Is it week three already?

Good Afternoon Teams,

We are rapidly approaching the halfway point of build season.  I hope all is going well for your team.  Keep checking those Team Updates: http://frc-manual.usfirst.org/TeamUpdates/0 and don't forget to build in safety both for the team members who work on the robot and for anyone who will be lifting/transporting the robot.  We provided 2 pairs of gloves in the Kit of Parts.  Remember to wear gloves when lifting the robot in and out of your practice area to prevent cuts and be sure to use good lifting practices.

2nd Regional Event and FIRST Championship Registration payments are due this Friday, January 27th.

We have been working diligently and the "Save as PDF" function has been fixed on the Competition Manual page: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/competition-manual-and-related-documents

We have added the ability to download all of the Team Updates to the Game and Administrative Manual as a PDF. We are working on the ability to download individual Team Updates and will let you know when we’ve added that functionality.

Do you have an innovation inspired by your FRC season experience you think is worthy of recognition?  Apply for the FIRST Future Innovator Award, presented by the Abbott Fund!  We begin accepting applications this Friday, January 27th.  Submissions must be received by Noon EST, March 16th to be considered.  This award will be presented at the FIRST Championship in St. Louis.  Check here for more information: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/future-innovator-award 

Microsoft is very excited about supporting the FRC teams by providing direct technical support and assistance.  If you have a Microsoft store nearby, call and ask for the Community Development Specialist.  If you have questions specific to the Kinect, contact skills@microsoft.com

If you're traveling a long distance to your FRC events this year you're going to want to check out these discounts on flights and car rentals: http://www.usfirst.org/aboutus/travel-discounts

28 days until Stop Build Day

See you soon!

A Few Questions Answered

Good Morning Teams,

Do you have technical game questions?  The FRC Q&A is open.  See what other teams have asked the GDC and leave a question of your own.

Don’t know your password for FIRST Choice or the FRC Q&A?  Your team’s log in and password for both systems are available in TIMS on the team summary page on the right hand side.

Don’t know what to worry about next?  The FRC season deadlines are all available on the Season Calendar. 

Are you having trouble saving the FRC Manual to PDF?  You’re not alone.  We know there’s a problem.  The developers are working on it now.  Please stand by.

Are you traveling to a Regional Event and don’t know what to do with your robot the night before the big day?  This year, most US and Canada Regional Events will allow teams to drop off their robot and equipment between 6 & 8PM the evening before practice day (Wednesday night in most cases- Thursday if your event starts on Friday. Check the event agenda when it is published for more details.)  Teams may ONLY drop off their robot and equipment, no unbagging, no plugging in batteries, no work of any kind.  Teams are, however, encouraged to leave their Robot Lock Up forms in plain view so that robot inspectors can get a jump start on approving forms for the morning. 

Do you need help with your Robot? Do you have expertise you’d like to share with a team? Visit the FIRST Virtual Technical Advisor System to form relationships with teams, mentors and technical experts who are available either through email, phone or instant message.

Are you hosting a week zero event?  Here at HQ we’re planning to be involved with two events on Saturday, February 18th so we can get feedback on how the game plays and how the field performs.  If your team is hosting a week zero event, please let me know by sending an email to FRCTeams@usfirst.org. 

Are you following the Team Updates on your smart phone?  Down load the FRC Manual app today.  The iOS App to follow the Q&A is now available in the App Store.  Search for FRC Q&A by Quextit Media Corp.  Android users, we haven’t forgotten you, the app is in development and we’ll let you know when it is ready.

35 days until Stop Build Day
See you soon

If - Then

Good Afternoon Teams,

Are you a little busy?  A lot busy?  I want to remind you of a few things, then I’ll let you get back to what you were doing.

If you haven’t noticed yet, one of the three driver stations on each alliance will be just 44” wide this year (narrower than last year).  Be sure to design your driver station to fit this new dimension.

If you haven’t seen them yet, Field Walk Through Videos are posted on the FRCTeamsGlobal YouTube page.  Here at HQ we think of them as the Matt & Derek show and wonder who would win the best supporting actor category.

If you haven’t used it yet, a group of four FRC alumni from Diamond Bullet Studios developed a simulation of the 2012 FRC game that was used by the Game Design committee during game development.  Go here   to register and download the game.

If you didn’t make it to Manchester for kickoff, the workshops are now available online. 

If you haven’t heard, the FRC manual is copyright.  © FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC®) 2012.

If you can’t get the FRC Manual updates on your iphone, reload the app.

If you aren’t sure what the FRC sticker in the Kit of Parts was for, use it to help fulfill Dean’s Homework.  Take pride in FIRST and place the FRC sticker somewhere prominent on your finished robot so it will show up in photos.  Let everyone know your robot is a FIRST robot.

If you’re wondering how to get your robot to your first event.  The February 9th Senior Mentor call will be all about Robot Transportation.  Join us at 7PM ET Call Toll-free: 1-866-951-1151 And use Conference Room: 9533018

If you’ve forgotten, be sure to check the team updates every Tuesday and Friday.  Update #1 is already posted.

If you still have questions, Q&A opened today at noon. There will be a “How To” there for the new system and a link to the system itself. The login information for your team's account is in TIMS.

42 days until Stop Build Day
See you soon

Flash update IV

Good Morning Teams,

If you can’t make it to your local kickoff tomorrow.

http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/robotics/

24 hours until Kickoff

See you then!

Flash update III

Good Afternoon Teams,

All the Kit of Parts shipments to Kickoffs have left the warehouse and are on their way.  Some are already waiting for your local Kickoff to start.  Shipments to My Site teams start tomorrow.  (Don’t expect yours until the week after Kickoff.  We’re shipping to international sites first.)

During the broadcast follow #FRCKO.  You never know what you might learn

3 days until Kickoff
See you then!

Flash Update II

Good Morning Teams,

The new FRC Android and iOS apps are now available on line.   Don’t know why that’s exciting? Read my November 28 blog.  If you have an Iphone, search for “FRC Manual” in the App Store.  If you have an Android, you can use this link right now.  The App is expected to be available in the Android Market soon.

The Apps currently show the 2011 game information and will automatically update after Kickoff with the new Game Manual.  Our thanks to Enable Training & Consulting and Appdelegates for their work on these Apps.

The encrypted Kit of Parts Checklist has been added to the Competition Manual page on our website. 

3 days until Kickoff
See you then!

Flash update

Good Evening Teams,

The Decryption Test page is ready. http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/2012DecryptionTest
The encrypted game manual is now available to down load.  http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/competition-manual-and-related-documents?id=452

4 days until Kickoff
See you then!