Robotic League

Posted by Michael Martus.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]

Coach on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central H.S. and Delphi Automotives Systems.

Posted on 9/1/2000 7:56 AM MST

It looks like the High School Robotics League is a go for this school year. Much effort is going into this make it happen. The first ever of its kind League to our knowledge in the nation. A league just like football or basketball played at the school in the gym.

OCCRA - Oakland County Competitive Robotics Association is the name of the League that will compete this fall in 4 events at 7 schools in Oakland County.

The concept is the brain child of Chief Delphi #47 Birta Allen, Joe Johnson (Delphi Automotive),Mike McIntyre, and Mike Martus.

Championed by Mike McIntyre ( now at OTC Team #1 ) and student Justin Howard - now teacher assistant, the proposal has been adopted by Oakland Intermediate School District (funding) and the association is made up of many local FIRST Teams, Avondale, Int’l Academy, Pontiac Northern, Pontiac Central, OSMTECH to name just a few of the great teams that are working hard to make this dream a relality.

The kit of parts is fashioned after the Chief Delphi Invitational Competition. Students build a bolt-together-robot with little help from engineers. No machining is allowed. The robots are 3X3X4 (approx.). Many motors and the great Innovation FIRST control system make this a super kit of parts.

The league is open to all Oakland County Schools. They DO-NOT have to be a FIRST Team to participate, in fact active recruiting of non-FIRST school is taking place.
It is anticipated that there will be 25-50 schools this first year of the league.

More details about this exciting event will appear in this forum in the future. A White paper written by Mike McIntyre will go into the details of the league so that more leagues may form nationwide to spread the word of FIRST.

Mike McIntyre and his sub team are putting together a curriculum to teach non-FIRST schools the operation of the controls, motors and basic design techniques. This also will appear in the White pages section of this website.

Posted by Mike Sklar.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]

Engineer on team #21, ComBBAT , from Astronaut H.S. and Titusville H.S. and Brevard Community College and Boeing Company and NASA-KSC.

Posted on 9/1/2000 10:03 AM MST

In Reply to: Robotic League posted by Michael Martus on 9/1/2000 7:56 AM MST:

Hat’s off to everyone who has created the Nations first real robot league. It’s somthing we obviously need.

But care should be taken to ensure it’s sanctioned by FIRST and the FIRST organization is involved.

I see this because of the situation in Texas. Today there is a league, program, non-profit org (call it what you want) called BEST. They have over 40 teams and have generated a lot of excitement. It all came from a few FIRST teams that wanted a cheaper alternative to FIRST. So they broke off and created their own thing.

If care is not taken the Oakland League may gain momentum and people will think why be part of FIRST. Let’s just have our own events and league. If FIRST then lost all of you wonderful folks that put this together what would happen. Most of you are the strongest, most enduring maintainers of the FIRST program.

Just food for thought.

Posted by Michael Martus.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]

Coach on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central H.S. and Delphi Automotives Systems.

Posted on 9/1/2000 12:07 PM MST

In Reply to: Robotic League - Be Careful! posted by Mike Sklar on 9/1/2000 10:03 AM MST:

Our approach is one that builds FIRST to a new level.

This is a fall High School sport only. Great effort is made to reach out to Non-FIRST schools to get them interested in the FIRST Robotics Competition. The smaller scale gives them a taste without having to have a sponsor as the cost is very low. The season is over by the end of November.

These robots are low tech except for the controls that they are NOT allowed to program or change. We pre-wire all the controls for the teams and put the electronics in a box that is mounted on the robot. Precision machining is not allowed and this is a student/teacher/parent built robot 100% whereas most robots in the FIRST Program have building assistance from engineers and big industry.

We like to think of this as the JV (junior varsity of FIRST ) like the LEGO program is the Little League.

Again, this program is to ‘grow’ FIRST not to replace any efforts.

Posted by Greg Mills.

Engineer on team #16, Baxter Bomb Squad, from Mountain Home and Baxter Healthcare.

Posted on 9/1/2000 12:10 PM MST

In Reply to: Robotic League - Be Careful! posted by Mike Sklar on 9/1/2000 10:03 AM MST:

:
Acutally BEST has spread to Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Illinois (Chicago). They have 16 regional competitions (hubs) each with up to 40 teams. (different teams)
The growth rate is tremendous and their retention rate is near 100%.

There is a market for this type of stuff. FIRST is not the only show in town (nor should it be) but it is still the best by a long shot. I think other organizations will only strengthen FIRST by increasing public awareness.

Posted by Jon.

Engineer on team #190, Gompei, from Mass Academy of Math and Science and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Posted on 9/2/2000 2:47 PM MST

In Reply to: Re: Robotic League - Be Careful! posted by Greg Mills on 9/1/2000 12:10 PM MST:

Exactly, BEST is a good thing because all robotics organizations are linked by a few people here and there (in a seven degrees of separation here and there) so like my high school did BEST for two years and then we got the funding and sponsorship to create a FIRST team.

again, the cost definitely plays a large part which is why its good to have options.

Posted by Quentin Lewis.

Engineer on team #42, P.A.R.T.S - Prececision Alvirne Robotics Technology Systems, from Alvirne, Hudson NH.

Posted on 9/3/2000 7:13 PM MST

In Reply to: Robotic League - Be Careful! posted by Mike Sklar on 9/1/2000 10:03 AM MST:

That’s funny…FIRST is about competition and how it makes you better. This sounds like competition, but for the FIRST organization itself.

I’m sure it will all work its way out in the end, and make FIRST a better organization for it as well.

>: But care should be taken to ensure it’s sanctioned by FIRST and the FIRST organization is involved.

Posted by Erin.

Other on team #1, The Juggernauts, from OTC-NE and 3-Dimensional Services.

Posted on 9/3/2000 10:54 PM MST

In Reply to: Robotic League - Be Careful! posted by Mike Sklar on 9/1/2000 10:03 AM MST:

>

Hmm… no need to give these guys and gals warnings. Some of the most brilliant adults I have had the honor of knowing are coordinating this event. People who have been around the FIRST scene awhile- no need to worry about them leaving out any important details.

Occra is getting ready to rock.
If I’m lucky, ILL GET TO BE A PART OF IT!

-Erin