Welcome me back?

[Dantvman27]

Hi! My name is Dan Pelletier, formerly of FRC team 241. I officially retired from FIRST after 8 years following the 2011 season and thought I was done for good. Well, "The best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray" and I am back in FIRST, now with FRC Team 3467. I recently graduated from the University of New Hampshire with my BA in Theatre and I am excited to be working with a new team, focusing on leadership, presentation skills, strategy, and a whole slue of other things.

So, since I've been away for three years, there's clearly been some major changes in FIRST. Would anyone be so kind as to maybe give me a sparksnotes version of the differences between 2011 FRC and 2014 FRC? I would be very appreciative. Thank you!

[BigJ]

We don't know a ton about 2014 yet...

The biggest difference I can think of is the smaller frame perimeter limit last year.

The control system didn't undergo many large changes, but did undergo a bit of scrutiny and improvement overall after an incident on Einstein in 2012.

The Talon came out last year, a new FRC-legal motor controller. IFI/VEX also expanded their FRC offerings with the VEXPro product line.

Veteran teams have been able to choose a $450 voucher to AndyMark rather than the kit chassis if they wish since last season.

I may be missing things, but I'm a controls guy

[MechEng83]

Changes in leadership at FIRST: new president for FIRST, new director for FRC. GDC has had some changes in personnel.

FIRST Choice is a new way of distributing parts to teams that have been donated, outside of the KoP a team gets at kickoff. (The massive technical glitches aside...)

Many award submissions have changed in requirements, both in terms of eligibility and submission process. Dean's List has interviews, and they want sophomores/juniors. Entrepreuership award is online submission. Website award is gone. New awards, check them out: http://frc-manual.usfirst.org/viewItem/9

All teams now bag & tag their robots. Crate shipment of the robot is only used for hardship and championship.

Social media (twitter/facebook) seem to be used significantly more for FIRST since 2011.

[BigJ]

I totally forgot we were still in crates in 2011...

[Hallry]

Welcome back! You're still in New Hampshire, right? Well, do you remember the district system that Michigan had back when you were in high school? Well starting in the 2014 season for New England...


I would call this the biggest change. Districts are now in Michigan, MAR (Mid-Atlantic Robotics, comprising of New Jersey, Delaware, and PA east of Harrisburg), the Pacific Northwest, and New England (Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire). Here is the new NE FIRST website.

To give a very brief overview: Your team will compete at a number of district events, which are basically mini-regionals with fewer teams, but each team gets more matches (for the past two years in MAR, each team got 12 qualification matches at each district)! At each event, you will accumulate ranking points based on awards won, qualification match results, and eliminations finish. Only the points earned at your first two district events will count. After the district events, a certain number of the highest ranked teams will be invited to compete at your district system's regional championship, where the ranking points you earn are tripled. From the regional championship, the winners on the field, as well as a certain number of award winners, along with a certain number of the top ranked teams in the district (ranked via the total amount of ranking points accumulated in the district system throughout the season) will move on to the FRC World Championships in St. Louis. It seems as though 3467 is currently registered for the NE Districts at the University of New Hampshire and at Northeastern University. If you advance to your district system's regional championship, that will be at Boston University, which I believe is the same location for the old Boston Regional. (Did I miss anything?)

District teams can still go to actual regionals and attempt to advance to the World Championships the traditional ways, but they won't earn any points for their district system there. However, teams outside the district system cannot play in districts. 3467 is not currently signed up for a regional.

[MechEng83]

Originally Posted by BigJ

I totally forgot we were still in crates in 2011...

People often only remember the recent changes. Stuff a few years back "has always been that way"

[Christopher149]

Originally Posted by MechEng83

People often only remember the recent changes. Stuff a few years back "has always been that way"

I remember when we had flags to indicate alliance color, and I've seen the various lights from before that.

Well, since 2011, we have four districts now (Michigan, MAR, PNW, New England). Mexico has a regional now, a guy is trying to start about a dozen teams in China (PRC) this year.

Is FIRST Choice new from 2011? I think so.

[Rosiebotboss]

If you want the latest, attend the worksops FSM Kathie Kentfield and I are hosting at HQ on Friday, 3 Jan from 1 to 4. You Lead Mentor/Main Contact has all the info. RSVP me at dhenry@usfirst.org

[D.Allred]

Dan,
Welcome back!

I see you focus on awards and scouting. There have been several changes...

For 2014, FRC teams can receive a free copy of a business intelligence data analysis package by Tableau. There is a CD thread on this announcement.

There were significant changes in awards for 2013 and apparently a few more coming in 2014. The 2014 awards manual just got released today. The website award was removed in 2013 and replaced by a new emphasis on social media. Dean's Homework from last season was to create a 2 minute video of your team's story to share with corporate sponsors or other FIRST marketing initiatives.

There have been a few new developments in the broader FRC community as well. One of my favorites is FRCTop25.com. Check it out.

Also do some research on "Robot in 3 Days" plus this year's "Build Blitz" initiative from VexPro. These efforts are designed to help the FRC community raise the level of competition and will have a significant impact on 2014.

David

[MichelB]

A new cRIO replacement is coming out soon called RoboRIO.

[Hallry]

Also, meet Frank. We <3 Frank.

[Calvin Hartley]

Originally Posted by MichelB

A new cRIO replacement is coming out soon called RoboRIO.

New for the 2015 season.

Originally Posted by Hallry

Also, meet Frank. We <3 Frank.

This is an understatement.

Also, overall growth. This year (I believe) there are approximately 2800 FRC teams.

[MichelB]

Originally Posted by Calvin Hartley

New for the 2015 season.



This is an understatement.

Also, overall growth. This year (I believe) there are approximately 2800 FRC teams.

Thank you...I ment to say when it was coming out but I didn't remember at the time.

[Dantvman27]

Originally Posted by Hallry

Welcome back! You're still in New Hampshire, right? Well, do you remember the district system that Michigan had back when you were in high school? ...

This is something I really will need to learn more about.

Is there information somewhere on this points system? Where can I learn more about like how much each award is worth, as well as positioning in the over all ranking system, that sort of stuff. Is it available yet, or is this something they are unveiling at during/after kick-off?

[Hallry]

Originally Posted by Dantvman27

This is something I really will need to learn more about.

Is there information somewhere on this points system? Where can I learn more about like how much each award is worth, as well as positioning in the over all ranking system, that sort of stuff. Is it available yet, or is this something they are unveiling at during/after kick-off?

Yes, and it's available now! You can find the official 2014 FRC Standard District Points Ranking System here, with some additional information (ex. Further details regarding Team Age points, Tie Breakers, and World Championship slots for each district system) in this FRC Blog post.