Robots in the Outback Conference Presentation
Friday April 29th at 3:00pm
Americas Center Room 265/266
Be there, or be the 3rd shape in the FIRST logo!
Robots in the Outback was a program that started 12 rookie teams in two weeks in small towns across Australia. Two teams of mentors drove trucks full of tools and robot parts more than 5,000 km (3,000 miles) up and down the coast and into the rural Outback. We spent 2-3 days with each team, enough to get them jump-started into their rookie FRC season.
We focused on not just building a robot in 2 days, but spreading the FIRST culture to create a sustainable model where the teams can grow and help others in the future. Through contacting local business and teaching LEGO robot camps to younger students, building blocks were put in place to change the culture of the small towns. Students were taught to take ownership of their learning experience.
A few mentors came from USA from the PNW District, Iowa, and NASA in Maryland, and a few mentors were from Australia to travel around and spread the message of FIRST. There were also teams paired up to help remote teams over Skype and e-mail. It was made possible by sponsorship from Google, Macquarie University, and Ford.
Come see our presentation at Championships on Friday April 29th at 3:00pm at the Americas Center Room 265/266. This is a model that could be scaled to help other areas with the intent of creating sustainability and teams that get FIRST values out of the gate. The presentation will also include fun photos of kangaroos bounding across endless plains of red dirt, and star photos where you can see the Southern Cross constellation and the milky way (see below). Make sure you don’t miss it!
http://i.imgur.com/twfD4Wi.jpg](http://imgur.com/GgTX4sH)
Photo taken in Ivanhoe, an Outback town with a population of 350 people a 10 hour drive west of Sydney
