2013-2014 Minnesota FTC Kickoff
Announcements
Scott McDowell
Volunteer Head Official for FTC
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• New FTC Affiliate Partner for MN, (July 2013)
– Thanks to: Joe Passofaro & FRC 2169 – KING TeC
• FLL Affiliate Partner for MN since 1998 pilot year
– Expect close to 600 FLL teams in MN this year
– 19 Tournaments planned
• http://www.hightechkids.org/
– Keep up to date by signing up for their FTC newsletter!
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MN Renewable Energy Challenge
Cheryl Moeller is the Executive Director
Vicki Coaty is the Programs Manager
Bethany Juhnke is the new Program Assistant
Evan Hoel is a FIRST AmeriCorps VISTA assigned to MN
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HTK Mission Statement
High Tech Kids delivers fun, hands-on science,
engineering and technology programs and
events that inspire Minnesota kids in their
formative years.
We inspire kids
to BUILD confidence, CREATE opportunities
and THRIVE in the 21st century.
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Minnesota FTC Sponsors
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Minnesota FTC Teams
• 36 Teams last year
– 18 Rookies & 18 Veterans
– 18 Middle School & 18 High School
• 40 Teams, so far this year
– 25 Rookies & 15 Veterans
– 25 Middle School & 15 High School
– Approx. 18 More Veteran teams yet to register
– New unregistered teams still forming in schools
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FTC Grants
• FTC Rookie Team Grants
– $500 for Rookie FTC teams
– 1000 grants on a first come first served basis
– 1500 teams registered, 780 veterans
• National Instruments FIRST Robotics Grant
– Up to $1,500 for FTC teams
– November 1, 2013 deadline
– Must use LabVIEW for Mindstorms
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Qualifying Tournaments
• Tournament Dates (tentative)
– November 16th – Eagan
– December 7th – Lakeville
– December 14th – **
– January 5th – Elk River
– January 11th – **
– January 25th – **
**Tentative - Keep an eye on HTK Tournament Page
• Registration will open in October
– $100 to $150 Registration Fee per tournament
• Up to 24 teams per Qualifier
– 6 to 8 teams will advance to MN FTC Championship
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Advancement Criteria
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Qualifier Host Team
Inspire Award Winner
Winning Alliance Captain
Inspire Award 2nd place
Winning Alliance, 1st team selected
Inspire Award 3rd place
Winning Alliance, 2nd team selected
Think Award Winner
Finalist Alliance Captain
Connect Award Winner
Finalist Alliance, 1st team selected
Rockwell Collins Innovate Award Winner
Finalist Alliance, 2nd team selected
PTC Design Award Winner
Highest Ranked Team not previously advanced
Motivate Award Winner
Highest Ranked Team not previously advanced
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Stratasys Minnesota FTC
Championship Tournament
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Prior Lake High School
Saturday, February 22, 2013
30 - 36 teams
$275 Registration Fee
4 - 6 teams will advance to the North SuperRegional
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North Super-Regional
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Carver Hawkeye Arena
Iowa City, IA
April 3-5, 2014
72 teams
2 Divisions
20-25 will advance to the FTC World
Championships in St. Louis, MO on April 2326, 2014
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200 Volunteers Needed!
• 20 Trained and Certified Key Volunteers
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4 Judge Advisor (Head Judge)
4 Head Referee
4 Field Technical Advisor (FTA)
4 Head Scorekeeper
4 Head Hardware and Software Inspectors
• 100 Trained Volunteers
– 35 Judges, 25 Referees, 10 Scorekeepers, 10 Inspectors,
– 10 Field Control Operators, 10 FTA Assistants
• 80 Volunteers
– 20 Judge Assistants, 20 Field Reset, 20 Team Queuing,
– 20 Pit Administration
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Volunteer Training
• 2 Hours after work or evening
• Dates
– Nov 7th 6:30-9:00pm in Bloomington
– Nov 18th (Tentative) at PTC in Blain
– Nov 20th 6:30-9:00pm at GoFIRST @ UofM
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MN FTC “Showcase Teams”
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Florida & New Jersey
Outreach Events
Volunteering
Showcase Blue Ribbon for your pit
Recognized on High Tech Kids Web page
Showcase Icon for your website and
promotional materials
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Leonardo’s Basement
• Leonardo's Basement has been a long time partner of
High Tech Kids
• We are asking FTC coaches and mentors to help us
identify your fabrication, 3D printing and workshop
needs
• Depending on the interest of coaches and mentors we
will be offering time at their facility and/or training
classes designed specifically for FTC teams
• We are encouraging all teams to fill out the survey and
chat with Steve Jevning or Cheryl Moeller while you are
here today
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Stratasys 3D Printing
• In addition to Stratasys providing financial
support for Minnesota FTC, we are also piloting a
BETA program with Minnesota FTC teams and 3D
printing
• If your team does not have access to a 3D printer,
FTC teams will have access to the soon to be
Stratasys 3D printer at Leonardo's basement
• More information will be on the High Tech Kids
website as details are still being finalized
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Stratasys Award
• Best use of 3D printed part at the Minnesota
State Championship
• More information will be on the High Tech
Kids website as details are still being finalized
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Control Award
The Control Award celebrates a team that uses sensors and software to
enhance the robot’s functionality on the field. This award is given to the team
that demonstrates innovative thinking in the control system to solve game
challenges such as autonomous operation, enhancing mechanical systems
with intelligent control, or using sensors to achieve better results on the field.
The control component should work consistently on the field. The team’s
Engineering Notebook should contain details about the implementation of
the software, sensors, and mechanical control.
Guidelines for the Control Award:
• Control Components must enhance the functionality of the robot on the
field
• Control Components must work reliably
• Teams are encouraged to demonstrate control components to the Judges
• Advanced software techniques and algorithms are encouraged
• Prototyped sensors and custom hardware are encouraged
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Evan Hochstein
MN FIRST Senior Mentor
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Colton Mehlhoff
Keynote Speaker
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2013-2014 FTC Game Reveal
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