Event Fees & Fundraising Tips

Event fees for this season are as follows:

• Qualifiers:  $75 per team
• Championships:  $100 per team

Hosts will inform teams participating at their events how to remit payment.  This information is also posted on each event's site page on the FIRST in MI FTC website.

Updates and Reminders

Updates & reminders:

• RobotC Upgrade:  For users of RobotC, version 3.51 has a bug that affects Program Chooser. Teams should get the free upgrade to the latest version, 3.54.  Visit the robotc.net site for more information.

MI Middle School FTC Team List

The team list for this season is posted here:  MI Middle School FTC Team List

The list has been updated to include Championship preferences and advancement.

Coach's Corner

Due to an ever increasing fan base, Brian Smith's  FTC Coach's Corner blog is accessible here.  It includes build tips, lessons learned from scrimmages, field comm info, etc.  Have a topic your team would like addressed?  Email Brian at novirobotics@gmail.com.

Open Field Time at FrogEx

Frog Force, FRC Team 503 in Novi, has created a FTC practice room at their FrogEx site. FTC teams are welcome to play on the full size FTC field complete with this year's game elements.  Email novirobotics@gmail.com to RSVP for a time slot.  A waiver will be required for every person entering the site and will be emailed when a visit is confirmed.  

• Sunday 11/25/12 1pm-4pm
• Tuesday 11/27/12 7pm-9pm
• Wednesday 11/28/12 7pm-9pm

YES! Expo Outreach Opportunity

Yes! Expo is next Thursday, November 1st, at Ford Field.  FIRST in MI is an invited exhibitor at this amazing event.  FTC teams are needed to showcase our program!  A full sized FTC field will be set up complete with this year's game elements.  Any FTC teams that would like to be a part of this outreach opportunity, which runs from 8am-2pm, please email michiganftc@gmail.com.

MI FTC Event Registration opens 10/22/12

** Event registration forms have been sent.  If your team has NOT received a form via email, sent to your team's main contact, please send a note to  michiganftc@gmail.com.

Michigan Middle School FTC 2012 season events have been posted on the FIRST in Michigan site!  Hover over FTC Events in the top menu bar and click on 2012 Events.

Event registration will open on Monday, October 22, 2012 at 7:00am via a google doc form that will be sent to the Main Contact for each team as set up on your Team Profile accessible through TIMS.  Registrations will be timestamped and events will fill on a first-come, first-served basis.  For more information,  MI FTC Event Process link.

PTC Hands-On Workshop - 10/27/12, Holland MI

Holland FIRST Robotics Team CHAOS (FRC Team 74) and Code Red Robotics (FRC Team 2771) are co-hosting with PTC a free hands-on workshop to show how you can build a better robot in less time using PTC software products Creo/Elements, MathCad and Windchill.
Date: Saturday, October 27, 2012
Time: 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Location:  Haworth Inc; One Haworth Center, Holland, MI 49423

Registration link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/79CSXR3

For more information contact us at westmichiganfirst@gmail.com

PTC Hands-On Workshop - 10/6/12, Bloomfield Hills MI

The Bionic Barons (FRC team 2834) is co-hosting with PTC a free hands-on workshop to show how you can build a better robot in less time using PTC software products Creo/Elements, MathCAD and Windchill. All Michigan FRC and FTC teams are welcome to attend. Here is the flyer.

Date: Saturday, 10/6/12
Time: 9am - 4pm
Location: Andover High School, 4200 Andover Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

To Register: Use this link.

FTC Workshop - Sept. 29th, Lake Fenton High School

Date:  Saturday, September 29

Time:  9am-1pm

Location:  Lake Fenton High School, 4070 Lahring Road, Linden  48451

  * Use this address if GPSing

Topics:  Robot Build & Programming, Field Comm, Game Strategy, Engineering Book, Judging, Competition, Resources, Q&As

Cost:  $20 per team

Register:  Link to the Registration Form

A full field with this year’s game elements will be on hand - bring your measuring tape! Light snacks and water will be available. Thank you to FTC Team 6301 for hosting!

Grants Available

General Motors Grants: Thanks to General Motors, a long time and very generous sponsor to our FIRST family of programs in MI, grants have been made available to newly formed MI FLL and MI Middle School FTC teams.

• New MI FLL teams can apply for a $300 GM grant
• New MI Middle School FTC teams can apply for a $600 GM Grant

To apply for these grants, register your team with FIRST then fill out this form:
MI FLL/FTC GM Grant Application to start the process.


Graduation Grants: Teams graduating from FLL to FTC are eligible for two grants from FIRST and the LEGO Foundation. These grants are available on a first come-first served basis. Details are available by visiting this link: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc/grow.

FIRST Robotics Night at Comerica Park

On August 22, 2012, join us at a Detroit Tigers vs. Toronto Blue Jays game for FIRST Robotics Night at Comerica Park. A robot will throw out the "FIRST pitch" and our family of programs will be on exhibition to showcase FIRST to the 30,000+ fans in attendance. Radio and TV coverage too!  We need our whole robotics community to be part of the event.  Tickets are on sale now:  TICKET ORDER FORM.  Teams and robots are needed for the demonstrations, contact frogforce503@gmail.com to sign up. 

FTC Registration is Open

Registration for the 2012-2013 season is open.  Remember - returning FTC teams keep their team number.  Registration is done through FIRST's TIMS system.  For more information about how to register and season costs:  FTC Registration and Cost.