Getting Ready for '09

Since the beginning of time, or 2003, FIRST Robotics has been using a tried and true control system to interface with robots. As essential as a steering wheel for a car, this wireless control system made driving the robot possible. For 2009, however, FIRST Robotics is implementing a brand new system. Featuring twice the processing capabilities of the previous system, this new technology will allow more precise control and increased flexibility. The team has been busy building and completing prototypes to master this new system.

Speaking of prototypes, the team has been developing a new and improved chassis design, which we plan to remake during build season (as we cannot build ahead of time). New members of the team learned valuable skills and techniques to help them succeed in their first season. Now that we already know the design and how to build it, valuable build season time can be saved.

On Tuesday we had our last meeting before the next build season will kick off. On January 3rd, the new game will be unveiled and a month of frenzied building and planning will start. Interested parties can watch the kickoff on January 3rd.

FIRST Lego League provincials

On the 5th and 6th of December the Red Devils continued to volunteer at FLL tournaments, this time for the provincials at St. Mildred's school in Oakville. Team members gave up their Friday holiday to setup the tournament, building tournament pieces and assembling tables and stands.

The next day Oakville Trafalgar volunteers helped to ensure the tournament was a huge success, with over 40 teams, hundreds of fans and 29 awards handed out. Whether it was mentoring, refereeing, judging, or scorekeeping, students were hard at work. Team member Nicholas Bandiera won the young adult volunteering award for his efforts in mentoring three teams and volunteering over 14 hours of his time to the tournament. Participants, parents and volunteers alike cannot wait till next years tournament.

FIRST Lego League

Each year members of OT Robotics mentor FIRST Lego League Teams. This is a terrific opportunity to raise awareness of high school extra-curricular activities in robotics and for younger students to learn from experienced team members. Red Devils Evelyn and Lyle helped mentor 4 and 5 FLL teams respectively this year.

The FIRST Lego League is a competition similar to FIRST Robotics. Students in grades 6 to 8 build robots to accomplish assigned tasks and compete in a friendly fashion at exciting events.

The first 2008 Lego League tournament, the regional, was hosted by Mentor College in Mississauga this weekend. OT Robotics was proud to see our mentor teams flourish and assist in making the event a success. Volunteers from the Red Devils helped referee, set up and judge the event, ensuring that fun was had by all. Congratulations to Lyle, who won the "Best Young Mentor" Award.

Stay tuned next week; the provincial competition is coming up!

Hallowe'en for Hunger

Trick or Treat? The Red Devils participated in Halloween for Hunger for the third consecutive year in Oakville.

Team members went around the neighborhood on Halloween night, collecting canned foods and other non-perishable items for the Fare-share food bank. Pre-delivered flyers and great community spirit ensured a great amount of food was donated. Over 7 car-loads were sent by the team. It was a great event, and the team is proud of its accomplishments.

Greetings!

The Red Devils are beginning another exciting year of Robotics. Meetings are underway to prepare for the coming season and the team is keeping busy with various events planned for the fall. Much has happened since the closing of last year and the team is happy to welcome several grade 9 members.

During the Summer, the Red Devils were a star attraction at this year's Midnight Madness in Oakville, pictured to the right. People of all ages visited our stand to experience what FIRST is all about. Team members demonstrated the team robot, FIRST Lego Robotics and outstanding Gracious Professionalism. This was a fantastic opportunity to spread the word and thank our sponsors.

Lego Robotics workshops were hosted with the help of the Fast Cats and Clearview library. Children learned about FIRST Lego League and we are pleased to hear that many have since joined teams.

of 5 Halton Robotics teams benefited from the retreat organized by the Red Devils this September. The event was a great opportunity to create lines of communication between teams and learn about extra-curricular activities in Robotics and engineering. Workshops centered around team building, leadership and the possibility of friendly competitions between teams.

Much is in store for this fall. OT Robotics will once again be participating in Halloween for Hunger and the team is busy revitalizing last year's robot for demonstrations.