SEASON REGISTRATION
We are little more than two weeks from the 2017-2018 FTC season kickoff! It's key that teams complete the season's FIRST FTC registration process and gear up in order to be ready to roll!!
Teams that complete their season registration before September 9, 2017 will be guaranteed two qualifier event spots in the 2017-18 regular season event structure. TheFIRST reg. system date/time stamps all registrations. Participation in one is mandatory for all teams accepting FIRST, FIRST in Michigan, MDE, Sponsor specific grants. Playing in a 2nd event gives a team a chance to apply all they've learned at their first event (plus it's fun!).
TEAM AFFILIATION AND ALIGNMENT
Registered teams should check their team affiliation as listed on the MI FTC Team List (tab 1). It is key for teams that will be submitting for the MI Dept. of Education (MDE) FIRST Robotics State grant to reflect their school affiliation.
Teams that complete their season registration before September 9, 2017 will be guaranteed two qualifier event spots in the 2017-18 regular season event structure. TheFIRST reg. system date/time stamps all registrations. Participation in one is mandatory for all teams accepting FIRST, FIRST in Michigan, MDE, Sponsor specific grants. Playing in a 2nd event gives a team a chance to apply all they've learned at their first event (plus it's fun!).
TEAM AFFILIATION AND ALIGNMENT
Registered teams should check their team affiliation as listed on the MI FTC Team List (tab 1). It is key for teams that will be submitting for the MI Dept. of Education (MDE) FIRST Robotics State grant to reflect their school affiliation.
Teams must be properly aligned to the FIRST in Michigan (FiM) progression, i.e. teams comprised solely of middle school grade/age team members, in order to be eligible for FiM FTC/MDE/sponsor specific grants and to participate in FiM FTC events.
2017-18 FTC SEASON KICKOFF: SATURDAY, SEPT. 9th
FTC season kickoff will be on Saturday, Sept. 9th which is when the new game FIRST Relic Recovery will be fully revealed. Kickoff events are being hosted around the state. These events provide a great chance to network with area teams, pick up some new skills, hone some old ones, and see the season's game up close and personal!
FIRST Relic Recovery game animation and other game specific info will be available on the FIRST FTC national website at 12:00pm (noon) on Sept. 9th: https://www.firstinspires
FTC season kickoff will be on Saturday, Sept. 9th which is when the new game FIRST Relic Recovery will be fully revealed. Kickoff events are being hosted around the state. These events provide a great chance to network with area teams, pick up some new skills, hone some old ones, and see the season's game up close and personal!
FIRST Relic Recovery game animation and other game specific info will be available on the FIRST FTC national website at 12:00pm (noon) on Sept. 9th: https://www.firstinspires
FTC Kickoff Locations (to date): These events are open for registration. All events are on Sept. 9th. All feature a game reveal i.e. FIRST Relic Recovery game elements on display. Many of these events will also include workshops so it's key that your team completes their season registration and has their parts in hand before Sept. 9th. Note a new kickoff event location: Battle Creek FTC Kickoff!
The FIRST Relic Recovery game elements used at our kickoffs will remain in place at the majority of locations. These locations (as well as others around the state) have agreed to serve as "hubs" for area teams providing access to game elements for practice and scrimmages. Access schedules are as determined by the hub host and will be eblasted to teams post kickoff. These game elements will become the official FiM FTC competition fields beginning the first week of November so plan on them being available for team use September-end of October.
The FIRST Relic Recovery game elements used at our kickoffs will remain in place at the majority of locations. These locations (as well as others around the state) have agreed to serve as "hubs" for area teams providing access to game elements for practice and scrimmages. Access schedules are as determined by the hub host and will be eblasted to teams post kickoff. These game elements will become the official FiM FTC competition fields beginning the first week of November so plan on them being available for team use September-end of October.
See previously posted FTC Kickoff blog to find an event near you!
FTC Kickoff Locations (to date): These events are open for registration. All events are on Sept. 9th. All feature a game reveal i.e. FIRST Relic Recovery game elements on display. Many of these events will also include workshops so it's key that your team completes their season registration and has their parts in hand before Sept. 9th. Note a new kickoff event location: Battle Creek FTC Kickoff!
The FIRST Relic Recovery game elements used at our kickoffs will remain in place at the majority of locations. These locations (as well as others around the state) have agreed to serve as "hubs" for area teams providing access to game elements for practice and scrimmages. Access schedules are as determined by the hub host and will be eblasted to teams post kickoff. These game elements will become the official FiM FTC competition fields beginning the first week of November so plan on them being available for team use September-end of October.
The FIRST Relic Recovery game elements used at our kickoffs will remain in place at the majority of locations. These locations (as well as others around the state) have agreed to serve as "hubs" for area teams providing access to game elements for practice and scrimmages. Access schedules are as determined by the hub host and will be eblasted to teams post kickoff. These game elements will become the official FiM FTC competition fields beginning the first week of November so plan on them being available for team use September-end of October.
VELOCITY VORTEX GAME ELEMENT GIVEAWAY
FIRST in Michigan has leftover Velocity Vortex ramps and exercise balls which will be available for pick up on Sunday, August 27th, from 3:00-4:00pm at our trailer location in Farmington Hills. These items are free of charge with a first come-first served distribution order.
Gorman's Furniture (their warehouse)
23231 Industrial Park Dr
Farmington Hills, MI 48335
Farmington Hills, MI 48335
Entrance is off of Halsted Rd., almost to M5. The lot is behind the building. The FiM FTC trailers are gray and are parked against the back of the lot. See pic for entrance: https://drive.google.com/file
SEASON QUALIFIERS
Season qualifiers are shaping up but still in a bit of flux. A preliminary list as well as how event registration works in Michigan is linked: MI FTC Event Process. Note that as FIRST FTC event registration is handled at the local level, a team's Dashboard will not include the team's registered events.
PROGRAMMING
JAVA WORKSHOPS
Save the dates! Two Java programming sessions will be offered on September 12 and 19 from 7-9pm at Kettering University. These will respectively cover intermediate and more advanced Java concepts. These courses will augment the beginner Java programming sessions which are offered as part of the Kettering FTC Kickoff event. Details and sign up info will be shared with teams as it's made available. Java Workshop Info
GOOGLE BLOCKS
FRC 503, Frog Force has been exploring the FTC google blocks programming platform. Blocks is a user friendly graphics based programming language that is a good stepping stone to Android Studio and text based Java programming. It's a great option for rookie teams especially those transitioning from FLL to FTC. Frog Force has consolidated the links to the FIRST documents regarding Blocks on their website at http://www.frogforce503.com
PROGRAM INFORMATION:
2017-2018 FiM FTC Grants and Application Procedures.
FiM FTC Blog: archived team emails
FTC Curriculum: This free curriculum can be used as a stand-alone course or as a supplement to areas where the team needs extra support.
FTC LAPTOP SWEEPSTAKES
Check out the great promotion from FIRST FTC with a chance to win a laptop! Next drawing will be coming up on August 25th. Info on the sweepstakes can be found here: http://info.firstinspire
REMINDERS
- VETERANS: Remember that FTC team numbers are retained from year to year. Do not register your veteran team as a new team - register with your veteran team number. Visit the MI FTC Team List for all 2016-17 team numbers (2nd tab).
- ROOKIES: Remember to start the registration process for your team through to the assignment of your temporary team number (2017xxxxx). Do not pay for anything at this point. Then, apply for the FIRST FTC national Team Grant. These grant funds can only be directly applied through the FTC Storefront. See linked "Grants and Application Procedures" below for a step-by-step process. Applying for this grant is a requirement of the FIRST in Michigan Rookie Team Grant.
- ALIGNMENT: In Michigan, we run a slightly different progression of programs from FIRST national. In Michigan, FTC is a middle school only program with teams comprised solely of MI middle school aged/grade team members. Teams must be properly aligned in order to be eligible for FiM FTC grants and to participate in FiM FTC events.
- TEAM SIZE: FTC team size is capped at 15. Multiple teams out of a given school/organization are welcome and can be eligible for all grants.
- UPDATE TEAM CONTACTS. Remember to have "graduating" team contacts invite their replacements before moving programs. If I'm still a contact for your team from the 16-17 season, PLEASE invite a replacement! See the Team Registration doc linked below for the "who can invite whom" pecking order.
- PAY IT FORWARD (or backward!): If your team members are all moving to FRC this season (Kudos - you've done an AWESOME job!), remember to pass your FTC knowledge and FTC kit of parts on to the next generation of your FTC team. Coming from FLL? Do the same! Help make the STEM pipeline in your community strong!! Per the FIRST FTC Rookie Team Grant - the team's affiliated school/organization is the "owner" of the team number and FTC Kit of Parts as their purchase was made possible by the grant's funds.