I hope your season is going well! We have a few topics today:
Required Volunteering at Events
Kitbot Videos
Instructions on Using the Digikey Voucher to get a FREE XRP
Kettering’s Mid-build Season Event
Altair Software
VOLUNTEERING AT EVENTS:
Each team is required to provide volunteers to fill 2 positions for each of the official FIRST in Michigan events they attend. This includes your initial 2 district events plus any additional Michigan events you attend, including third plays and/or the State Championship. Rookie teams need only to staff 1 position with their volunteers. The Volunteer Coordinator (VC) at your event will check to see if you have fulfilled this responsibility.
Team mentors, parents, and family members may not serve as Judges at any official Michigan events, so please make sure they do not apply to serve as a Judge.
The volunteers do not have to be a member of your team. They can be parents, family members, sponsors, friends, or business associates. If your team is small you may prefer to help with set up or teardown, or to volunteer at Michigan events your team is not attending.
KITBOT VIDEOS
The Kitbot videos on our website are complete. They walk you through the entire Kitbot build STEP-BY-STEP. They are extremely detailed and are meant to make you feel as if you have a seasoned mentor sitting on your shoulder advising you on exactly how to build and code the Kitbot. They cover everything you need to bring the robot to competition: all mechanical, electrical, coding, testing, bumpers, and even improvement ideas! Find the Kitbot video series in the FIM Virtual Robotics Studio:
If you are already using our Kitbot videos, please let us know by filling this out: https://docs.google.com/
DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON USING YOUR DIGIKEY VOUCHER FOR A FREE XRP
We worked with Digikey to create detailed instructions on where to find your Digikey voucher and how to redeem it to order a FREE XRP tabletop coding robot. (SEE THE ATTACHMENT, “How to Redeem your Digikey Voucher“).
Once you have an XRP in your possession, use our step-by-step XRP videos to learn how to set it up and learn to code: https://firstinmichigan.us/
KETTERING IS HOSTING A MID-BUILD SEASON EVENT
Kettering asked me to pass this along this note:
Kitbot/Everybot/Ri3d bots Mid-build Event at Kettering University
You’ve heard of the Everybot, right? How about Ri3d? Well, FIRST has introduced the Kitbot, and Kettering University is ready for your team to showcase your robot on Week 4. That’s right, Week 4! Join 15 other FRC and Ri3d teams to compete in this mid-build event.
Who: Rookie teams from Michigan that built the FRC Kitbot or Everybot, along with teams from any state that built
the Ri3d (Robot in 3 Days)
What: Kitbot/Everybot/Ri3d bots Mid-build Event at Kettering University
Where: FIRST Robotics Community Center at Kettering University
1900 University Ave, Flint, MI 48504
When: Saturday, February 3, 2024 (Week 4 of Build)
Time: 1:00-5:00 PM
Max No. of Teams: 16
Cost: Free
Details
- Kettering University, FUN, and AndyMark have collaborated to host this event
- FUN will be onsite to stream the event
- The event will be held on a mock field with actual FIRST drivers stations
- Scoring will NOT be electronic
- Each team will have use of a 5′ table
- Bring limited supplies due to space
- Bring your own batteries
- Offensive play only, bumpers recommended but optional
- No food provided or permitted
- Beverages allowed, not provided
- Veteran teams who built a Kitbot as a second robot for team training purposes may register for the waitlist
- Rookie teams and Ri3d teams who have registered after the 16-team max team limit has been reached will go on the waitlist
- Rookie teams and Ri3d teams will have preference over veteran team
Registration Link for Kitbot/Everybot/Ri3d bots Mid-build Event at Kettering University
Cancellation of registration by a team must be sent to Clinton Bolinger at cbolinger@kettering.edu by Wednesday, January 31, 2024
ALTAIR, OUR NEWEST SPONSOR
Many of you attended the Zoom call last month with Altair where you were introduced to the power of Altair’s FREE software to create a lighter, more effective robot. If ANY team would like Altair to contact them for a demonstration on how Altair’s software can help maximize their robot’s performance, please fill out this form:
This email will be posted on the firstinmichigan.org website under FRC resources with the other EBlasts.
