pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

[Otaku]

Now let's play "Spot your team".

See the big cluster of teams near SF? See the lone dot north of SF? It's kind of dark? That's 675. =]

[vivek16]

Originally Posted by David Brinza

This is a very cool map...
Could you determine the "mean geographic center" of the FIRST teams?

I'm talking about something like the Wikipedia: mean center of US population.

In 1992, the center of FIRST teams would have been in the northeast (since the majority of the teams were from MA, NH, NY, NJ). Because of the strong growth of FIRST across the country (especially on the west coast), I suspect the geographic center now would be some around Indiana or Illinois. It might be interesting to see the "westward migration" of FIRST.

(BTW: I was in high school near the place where the population center crossed the Mississippi in the early '70s). I've since migrated west as well (1978).

looks like the east coast

they look like zits.
wow i think we need way more teams in minnesota... theyre all clumped around the metro.

[Tetraman]

Originally Posted by dlavery

It would be harder to obtain the data, but it would also be very interesting to map the locations of teams that no longer exist, and when they dropped out of the program. Is there a geographic correlation between teams that drop out of the program and things like distance to nearest regional, distance to Manchester, regional of the country, etc.?

-dave

I strongly suggest this. Though maybe nothing would come of it, if it actually does, maybe the President's Circle will have something to discuss.

[115inventorsam]

You guys see the 3 darkest dots in the Bay Area squished together? The bottom one is 115. I'm surprised that I could find it.

To be more specific, the darkest one on top is 8, the one showing out a bit below is 114, and showing out the bottom of that is 115.

At least I think that's what it is, these 3 teams are the oldest that I know of in the area.

[David Brinza]

Originally Posted by Cory

Wasn't 356 or some number thereabouts in Arkansas?

Yes, Team 356 from Little Rock.
Folks on the Bomb Squad called them "the other team from Arkansas." I believe 356 competed from ~2001 to 2004.

More trivia: the two Arkansas teams were in the same alliance in the St. Louis Regional in "Stack Attack". I think they made it to the finals.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Originally Posted by David Brinza

Yes, Team 356 from Little Rock.
Folks on the Bomb Squad called them "the other team from Arkansas." I believe 356 competed from ~2001 to 2004.

More trivia: the two Arkansas teams were in the same alliance in the St. Louis Regional in "Stack Attack". I think they made it to the finals.

Name was Enigma... they were purple and neon green and always had neon green plexiglass on there robot somewhere. Pretty interesting. They did compete only until 2004.

[adengler]

Awww! No Hawaii teams!

[FunkyRatDemon]

Team 753 is in Central Oregon (were not on there )

[Zyik]

In the middle of the coast of California there should only be two dots... 973 and the team we started down in AG, Eagle Robotics (blanking on number sorry guys). That third dot is looking at me funny and it doesnt belong. Its kind of sad that I can spot my team so easy, we need to start more teams in central Cali apparently.

[BRosser314]

nice would you mine if this is used for other FIRST related things as a team poject or to include in presentations???

[Brandon Holley]

There is absolutely no possible way team 125 can be seen on this map (boston)

[Gabe]

Too many dots around San Jose. Speaks to the number of Calofrnia teams that you can't even pick out my individual team.

[Billfred]

I was looking on this map, and I'm thinking there's an error in South Carolina.

Around the middle part of the state, there's a clump of about five teams, some with what look to be rookie years circa 2000. There's only four active teams around here (1293, 1398, 1618, 1959), and the youngest of them got their start in 2004. Was there some sort of default placement for teams if the city didn't mesh?

[RoboMom]

Damien, great project! In the world of public health (where I come from) there are maps like this used in epidemiology.
Have you thought about sending to frcteams@usfirst.org?

[Cory]

Originally Posted by 115inventorsam

You guys see the 3 darkest dots in the Bay Area squished together? The bottom one is 115. I'm surprised that I could find it.

To be more specific, the darkest one on top is 8, the one showing out a bit below is 114, and showing out the bottom of that is 115.

At least I think that's what it is, these 3 teams are the oldest that I know of in the area.

If I remember correctly, the three oldest CA teams are actually 100, 8, and 192.

I know the first two are the oldest. 100 started in 95. 8 started in 96(I think? maybe 97) and I believe 192 started in 1997.