Gr 7-12: FIRST Tech Challenge

List of 5 items.

• What is FIRST Tech Challenge?

  In two to three months, teams diligently prepare towards two to three League Event competitions where they demonstrate their robot's capabilities and present the team's journey to judges. This year, the theme/challenge was SKYSTONE℠.

  1. There is a 12' x 12' field full of custom-designed structures and game pieces relevant to the season's theme. Throughout the season, each team will design, build, and program a robot to autonomously achieve these tasks in a fixed period of time and then operate in a remote-controlled mode. It's a sort of like an obstacle course for robots.
  2. Teams will play numerous matches at a League Event competition and the State Championship. Each match consists of two alliances competing: red and blue, based off random-computerized assignment. Teams must work with each other to score as many points as possible in the 150-second match period. Your alliance partner in one match may be your opponent in the next!
  3. Each team keeps an engineering journal throughout the season and also documents any community outreach efforts.
  4. Throughout all this, teams demonstrate the FIRST Core Values of Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition.

  
  With the help of Punahou School, Punahou Robotics supports and sponsors eleven FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) teams every season. Participation in FTC provides a foundation for students if they choose to participate in FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC: Grades 9-12).

• What are teams composed of?

  Each team consists of six to ten students from Grades 7-12.

  There should be two volunteer parent coaches to facilitate the teams. Punahou School faculty will provide support alongside industry mentors and veteran teams.

• When does this program start?

  The FTC season officially kicks off on Saturday, September 7, 2019 with the Hawaii FTC kickoff held at Punahou School. More info found at Hawai'i FIRST Robotics. Teams can begin work as soon as their team is formed.
  
  

  Students on the team commit to meeting with their coaches at least four hours a week, typically a few two-to-three hour sessions a week.

   

  Competitions

  Each team competes in two League Event competitions on their island. This year, if a team wants to compete in a third League Event, it must be on another island. League Events occur from late October through November.
  
  

  In 2018, all teams participated in the State Championship on Saturday, December 8 at Maryknoll School. 2019 location/date TBD.

• Where are these held?

  Space will be provided for teams to meet weekdays, after school on-campus.

• How can I participate?

  Punahou Robotics provides the following. Approximate retail value in parentheses. Items are on loan for the season:

  • FIRST national registration fee ($275)
  • Structural elements, motors, batteries ($580)
  • Electronics set ($150)
  • Control and Communication Set: phones and game controllers ($265)
  • Access to a shared field arena and game-specific elements ($480)
  • A wealth of knowledge and experience through engineering faculty, former coaches, and upperclassmen (older students) involved in the older robotics programs (priceless)

   

  Each team is responsible for the following

  • Hawaii League Event & State Championship fee (TBD: around $150)
  • Team shirts: Punahou Robotics will coordinate the ordering, but teams will pay ~$12 per shirt
  • Incidental costs: e.g. parent-provided snacks

  
  

  League Event and State Championship fees waived for Rookie teams!