Maker Faire
 

Anyone going? I'm supposed to be in Austin for work this week, so trying to adjust things so I get to be at Maker Faire on Saturday. For those unfamiliar, it's here... http://makerfaire.com/

Cheers,
-Neil.

Re: Maker Faire
 

We went to a lot of competitions and demos last year.

Wanna know which one was the most fun? Maybe even as fun as Atlanta?

Maker Faire. We met TONS of really awesome people, potential sponsors, potential members, potentials mentors. We saw all kinds of crazed stuff. They used Tesla Coils to fry hot dogs :ahh: There was a model sea battle in a portable swimming pool :ahh: There were combat robots :ahh: This happened. I met the mythbusters :ahh:

If you are in the Area, GO! Bring your team, bring your family, invite your friends.

Will there be one in San Mateo too this year? :o

Re: Maker Faire
 

Look for the FIRST Robotics display area.
Plans are in the works for some FRC, FTC, and FLL teams to be in attendance. FRC 2158, AusTIN CANS, has generously offered to bring their 2008 field that they used for the pre-ship scrimmage they hosted in Austin last season.

We’re looking forward to a great time. Come by and visit. There are plenty of other fun and exciting booths and demos to explore as well. If you need any help with directions or information, please send me a PM, I’ll be glad to help.

Jane

Re: Maker Faire
 

Things are beginning to fall in place. At the moment, FRC 2158 should be out at the fair grounds with the field set-up. I've spent my lunch hour getting things finalized and it's looking like we'll have 7 FRC teams in attendance, including
the Discobots, FRC 2587, from the Houston area, and a new rookie Girl Scout team from here in Austin, FRC 2881. I'm not sure if they will make it or not but the Cyberwolves from Killeen, FRC 647, have offered to bring a 2nd robot with them to give the team some hands on driving experience. There may be some more extras that show up as well, the teams in the central Texas area are known for working together and helping each other out.

FLL is going to be in the Maker-Kids area and the mentors will bring the students over to meet the FRC students/mentors. It will be a great opportunity for them to interact and have some fun together. Some of the FLLers may recognize FRC 418, LASA Robotics, along with FRC 2158, AusTIN CANs, from the Mindstorm Mania event earlier this year.

There aren't any FTC teams in the Austin area and we're working on that. Hopefully, some time in the future we'll have some awesome FTC teams around to help showcase as well.

Maker Faire is a great event and we're all looking forward to having a great time. I'm going to look for a cotton candy vendor, myself - a large pink cloud of cotton candy has my name on it, I just know it. Yum.

Re: Maker Faire
 

Maker Faire was a great success. Check out some of the photos of the practice field made by AusTin Cans 2158. Many of the other FIRST teams were also there including LASA 418 , Westwood 2583, Cyberwolves 647, and DiscoBots 2587.

http://lamar.discobots.org/node/32/m...0&thumbIndex=4

They also had a complete battlebots course, a complete BEST Robotics field and some other really awesome looking robots.

Re: Maker Faire
 

Wow that looks like an awesome venue. I wish we had an area that big at the San Mateo Fair Grounds.

Re: Maker Faire
 

This is the Travis County Exposition Center.

It has been home to many events over the years and serves its purpose well. Maker Faire is one event. The spring rodeo is another. Austin has a farm team for ice hockey, Austin Ice Bats, and they have competed against other teams there, although looking at the current website news, it doesn't look like they will be there for the upcoming season. It was interesting to be on the actual floor of the arena, concrete. I'm used to seeing ice or dirt. :)

Austin is a hub of activities and downtown there are other venues that host large groups/crowds/events. The Austin Convention Center, the Frank Erwin Center, and Palmer Events Center come to mind.

Austin is a fun place.