Michigan Science Center — FRC Weekend Event

[VexisDarksteele]

Hello fellow FiM teams!

As some of you may recall, I announced our Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum event earlier last month, and posted a teaser about a larger event in the works... Well, it's here!

On the weekend of May 4th & 5th, the Michigan Science Center will be hosting a FIRST Robotics festival in partnership with team 3641, and we are requesting the attendance of other teams from across the state! Teams will have a pit for display purposes, the downstairs stage can be utilized for presentations to a large audience, and I am currently in the process of reserving a full-size game field from FiM to set up in the attached gymnasium of the new science school for real matches to be held in. There will also be a small competition field for visitors to play and interact with; we encourage attending teams to suggest other interactive activities for the event as well. We would also like to extend our invitation to any local FLL teams that may want to set up a display table in the main entryway of the museum.

There is enough space in the atrium to fit up to 20 teams total, so please reserve your slot as soon as possible to ensure your spot. To reserve, please email us at southlyonrobotics@gmail.com and answer these two simple questions: Would your team prefer a full or half-sized pit? Will your robot be operational for the event?
Below is the RSVP list: Teams written in blue have completed all requirements for registration, and teams in orange are tentatively reserved with something incomplete. Tentative reservations will be replaced by completed teams in the event of sign-up overflow.

1. Team 3641, The Flying Toasters (South Lyon)

11.

2. Team 1025, IMPI Warriors (Ferndale)

12.

3.

13.

4.

14.

5.

15.

6.

16.

7.

17.

8.

18.

9.

19.

10.

20.

I have attached to this post some informational/promotional materials regarding the event. More details will be released as I receive them. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to ask here or through email.

Thanks for reading, and we hope to see you there!

[P.J.]

You should be getting an email from our mentor in charge of this kind of stuff soon, but I figured I'd post here as well that Team 910 would love to come. This sounds like an awesome event.

[Zebra_Fact_Man]

Is there any associated cost for teams or is this a free event to participate in?

[VexisDarksteele]

Originally Posted by Zebra_Fact_Man

Is there any associated cost for teams or is this a free event to participate in?

When I spoke with the Science Center's public relations director, she said that the museum would most likely give each team a certain number (about 5 to 10) of free passes for the students and mentors running each booth/display, like they do for other school/community groups. This has not yet been confirmed by her boss, but at the very least I know they have been discussing giving teams a discount price. I'm still waiting to hear a response from the museum on this topic, but I will release an update as soon as I do.

[IceStorm]

I sent an email over this afternoon. My team is interested in attending. Team 3421 Tachyon TECs out of Marysville, MI.

[VexisDarksteele]

The current reservations list is as follows:

1. Team 3641, The Flying Toasters (South Lyon)

11.

2. Team 1025, IMPI Warriors (Ferndale)

12.

3. Team 226, The Hammerheads (Troy)

13.

4. Team 910, Foley Freeze (Madison Heights)

14.

5. Team 3421, Tachyon TECs (Marysville)

15.

6.

16.

7.

17.

8.

18.

9.

19.

10.

20.

[moogboy]

I doubt that my team will be able to come and be exhibitors, but I would love to help out and just be there as a FIRST representative.

FIRST has changed my life in so many positive ways. I'd love to share those experiences with people.

[VexisDarksteele]

Originally Posted by moogboy

I doubt that my team will be able to come and be exhibitors, but I would love to help out and just be there as a FIRST representative.

FIRST has changed my life in so many positive ways. I'd love to share those experiences with people.

Thanks for your interest.

Depending on how many volunteers decide to come, I might have to make a separate sign-up sheet for individuals...

[VexisDarksteele]

Please note: Due to a scheduling conflict with our team's coach, the Michigan Science Center robotics event has been reduced to only taking place on Saturday, May 4th. For those teams also attending the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum event, that event remains unchanged.

Updated roster:

1. Team 3641, The Flying Toasters (South Lyon)

11.

2. Team 1025, IMPI Warriors (Ferndale)

12.

3. Team 226, The Hammerheads (Troy)

13.

4. Team 910, Foley Freeze (Madison Heights)

14.

5. Team 3421, Tachyon TECs (Marysville)

15.

6. Team 2832, Livonia Warriors (Livonia)

16.

7.

17.

8.

18.

9.

19.

10.

20.

[Chris Mounts]

I'm checking with the rest of my team but 1188 is definitely interested. I'm also checking with our sister team 3548.

[VexisDarksteele]

Sometime next week, I should have the finalized loading/unloading schedules and pit directory map. I'll send out this information through email to the lead contact of each registered team. Also, it has been confirmed; each team will receive 10 free admissions for students, mentors, coaches or volunteers. Additional passes for family, friends or other team supporters must be purchased from the front desk at normal museum prices.
Attending teams: We will need a complete roster of your attendees at least one week prior to the event for check-in.

Originally Posted by Chris Mounts

I'm checking with the rest of my team but 1188 is definitely interested. I'm also checking with our sister team 3548.

Awesome. The more, the merrier!

[VexisDarksteele]

Hello fellow FRC teams,

Each of you have expressed an avid interest in attending and participating in the upcoming May 4th event at the Michigan Science Center, and your eagerness is greatly valued. However, due to a recent development, the event is being moved to June 1st & 2nd.

This year, Oakland University is not going to be hosting its annual TARDEC IGVC FIRST Robotics Invitational, and the Science Center is offering its facilities for this event. Therefore, in lieu of a completely separate event, FIRST in Michigan is partnering up with us to arrange the invitational and demonstrations in the same weekend. The competition aspect of this event (coordinated by FiM) is open to the top ranked teams in the state, however, the downstairs demonstrations and presentation spaces (coordinated by us) are still as they had been planned for the original May 4th event — open to all interested teams. The competition will be taking place on the museum's fourth floor; the rest of the event will still be housed within the main entryway, the atrium, and the Science Stage. We are in the process of getting approval for having a practice field (1 pyramid, 1 set of goals) down in the demonstration space for open use.
Teams attending the demonstration aspect are encouraged to bring along any desired promotional materials or interactive exhibits/activities to engage the public, along with their robots. If there is extra space available, teams might even be able to reserve an extended pit for a Chairman's display. The Science Stage will be open for any presentations teams may wish to hold; please draft up a content outline and submit it for review prior to the event if you'd like to present. Also, if your team has any association with a local FLL or FTC league, we would greatly appreciate any outreach efforts to introduce these two programs to the event as well.

NOTE: The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum event, scheduled for May 11th & 12th, remains unchanged. A few spaces are still open for teams interested in this demonstration opportunity as well.

Please respond with your team's decision on whether you would like to transfer your reservation to the new date or to decline. We're looking forward to hosting this event, and really hope to see you there!

[mjustice66]

So are there are two separate demonstrations? One on June 1st and 2nd, the other on May 11th and 12th.

[VexisDarksteele]

Originally Posted by mjustice66

So are there are two separate demonstrations? One on June 1st and 2nd, the other on May 11th and 12th.

Correct; the June 1st & 2nd event is at the Michigan Science Center, and the May 11th & 12th one will be at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. The AAHOM event will be much smaller due to the building's dimensions and layout, though there are still open slots for interested teams.

[P.J.]

So June 1st and 2nd is replacing IGVC as an actual off season event, correct? If that's the case, I'd be happy to volunteer to referee it. Just put me in contact with whoever I need to talk to about that.