Here’s the plan for build sessions this season. We will meet Monday through Thursday after school from 3:20 to 9:00 p.m. We may quit earlier some evenings based on supplies or other issues that make us unproductive. Boys basketball players will break for practice from 5 to 6:30 on Mondays and Wednesdays and 3:20 to 5:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Girls basketball players will do the reverse. Cheer team members will break for their practices on Wednesdays (3:20 to 5:00). Generally we will break for dinner at 5:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays and at 6:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Fridays, we’ll vary depending on the basketball schedule. When there are home games we will meet from 3:20 until game time. When there are away games, those of us not traveling will meet from 3:20 to 10:00 p.m. Younger members of the team can plan to go home after dinner.
As we get closer to stop build (February 20) we will work later, and on February 20 we will, in accord with tradition, work until 11:59:59.
Here’s the plan for build sessions this season. We will meet Monday through Thursday after school from 3:20 to 9:00 p.m. We may quit earlier some evenings based on supplies or other issues that make us unproductive. Boys basketball players will break for practice from 5 to 6:30 on Mondays and Wednesdays and 3:20 to 5:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Girls basketball players will do the reverse. Cheer team members will break for their practices on Wednesdays (3:20 to 5:00). Generally we will break for dinner at 5:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays and at 6:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Fridays, we’ll vary depending on the basketball schedule. When there are home games we will meet from 3:20 until game time. When there are away games, those of us not traveling will meet from 3:20 to 10:00 p.m. Younger members of the team can plan to go home after dinner.
As we get closer to stop build (February 20) we will work later, and on February 20 we will, in accord with tradition, work until 11:59:59.
Today at 11:59:59 (04:59:59 GMT) is the end of the 2018 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 Power Up! The six week qualification round period begins next week with the bIrobot Team heading to matches at Grand Valley State University on March 22-24 and Marysville High School on April 5-7. You can see the completed 2018 bIrobot at the annual Chili Cook-off at BICS the evening of March 2.
About the 2018 bIrobot
This year’s robot is 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 caries 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. The final mojor system is an electronics bay that includes the computer, power supply, motor controllers and safety systems that control the robot.
Here’s the plan for build sessions this season. We will meet Monday through Thursday after school from 3:20 to 9:00 p.m. We may quit earlier some evenings based on supplies or other issues that make us unproductive. Boys basketball players will break for practice from 5 to 6:30 on Mondays and Wednesdays and 3:20 to 5:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Girls basketball players will do the reverse. Cheer team members will break for their practices on Wednesdays (3:20 to 5:00). Generally we will break for dinner at 5:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays and at 6:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Fridays, we’ll vary depending on the basketball schedule. When there are home games we will meet from 3:20 until game time. When there are away games, those of us not traveling will meet from 3:20 to 10:00 p.m. Younger members of the team can plan to go home after dinner.
As we get closer to stop build (February 20) we will work later, and on February 20 we will, in accord with tradition, work until 11:59:59.
This year the FIRST world championship events are split between two locations–Houston and Detroit. We didn’t make it this year (there is always next season), but we are looking into a trip to the event so we can attend some of the many conference sessions that are a part of Worlds (and catch a few matches). We’ll also toss in a college visit or two if we can.
Here is a link to FIM’s information about the Detroit World event: http://www.firstinmichigan.org/events/eventInfo.php?id=126&program=frc. The conference schedule is here: https://www.firstchampionship.org/full-schedule?field_program_tid%5B%5D=66&field_event_location_schedule_tid=32&field_time3_value%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=&field_time3_value2%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=&items_per_page=25
We invite you to attend the 2nd Annual bIrobot Movie Festival where we feature films that feature robots. Before the films, the bIrobot Team will take to the stage to explain what FIRST is all about, demonstrate their robots and answer questions. This year we will also display our award winning pit facade and other materials that we used to promote Beaver Island at our events this season.
Our feature films this year are Wall-e (featuring the robot Wall-e and his pals) at 3:00 p.m. and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (featuring Marvin the Paranoid Android) at 7:00. If you are only interested in the team presentation, please come for that and feel free to leave before the movie starts. The presentations will happen ahead of each of the films and will last about 20 minutes.
On Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 12:00 PM, Noon (Eastern Time), the application for the following FIRST Robotics Competition awards will open:
- Chairman’s Award
- Dean’s List Award
- Woodie Flowers Award
For more information, please visit the the FIRST Robotics Competition Manual (coming soon).
Kit and Kickoff Registration Closes
Date: Monday, November 19, 2018
Time: 12:00pm (noon) Eastern Time
Kit and Kickoff Registration closes. This is the deadline for FIRST Robotics Competition teams to select a Local Kickoff location to pick up their Kickoff Kit and or enter number of attendees for the Kickoff broadcast.
If you have any questions, please contact frcteams@firstinspires.org.
All District Events and All Regional Events Registration Closes
Date: Monday, November 19, 2018
Time: 12:00pm (noon) Eastern Time
All District Events (this includes additional In-District and additional Inter-District) and all Regional Events registration closes for rookie and veteran teams for the 2019 FIRSTRobotics Competition Season.
If you have any questions, please contact frcteams@firstinspires.org.
Payment Due – 1st and 2nd District Event
Date: Monday, November 19, 2018
Time: 5:00pm Eastern Time
Payment is due to the FIRST Finance Department for all rookie and veteran teams registered for their 1st and 2nd District Event for the 2019 FIRST Robotics Competition Season. Acceptable forms of payment are check (US funds only); Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express credit card; Purchase Order; or commitment letter form Grantor or Sponsor.
If you have any questions, please contact FIRST Finance at 1-800-871-8326 ext. 563 or ar@firstinspires.org.
