Kickoff 2011

[rsisk]

Just thought I would be a thread started for Saturday's event.

Here is the line up of speakers from:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110105007304/en/Inventor-Dean-Kamen-Joined-Luminaries-FIRST®-Kick


FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) will be joined by public figures to launch the 20th season of the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC®) with a worldwide Kickoff event originating from Manchester, N.H.
-- The 2011 season will include an estimated 2,200 teams (over 45,000 high-school students) participating in 57 Regional and District events. All teams will be shown the 2011 robotics game field and challenge for the first time and will receive an exciting, new Kit of Parts made up of motors, batteries, a control system, and a mix of automation components – but no instructions. Teams will have six weeks to design and build robots to meet this year’s engineering challenge.

Dignitaries and public figures from across the nation will deliver remarks, including:
-- Hon. John Lynch, Governor of New Hampshire;
-- Walt P. Havenstein, Chairman, FIRST Board of Directors & CEO of SAIC;
-- Neal Bascomb, Author, “The New Cool;”
-- Amir Abo-Shaeer, Teacher and MacArthur Foundation Fellow (and subject of book on FIRST);
-- Robin Saitz, Senior Vice President Solutions Marketing and Communications, PTC;
-- Dr. Woodie Flowers, Chairman, FIRST Executive Advisory Board & Pappalardo Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering, MIT;
-- Bill Miller, Director, FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC);
-- Dave Lavery, Program Executive, NASA;
-- Jon Dudas, FIRST President;
-- Dean Kamen, President, DEKA Research and Development Corp., and Founder, FIRST; and
-- Special Guests

[Nate Smith]

Hmmm...."special guests"....any thoughts on what surprises they're trying to hide behind this one?

[Joe Ross]

Hmmm...."special guests"....any thoughts on what surprises they're trying to hide behind this one?

Joseph Boardman, president of Amtrak

I'm looking forward to hearing Amir and Neal. I especially want to find out if Neal sounds like Billy Mays, since he always starts his posts the same way...

[thefro526]

Joseph Boardman, president of Amtrak

(Insert train themed hint comment here)

Looks like a cool line-up. I have to say I'm more excited for this Kick-off than I may have ever been.

[BrendanB]

Snoop Dog for his kickoff rap.

[BMW987]

I'm happy to see that Amir (mentor of FRC team 1717) is on that list. He is a great mentor for a highly respected team.

[Tetraman]

Is there a place where we all want to gather, some big chatroom? I know using this thread is one way of doing it, but anyone have plans for a chatroom to use?

[waialua359]

+1 for Amir.
Awesome!:)

[Chris is me]

I'm going to be sitting at home so if there's a chatroom I want in.

[davidthefat]

Some one set up an IRC... Does the guest speakers have any relation with the game?

[Cuog]

There's always been a firstchat irc, see my sig for the details, we'd be glad to have you.

[Tetraman]

Little more than two hours left.

Almost time.

[Bryan Herbst]

Anyone else having trouble getting the NASA webcast? The quicktime plugin shows a 404. Broken in both firefox and chrome.

Edit: Just using the backup. That works fine.

[Chris is me]

No luck for me on Real, but Windows Media is streaming the Public channel just fine for me.

[Graham Donaldson]

Anybody getting "this week at NASA" on the stream? I thought it started at 10...

EDIT: Never mind... Decided I should actually read the webpage. 25 minutes left...

[1361ducttape]

Anyone else having trouble getting the NASA webcast? The quicktime plugin shows a 404. Broken in both firefox and chrome.

Edit: Just using the backup. That works fine.

I can't figure out how to get to the backup. Help!

[Tyler Hicks]

on the right side of the screen, go to windows media player telecast under "view more options"

or click direct link

http://www.nasa.gov/55644main_NASATV_Windows.asx

P.S. - anyone in GVSU kickoff?

[1361ducttape]

All I get is a NASA educational video about sunspots...

[kfgk14]

Got the same "susnpots" video.
Anyone got anything better? What you seeing?

[Joe G.]

Read the nasa site: broadcast doesn't start till 10:30

[owlettebot]

I'm so excited, but sad at the same time because I can't be with my team for kick-off...and that I'm an alumni sooo I can't do my mascot job D: I'm having separation anxiety already...

[1361ducttape]

Oh! whew, I thought I was missing it! Thanks!

[Mongai]

Read the nasa site: broadcast doesn't start till 10:30
...as in 10:30 on the eastern coast, you mean.

Where we are, we are recieving the broadcast at 9:30.

[Jogo]

Is the NASA site 30 minutes delayed? Shouldn't it be 10-12, not 1030-1230?

[1361ducttape]

I'm so excited, but sad at the same time because I can't be with my team for kick-off...and that I'm an alumni sooo I can't do my mascot job D: I'm having separation anxiety already...

I feel your pain. My team is in Denver at their kickoff, and I live in Kansas now. I miss the days...

[treffk]

I feel your pain. My team is in Denver at their kickoff, and I live in Kansas now. I miss the days...

There were local Kansas/Missouri teams that invited everyone to come to their kickoff party.

[1361ducttape]

There were local Kansas/Missouri teams that invited everyone to come to their kickoff party.

I know, but I have wife/two little girls here at home, so I have to watch the stream. Next year, they will be old enough to go out to the kickoff (even if they don't understand what's going on) and I can help out the local team: 1108 Panther Robotics.

[treffk]

Whats up with the yellow intertube?

[Mike AA]

I'm at gvsu. What's up?

[1361ducttape]

Whats up with the yellow intertube?

and the white one... wasn't one of the clues the FIRST logo? White circle... I think they are teasing us with gamepieces

[TD912]

http://twitter.com/FRCTeams
Pay close attention during Kickoff presentation for possible game hints

[treffk]

and the white one... wasn't one of the clues the FIRST logo? White circle... I think they are teasing us with gamepieces

I agree, so will it be like 2007 all over again, well with new twists?

[Richard Wallace]

I agree, so will it be like 2007 all over again, well with new twists?Or like 1997.

[sergeydgr8]

What number are people texting to get their message on the banner on the bottom for the Happy birthday message?


btw, will.i.am just walked out. wtf.

[TD912]

Ehh.... Will.I.Am?

That was unexpected.

The messages on the bottom were sent in previously here (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/messagesforFRC) over the past few weeks, but the form is closed now.

[treffk]

Very, lets see if he reappears in St. Louis.

[1361ducttape]

I want a cool hat!!

[treffk]

I foresee a new scholarship! The Will.I.Am scholarship!

[ErikEdhlund]

The tubes and the old school FIRST logo make me think of a 1997 game again...

[293spike]

Will.I am's hat said Logomotion. They accidentally showed it for a second before he tilted it. That must be the game name.

[treffk]

The tubes and the old school FIRST logo make me think of a 1997 game again...

I'm not familiar with that game and usfirst is expectedly slow.

[BobC]

Whats up with the yellow intertube?
I was looking at tube also.

[1361ducttape]

Will.I am's hat said Logomotion. They accidentally showed it for a second before he tilted it. That must be the game name.

"logomotion"...locomotion...are we moving strings of FIRST logo pieces?

[ChaosX73]

The tubes and the old school FIRST logo make me think of a 1997 game again...

This actually has nothing to do what you said. I actually noticed that in your signature you used the wrong "Your".

It should be "You're Pathetic."

[davidthefat]

Of darn... What seems extremely hard for autonomy, aren't the tubes semi transparent?

[blayde5]

Will.I am's hat said Logomotion. They accidentally showed it for a second before he tilted it. That must be the game name.

my quality wasn't too great but on the webcast but if that's true... then I guessed it almost right by 1 letter! (I guessed Locomotion)

the inner tubes are scaring me though...

[Creator Mat]

my quality wasn't too great but on the webcast but if that's true... then I guessed it almost right by 1 letter! (I guessed Locomotion)

the inner tubes are scaring me though...

In the great words of admiral Akbar "Its a trap"

[ChaosX73]

The yellow inner tube isn't a part of the logo though... Hmm, trickery trickery... :confused:

[davidthefat]

In the great words of admiral Akbar "Its a trap"

http://furiousfanboys.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/tarp-30198.jpg

[2403baby]

the circle in the middle of the logo

[treffk]

Red triangle!

[BobC]

Different tube. I just saw a white tube.

[ChaosX73]

OOOOOOOOOH, crap... He just threw a red triangle. This is creepy...

[davidthefat]

Now there are triangle inner tubes?

[Tetraman]

Visions of being on the Rack n' Roll field reset crew are coming back to haunt me. Oh dear...

[Tyler Hicks]

oh man, i think its leading towards the game piece. Look at the hint #2. I bet there will be a square soon and those are the game pieces.

[BobC]

Visions of being on the Rack n' Roll field reset crew are coming back to haunt me. Oh dear...
Thanks I could not remember the name of that game with the tubes.

[TD912]

"The bar is continuously being raised" - Woodie Flowers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIRST_Frenzy:_Raising_the_Bar
Maybe I'm reading too much into his speech.

Anyway...

Blue square, White circle, Red Triangle...

Yellow bonus circle?

[avanboekel]

Who is ready for them to throw out the square blow up thing!?

[Tyler Hicks]

Who is ready for them to throw out the square blow up thing!?

i am! hint hint game pieces

[cbeavers6790]

i am so excited for this. i am having a robotics kickoff party at my house......over 20 super nerds plus mentors watching on a 60 inch.....then straight to the whiteboard for planning

[libinator]

It makes sense...the game pieces could be the FTC logo...it is the 20th anniversary!!!

[Mike AA]

Gaaa!! Blue square!

[blayde5]

I just saw an inflated square....

Looks like the 2nd Game Hint wasn't a joke haha

[Creator Mat]

where are we supposed to get a square and triangle inner tubes?

[1361ducttape]

A blue square tube!! We're playing with the FIRST logo!!!!!

[ChaosX73]

Blue Square! Idk, but maybe it's just a coincidence. Maybe they're just trying to psych us out...

[indubitably]

wow, logomotion. It makes sense.

locomotion: hint #1

logo: hint #2

We will be moving these inflatable parts.

[Richard Wallace]

Thanks I could not remember the name of that game with the tubes.The 1997 game with tubes was called Toroid Terror.

[davidthefat]

Isn't FLL and FTC fully automated? Is the game going to be fully automated?

[avanboekel]

Blue Square
Red Triangle
White Circle
'Bonus Yellow Circle'???

They are all floating because it is a water game.

[Drivencrazy]

where are we supposed to get a square and triangle inner tubes?

Game Pieces may come in the kit of parts. That does mean each team will be restricted to one practice game piece. I thought FIRST wanted to keep game pieces easily accessible to all teams, guess not.

[BobC]

Stacking game, points for how they are arranged?

[FlyingD662]

Do we have to stack them?!?! Why did Dave pick up the triangle?!? OOHHHH THE SUSPENSE!!!

[Tuba4]

What is with the yellow ring? I get the other inflatables.

[ChaosX73]

Blue Square
Red Triangle
White Circle
'Bonus Yellow Circle'???

They are all floating because it is a water game.

I was trying not to think of the water game joke, but he's starting to stack the tubes... Hmm, maybe that's it, we have to stack them? I don't know.

[sergeydgr8]

Logomotion: stack logo pieces on top of each other.

[avanboekel]

Oh my gosh! He is stacking the tubes! Maybe he is just making the first logo.

Therefore, it is a water game.

[cbeavers6790]

ummm i think its going to be putting the pieces into a goal shaped like the logo...and its logomotion

[ChaosX73]

Oh my gosh! He is stacking the tubes! Maybe he is just making the first logo.

Therefore, it is a water game.

Stacking tubes while floating on water? THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!

[indubitably]

Please stop stacking those, thanks.

[sergeydgr8]

Oh yeah, the yellow circle might be a bonus point or something. Watch out for that.

[treffk]

Oh yeah, the yellow circle might be a bonus point or something. Watch out for that.

Or it's a spoiler like in 2007.

[ChaosX73]

This is crapfully crapful. I'm hate suspense. I don't think we're ready for a water game.

[Chomper2013]

I doubt it's going to be a water game.

[cbeavers6790]

this is an entertaining story

[Katie_UPS]

The yellow tube is prolly like a keeper from 07 and locks in the logos

[avanboekel]

I doubt it's going to be a water game.

We can still hope, can't we?

[BobC]

Oh yeah, the yellow circle might be a bonus point or something. Watch out for that.
Team has to stack in a certain order. The yellow stops you from stacking you will have to remove yellow to continue stacking.

[indubitably]

Okay, what if we had to shoot footballs through the moving logos.

[Chomper2013]

Yep, but it just seems highly unlikely imho.

[cbeavers6790]

no water game absolutly not water+electronics=bad no water

[ChaosX73]

Team has to stack in a certain order. The yellow stops you from stacking you will have to remove yellow to continue stacking.

THAT'S IT!!!!!!!!!

[davidthefat]

If its a water game, I'm down.

[BobC]

We can still hope, can't we?
I do not think you will ever see a water game. The arenas where events are held will probably will not want to take the risk of a leak. Water can cause a lot of damage very easily.

[Chomper2013]

Team has to stack in a certain order. The yellow stops you from stacking you will have to remove yellow to continue stacking.


With what he's saying I definitely agree with you.

[ChaosX73]

He just confirmed it. It's stacking.

[sergeydgr8]

He's explaining the pieces now.

[RobotRaider]

Logomotion: a game combining and commemorating past FRC competitions.
1997, 2004 (Woodies speech), 2007 :ahh:

FTC and FLL possibly a focus on autonomous

[ChaosX73]

Here we go.

[Chomper2013]

I take back what I said about it not being water related.... >.<

[avanboekel]

Thank God he couldn't get that white tube in the blue tube.

[ChaosX73]

Oh no!!!! Water. Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap.

[sergeydgr8]

CONFIRMED, IT IS LOGOMOTION

[Chomper2013]

I'm scared.

[davidthefat]

Thank god, they are gonna make autonomy a little bit easier

[Chomper2013]

yeah. But it's still a little crazy with the mini bots.

[treffk]

Sounds like FLL experience will help this year!

[sergeydgr8]

will.i.am "it's dope"

[George Nishimura]

Interesting game...

On a sidenote, doesn't Bill look like Nicholas Cage, or is it just me?

[ChaosX73]

Interesting game...

On a sidenote, doesn't Bill look like Nicholas Cage, or is it just me?

It's definitely just you. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Jf2J1wSLNGs/SMgn7RCn_bI/AAAAAAAAAAM/CMIF52QdVoI/S220-h/Bills_Blog_Photo.jpg

[MagiChau]

I didn't even know who will.i.am was until Kamen said something about Black Eye Peas xD

Minibots roll out! They remind me of transformers.

[JoeXIII'007]

I am just overjoyed by the incorporation of minibots into the design of this year's game. They have a history in my neck of the woods. ;)

Kudos to the GDC for another good looking game, at least from first glances.

[fireyoshi]

I know this is super late but, OMG OMG OMG OMG MY MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE BOTTOM LINE AOIWEUR;OIE

/freakout

[demosthenes2k8]

Does anyone know whether I'll be able to get the intro video? The "what inspires you?" one? I just downloaded the entire kickoff video, and it starts in the middle of it...

[ChaosX73]

I didn't even know who will.i.am was until Kamen said something about Black Eye Peas xD

Minibots roll out! They remind me of transformers.

He's the male singer. He also did some independent work, like It's A New Day.

[alectronic]

You can get game pieces here for relatively cheap:
http://www.andymark.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=234

Alas, they will likely run out fast, thus repeating the disaster of '09.