Ah. The day the bIrobot and all other FRC teams wait for all year. Kickoff! The start of build season. No sleeping until February 19 at 11:59 p.m. If you want to join in the announcement you can check with us about attending our event or visit the FIRST website.
Chairman’s Award Application DEADLINE
The FIRST Robotics Competition Chairman’s Award application opened on Thursday, November 9, 2017 at 12:00 PM, Noon (Eastern Time) and closes on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at 3:00 PM (Eastern Time).
For more information, visit the Submitted Awards Page.
Woodie Flowers Award Application DEADLINE
The FIRST Robotics Competition Woodie Flowers Award application opened on Thursday, November 9, 2017 at 12:00 PM, Noon (Eastern Time) and closes on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at 3:00 PM (Eastern Time).
For more information, visit the FIRST Robotics Competition Manual (coming soon).
Dean’s List Award Application DEADLINE
The FIRST Robotics Competition Entrepreneurship Award application opened on Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 12:00 PM, Noon (Eastern Time) and closes on Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 3:00 PM (Eastern Time).
For more information, visit the FIRST Robotics Competition Manual (coming soon).
Today at 11:59:59 (04:59:59 GMT) is the end of the 2019 build season for FRC teams all around the world including the BICS bIrobot team. bIrobot is among more than 3,000 teams in 30+ countries completing robots that are custom designed and built to compete in this year’s FRC game named Destination: Deep Space! The six week qualification round period begins next week with the bIrobot Team heading to matches at Orchard View High School in Muskegon on March 14-16 and Lake Superior State University on April 4-6.
About the 2019 bIrobot
Well, we can tell you much about it now because we won;t know the challenge for the 2019 season until January 5, 2019. But, for now we can tell you about last year’s robot. Our 2018 robot was unlike any the team has built before. It has a six wheel drive system with four closely spaced pneumatic tires (two on each side and all powered) and two “omni” wheels (that can drive forward and roll sideways) far forward on the chassis (one on each side). On board the robot are four major sub-systems. First, the telescoping, two stage lift system can extend from 50 to 100 inches in height and move its main stage from floor level to the top position of the lift. The lift system carries the second system, a cube handling system that can pick-up a milk crate sized, nylon covered cube from the floor in any orientation, and eject it at any level the lift can reach. The lift systems also caries the third system, a climbing assist mechanism that can extend a cantilever arm to a bracket and then work with the lift system to climb the entire robot at least 12 inches off the floor. (This sub-system contributed to our team winning a technical achievement award at one of our events in the 2018 season.) The final major system is an electronics bay that includes the computer, power supply, motor controllers and safety systems that control the robot.
Again this year the FIRST world championship events are split between two locations–Houston and Detroit. We qualified for the world championships in St. Louis in 2016 (when they were still a single event). We worked hard to make it back to Worlds this year, but we did not make it. But, with the event nearby in Detroit you still might want to attend to see the competition as well as to attend some of the many conference sessions and to visit the exhibits.
Here is a link to information about the Detroit World event: https://www.firstchampionship.org/detroit-home. We attended the event last year because there are many useful conference sessions at Worlds. (We snuck into watch a few matches, too.) The FIRST world event is more exciting than any other high school competitive event we know about. If you can make it there even for a day, we encourage you to go. It’s all free for general attendance at the matches and for all conference events.
Join us for a 2020 season kick-off event in the robot lab at BICS. We’ll watch the kick-off show live streamed for FIRST HQ and then begin work on planning our 2020 robot. We’ll wrap things up with a traditional pizza party at 1:00 p.m.
If you aren’t able to join us at BICS, you can watch the Kick-off live from FIRST HQ here: https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/1747660/85b43e41-770e-4585-86bf-f0a69d289791
FIRST HAS CANCELLED THIS YEAR’S CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT IN DETROIT.
Again this year the FIRST world championship events are split between two locations–Houston and Detroit. We qualified for the world championships in St. Louis in 2016 (when they were still a single event) and have attended the Detroit Championships as a guest of Consumers Energy after winning a state-wide Pit Display comeptition. We will work hard this year to return as a competitor in the event.
Here is a link to information about the Detroit World event: https://www.firstchampionship.org/detroit-home. The FIRST world event is more exciting than any other high school competitive event we know about. In addition to competition events for all four FIRST Leagues (FLL Jr., FLL, FTC and FRC), you can visit the teams in their pits and attend a full schedule of conference sessions that cover a broad range of topics of interest to students, parents and mentors that cover a variety of robotics and other topics. If you can make it there even for a day, we encourage you to go. It’s all free for general attendance at the matches and for all conference events.
Join us for a 2022 season kick-off event in the robot lab at BICS. We’ll watch the kick-off show live streamed for FIRST HQ and then begin work on planning our 2022 robot. We’ll wrap things up with a traditional pizza party at 1:30 p.m.
If you aren’t able to join us at BICS, you can join us by Zoom:
This year, FIRST® teams will explore the future of transportation. From the shipment of packages in rural and urban areas, to disaster relief delivery and high-tech air transit, teams will re-imagine faster, more reliable, inclusive, and sustainable transportation innovations that better connect and grow communities and economies around the world. Teams will address today’s global challenges related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #9, focused on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. By encouraging FIRST participants to think about future transportation sustainability, we’re also empowering them to be the next generation of leaders and innovators, tackling the world’s toughest challenges.
Join us for a 2023 season kick-off event in the robot lab at BICS. We’ll watch the kick-off show live streamed for FIRST HQ and then begin work on planning our 2022 robot. We’ll wrap things up with a traditional pizza party at about 1:30 p.m. over at the BIC Center.
If you aren’t able to join us at BICS, you can join on our Discord server or on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87601760989?pwd=bzdiaFJOMWF5SjE3b3dYVUJuT3VrUT09
Meeting ID: 876 0176 0989 | Passcode: [our team numner]| One tap mobile: +13126266799,,87601760989# or +13092053325,,87601760989#
This year, in a game called CHARGED UPSM presented by Haas, FIRST® Robotics Competition teams will prepare for a challenge that is fully charged to inspire your team to see the potential of energy storage in a new light. Watch the season kickoff January 7, 2023 for the game reveal.
From the machines that move us to the food that sustains us to the wireless technologies that connect us, energy plays an essential role in keeping our world running. During our 2022-2023 robotics season, FIRST® ENERGIZE℠ presented by Qualcomm, FIRST teams across our programs will reimagine the future of sustainable energy and power their ideas forward.
To empower young people to be leaders and innovators, this year’s energy theme addresses global challenges related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #7 — focused on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
This is the moment to get energized to innovate.
Here’s a short video from Haas that explains how skills FIRST team members learn translate to work at Haas and other companies that offer great jobs and career opportunities.
Join us for a 2024 season kick-off event in the robot lab at BICS. We’ll watch the kick-off show live streamed for FIRST HQ and then begin work on planning our 2022 robot. We’ll wrap things up with a traditional pizza party at about 1:30 p.m. over at the BIC Center.
If you aren’t able to join us at BICS, you can join on our Discord server or on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87601760989?pwd=bzdiaFJOMWF5SjE3b3dYVUJuT3VrUT09
Meeting ID: 876 0176 0989 | Passcode: [our team number]| One tap mobile: +13126266799,,87601760989# or +13092053325,,87601760989#
This year, the theme of the competition is CRESCENDO presented by Haas. FIRST® Robotics Competition teams will use their engineering skills and creative power to entertain and move the world.
Watch the kickoff celebration and debut of CRESCENDO, January 6 on FIRSTtv. Sign up now for a tune-in reminder
Lights, camera, STEAM! Science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) inspire big ideas, bold action – and creativity. Our skills make it possible to create art and experiences that bring us together, entertain us, and move us. During our 2023-2024 arts-inspired robotics season, FIRST® IN SHOWSM presented by Qualcomm, we will celebrate the roles our STEM skills play in the arts and design and build a world of endless possibilities.
The future is yours to create.
