Wednesday, October 9, 2019

FTC Oregon: October 9, 2019

Feels like fall!
Good time to hunker down and build a robot! Turn up the music! But... before you do.

1) CHECKLIST FOR REGISTRATION : Is your team????

▢ nationally registered and paid for the national registration.
▢ submitted an FTC Oregon Event application

Deadline for League signup participation is October 15
Deadline for Non-League sign up is Nov 1

▢ paid ORTOP for either League Participation (Deadline Oct 31) or Non-League Tournament (Nov 16)
▢ team name change in case you submitted TBD or Unknown at this time - then CLICK HERE AND submit your team name with your team number.

Click here to see Resource Page for Registration/Sign ups

Click and Check your team's status! - It gets updated after 3 pm each day. Please note, this is a comparison between Last Season and This Season - info in Columns C- F are from Rover Ruckus. Once Registration closes, we will publish current Team Info for Skystone.

Please do not procrastinate these tasks. Especially if you want to be part of a league, please sign up as soon as possible so that I can go forward with planning for the events happening this month.

2) WORKSHOP TRAINING :
FIRST Fair - Saturday, October 19th at Gladstone HS 18800 Portland Ave, Gladstone, OR 97027
Judging from the number of sign-ups I don't think many of you have clicked on the provided links to learn about this valuable opportunity.
Here are the complete Class Descriptions and the Schedule of Classes. Some require signing up, most do not. Sessions** requiring sign-ups up are here.
Team members, mentors and team parents are welcome to attend.
Here are the titles of what is being offered for specifically for FTC to peak your interest.

TIME	WORKSHOP
9:30 AM - 10:25 AM	FTC Mechanical Overview for Rookies - Also a GO TO TRAINING Workshop
9:30 AM - 10:25 AM	FTC Preparing to pass Inspection/What's new!

10:30:00 AM - 11:25 AM	FTC Overview of Skystone (for Team Members)
10:30:00 AM - 11:25 AM	FTC Mentor Roundtable Overview for new mentors by having a discussion with experienced mentors
10:30:00 AM - 11:25 AM	Overview: Using TensorFlow to Locate Scoring Objects on the FTC Field - Applying Deep Learning / Also a GO TO TRAINING session

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM	FTC Referee Training for Skystone (REFEREES ONLY)

11:30 AM - 12:25 PM	Strategies for keeping up with the FTC Engineering Notebook throughout the season so that you have a good notebook to turn in at competition.
11:30 AM - 12:25 PM	FTC - Ask The FIELD TECHNICAL ADVISOR: Ask about all that techy stuff - phones, SDK installs, navitagating GitHub, what's Vuforia?

1:00 PM - 2:55 PM	2 hours - FTC OnBot Java PROGRAMMING** sign up

TITLES of SESSIONS FOR BOTH FTC AND FRC

FIRST Grant Writing
FTC/FRC SIEMENS Solid Edge
FTC/FRC Fundraising
FTC/FRC 3D Printing Part 1**
FTC/FRC Synthesis
Presentation Best (& Worst) Practices
FTC/FRC 3D Printing Part 2 -Hands on Lab**
FTC/FRC FIRST Equity & Inclusion Training Roundtable - Registration Required**
FTC/FRC Interviewer Training** - ORTOP is looking for Mentors/ Volunteers to conduct interviews of team members for an evaluation study. Valuable training and stipend provided.

3) This week on the ORTOP FTC Resource Page we are highlighting KEY links that are hard to find on the national FTC page.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

FTC Oregon Update: Oct 1, 2019

EMAIL SENT ON OCTOBER 1 - 11:03 AM

FTC Oregon Teams:

It's FTC Oregon Event Sign up Day TODAY at 5:00 pm !!
I'll be sending out the link to the ONLINE form at 5:00 today.

I'm asking teams to not delay in signing up for events.
Not yet paid your national reg? Don't delay signing up for an event.
Don't have a team name yet? Don't delay signing up for an event.

You will need to pay national reg and have a team name by the end of the month but don't delay in signing up for events if you intend to participate this season.

To help you prepare for this afternoon, please review the information on this page.

___________________________________________________________________________

EMAIL SENT ON OCTOBER 1 - 5:00 PM

Slow down, enter the information carefully.

Remember, even if you haven't quite finished paying national reg, or you don't have a team name, please sign up for a League or Non-League events so that I can go ahead and prepare for the season.

LINK TO REGISTRATION PAGE with the link to ONLINE SIGN UP

Cathy Swider, Program Manager

FIRST Tech Challenge

Oregon Robotics Tournament & Outreach Program (ORTOP)

Office Phone: 503.486.7622 x 103

Cathy-Swider@ortop.org | www.ortop.org Pronouns: she/her/hers

4800 SW Griffith Dr., Suite 215 | Beaverton, OR 97005

Friday, September 27, 2019

FTC Oregon Update: Friday, September 27, 2019

Topics for today

1. Registration: National Registration and FTC Oregon Event Sign up
2. ORTOP Team Support - FIRST Force
3. Tensor Flow Workshop on Oct. 5 - typo change of venue
4. FIRST Fair - correct date & FTC Rookie video
5. Plea for venues - SQ fun
6. Alissa Robot Box
7. Email Sign up
8. Recent posts of note on FIRST Tech Challenge Facebook Page
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1. FIRST Tech Challenge National Registration and FTC Oregon Event Sign-up.

To signed and participate in FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon events, teams must be nationally registered and have paid the $275 national registration fee.

To register your team, click here for national registration information.

FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon Event Sign-up launches on Tuesday, October 1 at 5:00 pm. The link will be sent to the ftcoregon@ortop.org list and posted here in HOT TOPICS.

Teams will need to request a slot in a League or choose which Non-League event they prefer. There is a separate fee for FTC Oregon Tournaments.
There is a separate fee for FTC Oregon tournaments - click here to see payment info
DEADLINE : League Sign-up will close on October 15
DEADLINE: Non-League Sign-up will close on October 31

2. ORTOP Team Support Update

ORTOP has exhausted our funding that was available through the Oregon Department of Education. The one funding source remaining with specific requirements.

We still have funds for Rookie Teams or Additional New Teams that meet in Linn, Benton, Polk, Marion, Lincoln , and Lane Counties. The application link is open to accept applications for teams that meet this criteria.

3. Tensor Flow Workshop on October 5th UPDATE

This workshop has been moved from PSU to the ORTOP office in Beaverton due to a Marathon Race in downtown Portland. There are 8 slots remaining in the workshop. We will accept applications until Sept 30. Information and sign-up link
ALSO, an overview of the Tensor Flow workshop will be offered at FIRST Fair on Saturday, October 19th at 10:30 am at Gladstone HS . There was a TYPO in my last email that referenced this as being on Oct. 5. That is incorrect. FIRST Fair is on October 19th at Gladstone HS.

4. FIRST Fair- Saturday, October 19 at Gladstone HS

I hope everyone is excited about this opportunity and plans to attend if possible!
The list of workshop offerings are very impressive. Many are FTC only but a number of them are for both FTC and FRC. Only sessions for team parents and adult volunteers.
How this will work. Most sessions are Show Up and Attend. No pre-event sign-up needed. The FTC Programming Workshops for Blocks and OnBot Java are sign-up workshops so that we know we have enough laptops and workshop robots.
The 2019 FIRST Fair Class Schedule is now posted with their class descriptions.
Sign up for FTC Programming workshops and others here.
And here is a preview of the workshop FTC Mechanical Overview for Rookie Teams.

5. Our FIRST Tech Challenge Event schedule for 2019-2020 is posted

We have secured venues for almost all events.
DESPERATE NEED FOR SQ VENUES:We are in desperate need of venues for two of the three Super-Qualifiers in February. We need a gym (or creative substitute), a place for a pit, a place for lunch and about 4 classrooms for judging.
Looking for a Saturday or Sunday, weekends of Feb 8/9, or Feb 15/16, or Feb 22/23.
Be a STAR WARS HERO and help us find locations for SQ: Kachirho and SQ:Theed Contact Cathy Swider if you can help.

6. ROBOT TRANSPORT BOXES!!!

During the summer, Alissa Jurisch, from team SPLIT #12000, thought of her time in robotics for her Girl Scout Gold Award project and created 5 storage lockers with FTC robots in mind, but they could be used for FLL parts as well. With wheels and locking casters these boxes will not only allow Hilhi robotics to store their robots safely, but also allow them to be rolled out with tools and parts for competitions.
Alissa is sharing her build plans with the FTC Oregon Community so that you can build your own.
CLICK HERE for all the details

7. FTC Oregon email Subscribe and Unsubscribe - here is the link. The current list will be deleted and change over to the new subscriber list on October 31.
8. Important information on the FIRST Tech Challenge Facebook page. FTC HQ doesn't always send important info in their team blast. To stay up to date, click here

Recent informational posts included:

To help teams develop the best robots for the game, PTC provides a full-scale SKYSTONE playing field model in AR.
Tech Talk: There is a known issue with version 5.2 of the FTC control system software that prevents the reliable operation of the software with an externally connected USB webcam

Friday, September 20, 2019

FTC Oregon Update: September 20, 2019

FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon Community:

Before I communicate business items, the Staff and Board of Directors of ORTOP are saddened and stunned by the tragic loss of Charlotte Van Valkenburg, a champion of the Oregon FIRST community. Charlotte embodied Gracious Professionalism in her multiple roles, as Coach of FIRST Robotics Competition Team #5468, Chaos Theory, Mentor and League Manager for FIRST Tech Challenge Central Oregon League, and volunteer coordinator for Bend area Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournaments. Her contributions were recognized earlier this year at the Pacific Northwest District Championships, where she received the Woodie Flowers Finalist Award. We grieve alongside Charlotte's family, friends and students impacted by this loss, but heartened by wonderful memories of Charlotte and committed to carrying on her incredible legacy.
A memorial service will be held for Charlotte at the Westside Church in Bend, Oregon on Wednesday, September 25th at 1:00 PM.
____________________________________________________________________________
A few items of business for you:

October 5th Workshop at Portland State University - SIGN UP

Using TensorFlow in JAVA to Locate Scoring Objects on the FTC Field - Applying Deep Learning
The focus in this hands-on workshop is writing code that recognizes and locates game pieces. It is a hands-on experience with TensorFlow. Students will modify code to make a robot more capable. Along the way students will be introduced to Convolutional Neural Networks to help them understand how Deep Learning works.
Presented by Dr. Edward Epp, Oregon IEEE Robotics and Automation Chair
FTC Oregon is accepting applications for this workshop. Slots are limited to 12 per session.

Applications are submitted by the Team Mentor. The Mentor can recommend a student or an adult mentor attend the workshop.
Our goal is to provide this opportunity to teams who have some autonomous Java programming skills but have not attempted using Tensor Flow or have not been successful.
CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE SIGN UP. Open until NOON on Tuesday, September 24.
Please note: A lecture style presentation on Tensor Flow will be offered at FIRST Fair on October 19th at Gladstone HS. Because it will not be hands-on there are no restrictions on the number of attendees.

2019-2020 FTC Oregon League, Tournament Schedule

We don't have all of the pieces to the puzzle in place but enough to release this to you.
CLICK HERE to see the current view of the League and Tournament Schedule

FIRST Fair - October 5th at Gladstone High School

WOW! There are LOTs of workshop offerings. And we are SO close to sharing them with you. The Class Descriptions, Schedule, Sign-ups. Only the FTC Programming workshops have Sign-ups, all other FTC sessions are open for who ever shows up.
I expect everything to be posted on THIS PAGE by Saturday morning, Sept 21.

Skystone Mentor Letter 2019 - snail mailed. Today I mailed letters with stamps on them to all 2018 Lead Mentors and 2019/20 New Mentors for whom I could find a snail mail address. Please take time to read it, especially if you are not getting the emails. :-) If you are getting my emails you can click the link and read it. It's a Catch-22. LOL!
FTC EQUIPMENT FOR SALE: And Total Chaos will not be participating this season. Their coach is hoping to sell their equipment to teams that need it. Contact him at: Varad Josh - Varad.joshi (at)yahoo(dot)com Phone: 503-621-8420

Monday, September 9, 2019

We kicked off Skystone! Now what?

FTC Oregon Community:

Three cheers for all of our Skystone Kickoff Sites!
Hood River Valley HS, Beaverton School of Science and Technology, Canby High School, Hamlin MS, Springfield, St. Mary's School, Medford, OSU Cascades, Bend, and Tillamook HS!!! Hope you all enjoyed it.

Now what????
If you didn't attend a kickoff - CLICK HERE to view the folder with all of the videos shown at the Kickoff Sites

Next up -
All the things you need to do to participate in FIRST Tech Challenge 2019-2020.

Here is a brief checklist:

Nationally register and pay the registration fee
Get both Lead Mentors through background screening
Get parents and team members signed up on the FTC Oregon email list
Recruit team members and organize them, secure space for meetings.
Order needed kits/parts/field elements.
Pick a path: Join a FTC Oregon League and compete starting in the fall or go Non-League and wait until January to compete
Get ready to sign up for FTC Oregon events starting on Oct 1
For the answers to the above click the link and bookmark it.

>>>>FTC Oregon Team Resources https://ortop.org/ftc/ftc-team-resources/

A Change in Communication
Instead of writing long-winded emails/blog posts..... GOING FORWARD... I'll be using the email/blog post to direct you to LINKS on the ORTOP webpage or the national FTC webpage for key information.

If you delete an email or can't find something, bookmark ftcoregon.blogspot.com and go there.

Or go to FTC Oregon Team Resources https://ortop.org/ftc/ftc-team-resources/ and look at HOT TOPICS.

FINALLY - if you have question, registration issues, want to chat..... email me or call. My time is dedicated to helping all of you "Get In The Skystone Game" !

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cathy Swider, Program Manager

FIRST Tech Challenge

Oregon Robotics Tournament & Outreach Program (ORTOP)

Office Phone: 503.486.7622 x 103

Cathy-Swider@ortop.org | www.ortop.org Pronouns: she/her/hers

4800 SW Griffith Dr., Suite 215 | Beaverton, OR 97005

See what’s happening with FTC:

Opening doors to the worlds of science, technology,

engineering and mathematics for Oregon’s youth.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Fall is almost here - Welcome back - It's KICKOFF TIME

FIRST TECH CHALLENGE SEASON KICKOFF
SEPTEMBER 7, 20199:00 AM PDT - Game ReVEAL
_____________________________________________________

Everyone is invited to our live
FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon Kickoff Events!

The events are open to current teams and interested adults and kids who want to learn more about the FIRST Tech Challenge program, how to start a team or get involved as volunteers. We are looking forward to seeing new people and returning league and non-league teams and volunteers.Invite someone new to come to the event!
Connecting with a SKYSTONE KICKOFF

Attend a live in-person event! There are 7 FTC Oregon Kickoffs scheduled in

Beaverton, Bend, Canby, Hood River, Medford, Springfield and Tillamook -
CLICK HERE for event details

Hold your own Kickoff party for your own team or invite a few teams and watch the Kickoff on TWITCH-TV from California - scroll to bottom of screen for links
Catch it later by watching the game animation video on the Game/Season page

What you will have access to on Saturday, September 7th

Game Animation Video
Game Manual 2 with all of the Skystone Rules
Vision Targets
One-page overview of the Skystone game
GLOBAL KICKOFF PAGE – FIRST Tech Challenge – SKYSTONE

What will be updated on Monday, September 9th

Revised Game Manual 1 - including Judging/Awards and updated rules
Most, if not all, the resource materials here

When will the FIRST Tech Challenge Forum be open for Game related questions?

Monday, September 16th

OTHER SEASON INFORMATION

How to order your very own Skystone Kit!!

ORTOP Team Support Award (financial assistance) Information Page
Round #2 applications are due by August 30th ....but I'll leave the link open through Labor Day :-)

OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY - We are looking for one FTC Team to volunteer for the ORTOP booth at Portland mini-Maker Faire on Saturday Afternoon on September 7th.
Click Here to Sign Up

VISTA Opportunity - ORTOP is approved for two FIRST VISTA positions (Volunteer in Service to America). This is a full-time position and requires someone to serve in the ORTOP office in Beaverton. Should be a FIRST alum or FIRST Volunteer, cannot be attending school or hold another job. Contact Cathy Swider for more information.

FIRST FAIR AND WORKSHOPS

FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon will be offering workshops for rookie and veteran teams this fall. We have a new location and format for our workshops. This season FTC Oregon will be at FIRST Fair, a collaborative workshop experience with FIRST Robotics Competition teams and volunteers. Some tracks will be FTC only, some both programs, and some for volunteers, team parents and community supporters.

FIRST Fair - Saturday, October 19th at Gladstone High School

Registration will be per class /per person via Sign-up Genius and will be available shortly after FTC Kickoff
Full schedule of workshops will be released after Kickoff

Tensor Flow Workshop in JAVA instructed by Dr. Edward Epp, IEEE, Robotics and Automation Chair and co-founder of FTC Oregon

at Portland State University

October 5th - Morning Session (12 team members)
October 5th - Afternoon Session (12 team members)

limited to 12 team members per workshop
If your team is well versed in Tensor Flow using Java, please allow others to have the slots. This is an introductory class.

We are limiting the opportunity to:

veteran team members only
one team member per team
pre-requisite: Attendees must have the skill to create a Java program that drives their robot forward until a light sensor detects a line. (note: create = write, not copy/paste)

Registration will be per class/per person via Sign-up Genius and will be available shortly after FTC Kickoff
What about a Tensor Flow using BLOCKS workshop? Stay tuned for more details.

Monday, August 12, 2019

Pre-Season FTC Update!

FIRST Tech Challenge OREGON Community!

Update on Cathy's schedule: As some of you may have heard Cathy Swider (me, who writes this blog and is the FTC Oregon Affiliate Partner) has been out of the office on medical leave since mid-July due to a car accident (and vacation prior to that). I have just returned to the office today (Aug 12). I'm not quite back to full time yet but I'm working on the most important items to keep things moving for this season. I am behind on some critical tasks. Your support and help to make sure we kickoff this season successfully is greatly appreciated. I'm thanking you in advance for your help. Thank you all for being so patient waiting for me to return emails/phone calls. If I haven't returned one, please send it again.

FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon KICKOFF EVENTS for SKYSTONE!

GLOBAL FTC KICK OFF Saturday, September 7th!

Doors open by 8:45 am. GAME REVEAL at 9:00 AM PST
We have seven OREGON sites for SKYSTONE kickoff events this year.

Bend, Hood River, Springfield, Beaverton, Medford, Canby, Tillamook!
Check out the sites and schedule!

Watch for event information to be updated with additional site activities.

NATIONAL REGISTRATION FOR FIRST Tech Challenge
As of today (Aug 12) we have 32 FTC Teams registered for Oregon. That's about 176 teams short of what I expect to register for this season.
Time to kick it in gear and get ready for a great SKYSTONE season powered by Star Wars: Force for Change. It starts with getting your national registration started. You can start to update your information for this season prior to paying. It allows me to see that you are in process for this season.
LINK TO COST AND NATIONAL REGISTRATION page .

FIRST Tech Challenge GAME MANUAL ONE

It was published in July 2019. There ARE CHANGES you need to know about.
This is the page with ALL current updates for SKYSTONE .

NOTE: There is nothing in Game Manual One about Judging or Awards. It will be updated on September 7th.

Here is a table of contents for Game Manual One.
SKYSTONE Game Manual Part 1 - updated 7/10/19

You might want to find the answers to these questions.

Will red/blue alliance flags be provided to teams this season or will teams need to make their own to spec?
Has the scoring system changed that changes how teams are ranked?
Have some behaviors been specifically called out as egregious acts subject to red cards and DQ?
Will a careful read of the Robot Inspection Section of Game Manual One lead to game clues?

ORTOP Team Support Awards Application

ORTOP is accepting ROUND TWO applications for ORTOP Team Support Awards. Please read the ORTOP Team Support Information page for details, application worksheets and the online application link. Round Two apps will be accepted until August 30th.

Round One Applications are now in the review process.
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NEXT BLOG in about one week: Information about Leagues, League Meet Dates and Tournament Schedule.