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FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC®) Championship – FRC combines sports excitement with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams are challenged to fundraise, design a brand, exercise teamwork, and build and program robots to perform tasks against competitors.

This year’s FRC challenge was “Rebound RumbleSM,” where matches are played between two Alliances of three teams each. Each Alliance competes by trying to score as many of the basketballs in the hoops as possible during the two-minute and 15-second match. Balls scored in higher hoops score teams more points. Team Alliances are awarded bonus points if they are balanced on bridges at the end of the match. The Winning Alliance of the FIRST Robotics Competition Championship was Team 180, S.P.A.M., Stuart, Fla.; Team 16, Bomb Squad, Mountain Home, Ark.; Team 25, Raider Robotix, North Brunswick, N.J. from the Galileo Division.

Team #16- The BOMB Squad from Mountain Home Ark

Mr. Cole, Mentor for Team 4396 (Manassas High School) took a trip this past weekend to the St Louis US First Championship and sent me a few pictures.

Thought I would pass them along:

The 2012 FIRST Robotics Competition Championship is finally here! The Championship competition is taking place on April 26-28, 2012 from the America’s Center (Edward Jones Dome) in St. Louis, MO. Can’t make it in person, check out the live webcasts or the NASA TV education channel.

On April 13, Medtronic brought together all the Memphis area teams they sponsor (Team Intrepid Horn Lake Team 3411, The RoboChiefs Craigmont Team 3516, The TurkeyBots St Mary’s Team 3686 and The RoboWildcats Team 3783) for Robotapalooza! The teams got to show off their robots to Medronics engineers and celibate their accomplishments throughout the year.

This is the first time all of the Medtronic sponsored teams in the Memphis area have gotten together to show off their robots and it was only fitting that it took place during National Robotics Week.

For more pictures go HERE

Thank you to Medtronic for organizing the event and for sponsoring FOUR FRC Teams in the Memphis Area!

by Dena L. Owens
Special to the Tri-State Defender
4/12/2012

Exposure to robot building has fascinated youth in the Memphis City Schools – so much so that two high school teams, once “rookie” robot builders, now compete nationwide and advise new teams.

Robotics teams at Craigmont and Hamilton high schools participated in two major contests this year. In March, both teams competed in a two-day regional tournament in Knoxville. In April, both competed again in out-of-state regional contests thanks to a $12,000 grant from corporate sponsor Medtronic, Inc., a global force in medical technology. The grant covered trip expenses such as bus travel.

Craigmont competed in Dallas and Hamilton in Minneapolis, Minn., among high school teams from across the country. Craigmont finished 11th out of 51 teams and Hamilton finished 15th among 65. Medtronic Inc. will recognize both teams during a special event at its Memphis office on Friday, April 13.

Since 2009, the MCS Robotics Initiative has grown from three to nine high schools consisting of eight teams: Booker T. Washington and Carver (teamed together), Cordova, Craigmont, Hamilton, Kingsbury, Manassas, Memphis Academy of Science and Education, and Memphis Business Academy.

MCS robotics teams fall under the advisement of a national non-profit organization called FIRST, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, which selected Craigmont and Hamilton to compete in additional regional contests this year.

FIRST builds youth interest in science and technology by helping students build computerized robots from the ground up. A robotics kit provided by FIRST helps students learn how robots are used in fields such as biotechnology, engineering and medicine. FIRST hosts regional and national tournaments, and promotes “gracious professionalism” whereby experienced teams give advice to “rookie” groups.

Craigmont’s first try at regional competition occurred in Knoxville in 2011.

“Last year’s contest changed my attitude about robotics,” said Craigmont senior Keunna Arnold. “We learned more and were excited about competing again this year!”

For 2012, FIRST required teams to build a robot to successfully play Rebound Rumble, a game where the machine throws an 8-inch basketball into a goal to score (see www.usfirst.org for an example). Teams are given six weeks building time and access to robotics mentors. Finished robots, with their many wires, lights, steel arms and rolling bases, are then tested for accuracy.

Craigmont’s team, the Robo Chiefs, built their 2012 robot “Geronibot” as an improved model over last year’s machine After undertaking two robotics camps and advisement by five U.S. Navy experts in logistics, technology and explosives, the Robo Chiefs were “ready to rumble.”

“We wanted to up the ante from last year,” said Robot Chiefs member Quinton Jones. “We’re competitive, but we helped new teams this year, just like we were helped last year.”

Asked about the best part of robot building, Craigmont sophomore Rose Zeng replied, “I enjoy the teamwork and programming the computer.”

Patricia Kilzer, a Craigmont chemistry teacher and Robo Chiefs advisor, said, “Our team’s dedication is contagious! Even my husband helped me to help them.”

Craigmont’s principal, Sherilyn Brown, tested “Geronibot” before it was shipped for competition.

“Our 2012 robot is better than last year’s,” said Brown. “Being selected for the additional tournament in Dallas truly inspired our students.”

Watch how engineers are crossing engineering disciplines and industries to apply computing, technology, math and science to solve complex world problems. The video encourages viewers to think about how the 1.6 million engineers worldwide are behind some of the greatest innovations and inventions of modern times.

For more information goto IEEE Solutionists

Has your team used your AndyMark First Choice credits? Over 25% of teams haven’t (according to Bill) and that means they are throwing away FREE MONEY. You have until 4/30/2012 to spend your credits.

What is your team doing to celebrate http://www.nationalroboticsweek.org/?

10th Annual High School
Engineering Competition

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS UNIVERSITY
ST. BENILDE HALL
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012
3:30 P.M.
(GRADES: 9-12)

REGISTRATION: Entry Forms and $5.00 Entry Fee per student-event must be postmarked by Friday, March 30, 2012. Events are intended for individual competitors. Partners may enter, but all participants must submit an entry form and pay an entry fee.

PRIZES: $150, $100, and $50 will be awarded respectively to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place winners of each of the four competitions.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.cbu.edu/cbu/Academics/SchoolofEngineering/Pre-College/HighSchoolCompetition/index.htm