Reminders: Kit of Parts Opt-Out, Grants, Pool Noodles and More!
2022 OCT 17 | Written by Collin Fultz, FIRST Robotics Competition Senior Director
We’re counting the days until the 2023 FIRST ® Robotics Competition Kickoff! You can either join us in-person in Manchester, NH, at one of our many local kickoffs, or tune in on Twitch on January 7, 2023 to see the release of CHARGED UPSM presented by Haas. To help teams prepare for that day, here are a few reminders:
Kit of Parts Opt-Out Options
Veteran teams can opt-out of receiving the Black Tote and/or the Kit of Parts drive base. These decisions are due by 12:00 PM (Noon) eastern time October 20, 2022.
New Team Grant
The 2023 FIRST Robotics Competition New Team Grant is still open and accepting applications. This grant is available to both Rookie and New Veteran teams. New this year, applications are being reviewed and grants awarded on a rolling basis. You can find more information on this grant and others on the team grants page. The New Team Grant application closes on October 31, 2022.
Pool Noodles
Pool noodles will once again be required for all robots as part of their bumpers.
Teaser
Did you catch the CHARGED UP presented by Haas teaser? It’s already been viewed more than 18,000 times. (I think I’m only around 1000 of the views.) If that doesn’t get you excited for 2023, I don’t know what will!
DLC
We have some great free downloadable content available for you to use to drive excitement and awareness within your community! Visit the Season Content page for customizable recruitment posters, social media graphics, wallpapers, and more.
Safety Animation Submissions
Teams can begin submitting their Safety Animation Award animations on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 12:00 PM, Noon ET. Submissions close Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 3:00 PM ET. Check out the details about the Safety Animation Award criteria on the FIRST Robotics Competition Safety page.
Haven’t pool noodles always been required for bumpers? (at least last year)
R408, C: use a stacked pair of approximately 21⁄2 in. (nominal, ~63mm) round, petal, or hex “pool noodles” (solid or hollow) as the BUMPER cushion material (see Figure 9-7). All pool noodles used in a BUMPER set (e.g. red set of BUMPERS) may not be modified (with the exception of cutting to length or cutting to facilitate mating pool noodles at the corners as required by R409) or deformed and must be the same diameter, cross section, and density (e.g. all round hollow or all hex solid). Cushion material may extend up to 21⁄2 in. (~63 mm) beyond the end of the plywood (see Figure 9-8). To assist in applying the fabric covering, soft fasteners may be used to attach the pool noodles to the wood backing, so long as the cross section in Figure 9-7 is not significantly altered (e.g. tape compressing the pool noodles).
I recall a fair number of people irritated that they stocked up on pool noodles for 2015 only to find out at kickoff they didn’t need them (I suppose they had a bunch of extra “litter” that year ).
HQ then started the trend prior to the 2016 game of announcing that pool noodles are indeed necessary (lots of worry about 2015 Rookies not having a clue that bumpers were actually a normal things).
Since this wasn’t very specific and there’s been a lot of discussion about bumpers recently, I asked in the comments if 2022-legal noodles would still be legal next year, just in case any big changes were coming:
).
