2018 Houston FIRST Tech Challenge Team Orientation FIRST Champ - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

2018 Houston

FIRST Tech Challenge Team Orientation

FIRST Champ Website and App

Website: https://www.firstchampionship.org/houston-home Free Mobile App Name: 2018 FIRST Championship Available in:

• Apple Store
• Google Play Store

Look at the FIRST Tech Challenge section (listed in the menu) for the most updated information. You do not need a passphrase to open the

• App. Just click on the city

guide you require.

Gracious Professionalsm

…Gracious professionalism is part of pursuing a meaningful life.” – Woodie Flowers

• A way of doing things that encourages high-

quality work, emphasizes the value of

• thers, and respects individuals and the

community.

• Gracious professionals learn and compete

like crazy,but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process.

• Please remember that our volunteers are

donating their time to help our event run. Please treat them graciously and with respect.

Before Arriving

• Make sure you’ve filled out the Consent & Release

form online or bring a paper copy.

• Pack ROBOTS, tools, spare batteries, and spare

parts carefully.

• Make sure team number is on the outside of the

front cover of your engineering notebook.

• Register in Experient, include team and spectator

names so that you can print all your badges quickly and easily.

• Read the A-Z guide and FIRST Tech Challenge A-Z

Addendum.

What to Bring

• Robots, tools, spares
• Engineering Notebook (with your team number on the outside of the

front cover)

• Team Attire
• Safety glasses for everyone in your group
• Closed-toe shoes
• Chairs (if you want them for your pits)
• Accessories (optional)
• Water bottle, mints/gum, etc.
• Tiara Friday
• Suspender Saturday
• Gracious Professionalism
• Copy of the Game Manual Part 1 and 2
• Copy of the latest and greatest game forum

When You Arrive

• Early Bird check-in is Tuesday, 3pm-6pm, in Hall A
• Check-in at the Team Registration table in the Pits
• Pick up printed team and spectator badges at

registration kiosk

• Set up team pit space
• Look through your team packet, save your driver and

coach buttons (You will not receive spares)

• Check out schedule

Discounted Metro Passes

• FIRST has negotiated discounted public transit

Metro Passes valid April 15 – April 22

• Online ordering can be completed here.
• Discounted Metrolink passes can only be

purchased online.

George R. Brown 1st Floor

George R. Brown – 3rd Floor

FIRST Tech Challenge Competition Area

Team Schedule

Team Pits

• Team pits will be 10’ x 10’ x 10’
• Must be safe and structurally sound
• Teams will receive (1) 6’ table and (1)

power source

• Pits will not have any chairs (please

enjoy our bleacher seating or bring your own)

• Pits will be divided by 3’ pipe and

drape

Matches

• Teams will compete in 9 matches.
• We will have volunteer queuers, to help teams get to the right

place at the right times, but teams are responsible for getting to their matches on time.

• Please listen and be respectful to our queuers.
• Teams may ask match questions by standing in the question box

and following the event question box rules outlined in our Game Manual.

• Please make sure to bring official backup for your question,

including a copy of the game forum or a copy of the Game Manual, and your gracious professionalism.

• Please use the question box within 2 matches during the

qualification rounds.

Judging

• Judging interviews are pre-scheduled on Wednesday. We can not

accommodate schedule changes.

• Judge Interview Session (20 min).
• Judges will ask the teams if they have a presentation, teams will

be allowed 5 uninterrupted minutes, after which judges may interrupt them.

• Please bring your engineering notebook to your judging

appointment.

• Judges will visit the pits, and watch matches at the fields during

the rest of the week.

• Our Judges are looking forward to learning about your team.

Inspection

• Inspection appointments are pre-scheduled on
• Wednesday. We can not accommodate schedule

changes.

• Robot Field Inspection will be held at the

competition fields

• The lighting will be set to competition levels during

inspection so that teams can calibrate their robots. Please use this time to calibrate your robots.

• Robot Hardware Inspection will be held at your own

pit, inspectors will come to you.

• Our inspectors are working to help your team be

successful, they can’t wait to see your robots.

FIRST Tech Challenge Pits, Field, and Interview Spaces

1st Floor Hall A Interview rooms are 18’x18’ pipe and drape

Team Interviews

Load In

Load out

Team load out is Saturday 8:00 am - 3:00 pm. Please give your orange paper load out pass and the load out instructions to the driver of the vehicle transporting the teams pit. Step #1 - On Saturday, April 21st when your team is completely packed and ready to load

• ut, bring your packed equipment to the que, door B by the loading docks.

Step #2 - Call your driver and have them proceed to the Gate B entrance on Chartres Street.

• There will be 1 lane designated for FIRST Tech Challenge vehicles on Chartres St.
• Do not get into the FIRST Robotics Competition lanes or the driver will be asked to circle around the block to

get into the correct lane.

• Team vehicles should arrive within 10-15 minutes from your call. Driver cannot arrive before team is in que at

the loading dock.

• Your driver will be provided a loading dock space number as they pull into the loading dock area by a load out

volunteer

• Drivers must stay with their vehicle at all times.

Step #3 – Move your packed pit items to the assigned dock space number when told by the load out volunteers. Please be respectful of other teams and the public in your departure, leave your area clean, and be safe!

Events and Ceremonies

• FIRST Tech Challenge Competition Kickoff, Wed 3pm @

the FIRST Tech Challenge Competition Fields.

• FIRST Welcome Party, Thurs 6pm @ Discovery Green

(right outside the front of the GRB).

• FIRST Tech Challenge Judged Award Ceremony and

Division Finalist Awards, Sat 12pm @ the FIRST Tech Challenge Competition Fields.

• FIRST Closing Ceremony, Sat 6:30pm @ Minute Maid

Park.

Competition Kickoff & Driver’s Meeting

• FIRST Tech Challenge Driver’s Meeting, 2pm

@FIRST Tech Challenge Competition Fields

• Join the celebration and kickoff the competition
• n Wednesday at 3pm.

Welcome Party

Music:

Spazmatics @ 6pm Party on the Moon @ 7:30pm Live Band Karoke Silent Disco

Games:

Arcade Games Giant Board Games Outdoor Games Interactive Art Walls

Alumni Mixer

Thu, April 19, 2018

7:30 - 9:00 PM George R. Brown Convention - Center Level 1 For the second year we’re bringing together all the FIRST Alumni at the FIRST Championship for light refreshments and an opportunity to celebrate together. Hear from our event sponsors and special guests from FIRST while you reconnect with old friends and make new ones!

Event Activities

Innovation Faire Join us for a Maker Faire-inspired area featuring FIRST Sponsors, Alliances, Suppliers, Scholarship Providers, and other Special Guests. All FIRST Championship attendees are encouraged to participate in the FIRST Innovation Faire, where attendees can receive exciting giveaways, witness new technology demonstrations, and participate in fun, hands-on activities for all ages. Hours: Wed: 11am – 5pm Thurs: 10am – 5pm Fri: 10am – 4pm Scholarship Row Check out our Scholarship providers and speak with college and university reps. Thurs: 10am – 5pm Fri: 10am – 4pm

Championship Conferences and Program Activities

• Championship Conferences

The 2018 FIRST Championship Conferences will be held on Wed, April 18 - Fri, April 20 in Houston, TX. They are free of charge and

• pen to all.
• FIRST LEGO League Jr. Expo
• FIRST LEGO League World Festival
• FIRST Robotics Competition Championship

Closing Ceremonies

Closing Ceremony will celebrate the three final matches, the Inspire Award, and the Chairman’s Award. The primary speakers will be Don Bossi, Woodie Flowers, and Dean Kamen. Minute Maid Updates:

• 3 final matches for FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST

Robotics Competition.

• Security – We will have dogs and bag checks, if

possible please leave your backpack at your hotel.

• We have increased the available entrances to help

speed up traffic.

• Adjusted schedule for sunlight.
• Shortened the event

#FIRSTChamp Social

• Join our Facebook Event!
• Use hashtags to connect to #FIRSTChamp!
• #STEMSquad, #BuildBrighter, #FIRSTInspires,

#omgrobots

• Tag us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram
• Facebook: @FTCteams
• Twitter: @FIRSTweets @ftcteams
• Instagram: @first_official_

Questions?

On site? - We have answers!

• Championship Website
• Championship App
• Pit Admin

We can’t wait to see you there! It’s going to be a blast!