FRC Blogged-Frank Answers...Monday?

[Steven Donow]

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...idays-09162013

In our continuing effort to ‘think outside the box’ in FRC, we’re answering a Frank Answers Fridays question on Monday. How’s that for creativity? (Are you guys buying this?)

In any case, today’s good question is from Navid Shafa, of Team 1983, Skunkworks Robotics, in Des Moines, Washington State.

Question:

What is FIRST's plan for International expansion and what regions are due for new events?

Answer: I turned this question over to Daniela Dimova, the FRC International Coordinator. Here is her response:

Hello Navid and thank you for your question,

I am one of the newest members of the FRC department and I’m very excited at the prospect of expanding our international presence and introducing more students around the globe to FIRST.

It takes a great deal of effort to launch an FRC Regional in terms logistics, field equipment, staffing, etc. FIRST has established certain guidelines and conditions that have to be met in order for a site to be considered to host a Regional. We do this because we want all our events to be a successful and positive experience for everyone and no matter where you compete- be it New York or Tel Aviv, it will have the same look and feel and will be just as much fun. One criterion is that the country must have had 15 teams participating in the year prior to the inaugural event. And because our games and awards are traditionally designed for 24 (or more) teams per event, we ask that there are at least that many competing teams in the actual local event. We also need to make sure that the hosting country has enough support from local sponsors and the community, with the intent to establish a viable foundation that will be strong enough to sustain the event long term. I know it sounds daunting but just like everything else in life- it takes a lot of hard work to achieve great results!

We are certainly aware that it takes additional time and resources for the out-of-country teams to come to competitions, and it’s only natural to want to have a more local event, but many will tell you that the experience of international travel is well worth the effort. It is very rewarding and beneficial for both the international students and their hosts who are anxious to welcome participation from teams around the world who share their passion for technology. They exchange ideas and get exposure to a different culture, and a great number of friendships have been formed between teams that go on for many years. We have been very fortunate to see both our team count and country representation grow every year and expect that trend to continue for the 2014 season. Last year, we welcomed 241 teams outside of the continental USA from 16 countries.

In regards to the second part of your question- we are very happy to welcome Mexico who will host their first regional in 2014. Also, our dear friends in Israel will be celebrating their 10th anniversary this coming season. Canada has two new events, bringing their total to seven regionals. Congratulations to all the countries and we truly thank everyone involved for their dedication, passion and hard work!

To summarize- there’s always something brewing in the FRC-international-pot, even though official announcements aren’t made until events are confirmed. So hold tight!

Frank is being so un-Frank by breaking his Friday tradition and having it on Monday; I think it's time for impeachment*


Also, I just noticed the banner says, "Ask a good question, get a Frank answer".

*hopefully the sarcasm is obvious

[JB987]

What ever happened to Australia's effort to have a regional?

[Steven Donow]

Originally Posted by JB987

What ever happened to Australia's effort to have a regional?

IIRC they did an offseason event which(and I'm sure someone from 3132 can clarify/give more detail on this) had teams that didn't compete in official FRC...I think the big roadblock to FRC in Australia is that their school year is not very complementary to the FRC season.

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by JB987

What ever happened to Australia's effort to have a regional?

Knowing the folks down in Australia, they are working very hard towards it. Like Frank mentioned it would need 15 teams and 24 attending to make it happen.

Maybe another year or two and we'll see a regional "Down Under" but it is amazing to see and hear about FIRST spreading in Australia and surrounding region! Keep up the fantastic work 3132!

[Rosiebotboss]

Originally Posted by DevenStonow

IIRC they did an offseason event which(and I'm sure someone from 3132 can clarify/give more detail on this) had teams that didn't compete in official FRC...I think the big roadblock to FRC in Australia is that their school year is not very complementary to the FRC season.

Neither is Brazil's school compatible with that of those in the US. But they pull it off.

I think it's a matter of capacity. Soon as they build more capacity, they will have one.

[PVCpirate]

I'm happy Mexico finally got their regional, with the growth they've had the past couple of years they deserved it. My team competed with 2 Mexican rookie teams in 2012, and both were inspired groups who took home rookie awards. I have nothing but respect for these and the other 36 teams south of the border, and love that they have an event to call their own.

I think 3132 has run 2 editions of Duel Down Under. For Ultimate Ascent they hosted 14 teams, and their most recent Facebook post says that a 15th team is starting up. The team search on the FIRST website is turning up 12 teams registered from last season, but I don't think they all competed. I think they'll get a regional in a few years.

[JustbeingJFK]

I wonder what international teams will do because of the new district models. When we competed at WPI, Another team named the Griffins were at our hotel. They are an American school in London. They went to that regional because it was one of the closet regionals to them. Hopefully, them and other teams in the same situation can be able to find another competition to go to.

[kiasam111]

This is INCREDIBLY COOL. I LIKE. =) =)

We're still working hard towards a regional! Our goal is for the first Australian FRC Regional tournament to be held in 2015, and as has been mentioned, we are currently at 14 teams, with the 15th on the way. 13 of those 14 teams competed at the Duel Down Under in a 2v2 version of Ultimate Ascent. And as has been alluded to, it was the second year of the Duel Down Under (DDU). These teams received a kit after the season had ended to build their robots for DDU.

Most of those teams didn't actually go to a regional this year, but 3 of them joined us in Hawaii, and one of them won Rookie All-Star and joined us in St Louis. The main reason the other teams didn't come was because of the school year, which starts in week 3 of build season, meaning that school teams would have half the time to build their robots.

In addition to those teams from Australia, China had 2 teams this year, Taiwan had 1 (there are probably more that I haven't found out about yet) who will also come to the Australian regional.

So in answering your question of

What ever happened to Australia's effort to have a regional?

, we are working hard on it, and it's coming! =)

[bardd]

Originally Posted by JustbeingJFK

I wonder what international teams will do because of the new district models. When we competed at WPI, Another team named the Griffins were at our hotel. They are an American school in London. They went to that regional because it was one of the closet regionals to them. Hopefully, them and other teams in the same situation can be able to find another competition to go to.

In one of the "Frank Answers", Frank talked about districts and said they will always make sure international teams have where to go despite the districts. As for now, they can compete in NY, or Israel. (EDIT: to clarify, I mean those would be the closest events for them).

TBH I'm kinda hoping this will get more international teams to come to Israel. We usually have one American team (we had three different American teams come here, in separate years) and one from Bosnia. FIRST Israel hopes for 5 international teams (or hoped last time I heard about the subject), maybe soon the goal will be fulfilled.

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by JustbeingJFK

I wonder what international teams will do because of the new district models. When we competed at WPI, Another team named the Griffins were at our hotel. They are an American school in London. They went to that regional because it was one of the closet regionals to them. Hopefully, them and other teams in the same situation can be able to find another competition to go to.

Good point. Eventually the district system will catch up to them but hopefully FRC can grow in Europe to support a regional. Right now there are two teams in England: 759 & 1884. 759 has competed every year at the New York City Regional starting in 2002 and 1884 has competed mainly in the Northeast region in the past few years but their earlier years brought them to places like Texas and Florida.

It is sad to New England closing its doors as we have welcomed teams from Australia, Brazil, Mexico, England, and Canada over the years! Hope to see you guys at the Championship and maybe in a few years we can travel to their regionals/districts. Very excited to hear that Mexico is having their first regional and maybe we will see a return of the Brazilian regional!

[Navid Shafa]

Originally Posted by kiasam111

In addition to those teams from Australia, China had 2 teams this year, Taiwan had 1 (there are probably more that I haven't found out about yet) who will also come to the Australian regional.

This is the kind of stuff that's fun to hear about. We originally were going to have a Chinese team at one of our events and I was excited, we haven't had a cross continental team at an event we've been to, since the Turkish teams have found a new home.

I'm really excited to see how growth continues internationally and what kind of roles districts may play, and how they will overcome that.

Any news on Brazil coming back together for another event?

[jeser#1772]

Originally Posted by Navid Shafa

Any news on Brazil coming back together for another event?

Yes , we will have more teams in 2014 and we are working for a new regional for south America in 2015