fir

st/ftc• www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc/ftctoolb

ox

Where to find vital resources & updates.

• http://www.coderedrobotics.com/ftc-resources/

• http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc/