Rockin' Robots presented on JAVA Programming for the new Android Environment
The Rockin' Robots were fortunate enough to be allowed to present at the Georgia FIRST's FTC Season Kickoff at KSU's Marietta Campus on Saturday, Septermber 12th before the international reveal of this years exciting RES-Q game for FTC.
We would like to thank Georgia FIRST for their support throughout last season in our post-season experiences at Super-Regionals in San Antonio and World's in St. Louis. Without Georgia FIRST's support we would not have been able to speak with the development team from Qualcomm who provided us with early insight into the Android platform that FTC has adopted for this season's game. We were able to meet with several Qualcomm developers, at least two game developers, and team members from the beta-test FTC teams from New England who demonstrated FTC robots at World's using the Android system. Those experiences led us to download the JAVA programming environment last Spring and work on retro-fitting our Cascade Effect robot with the new system over the Summer. Those experiences allowed us to learn about the JAVA system, the new hardware, the ZTE Speed phone, and other aspects of this transition from the NXT and Samantha system in use for years to the new Android environment.
Georgia FIRST allowed us to present on the JAVA programming package and our experiences at the pre-Kickoff workshops hosted at KSU - Marietta on Saturday. We were excited to demonstrate our retro-fitted robot, present our PowerPoint, and answer questions in the morning. We had over 200 people attend the two hour-long workshops and many inquiries from other teams during the breaks. Our presentation and other materials are available here for your use - http://147226.wix.com/rockinrobots#!java-programming-resources/c1yyo
Georgia FIRST's 2015-16
FTC Kickoff Event
Rockin' Robots at the 2015-16 FTC Kickoff Event
(L-R: Kate, Max, JP, and Jordan (not pictured - William)
Rockin' Robots presenting at FTC Kick-Off Event
at KSU - Marietta
JP dicussing JAVA programming with members of
FTC 5338 - Rogue Raiders at Kick-off event
JP, Max, and Jordan answering questions about the robot and the Android system during the Kick-off event
Kate and Max demonstrating the FTC 5940 robot for the Kick-off JAVA Programming workshop
Among the events were a variety of workshops held to support Georgia's growing FTC community. Workshops included Rookie Teams Orientation presented by Linda Pham, the Senior Mentor for Georgia, Hardware and Legacy Equipment Integration by Robert May, Georgia FTC Affiliate Partner, App Inventor Programming by Steven and Ken, and Social Media and FIRST by Dylan Franklin. Attendance at the Kick-Off event exceeded expectations with most workshops so well attended that larger rooms and additional rooms being required to meet the need during the day. Teams from as far away as Memphis Tennessee traveled to the Joe Mack Wilson Student Center at KSU for the event. DarBots graciously voluteered to lead a second offering of the Hardware Familiarization/Integration of Legacy devices workshop due to the large demand for that class.
Robert May, Georgia FTC Affiliate Partner, teaching Hardware Familiarization/Integration of Legacy devices at Kick-Off event.
DarBots presenting on Hardware Familiarization/Integration of Legacy devices - Gracious Professionalist at work. They voluteered to present when the need was clear. Thanks!
We got to see old friends at the Kick-Off Event too!
Georgia FTC Planning Committee Co-Chair: Lori O'Neal
Georgia FTC Affiliate Partner: Robert May
Former Rockin' Robots Rob and Beca catch up at the Kick-Off Event
App Inventor Programming (getting it up and running, downloading sample robot/program) being presented by Steven and Ken
Linda Pham, Georgia Senior Mentor, presenting to Rookie Teams at the FTC Season Kick-Off Event
Dylan Franklin presenting on Social Media and FIRST at the FTC Season Kick-Off Event
The Joe Mack Wilson Student Center auditorium was near capacity for the Georgia FTC Season Kick-Off event this year!
Blessed Trinity High School's Rookie FTC team
(Cronos: 9785) at Georgia FTC Kick-Off.
(L-R: Ricky, Christian, Luna, Rob, and Juan Carlos)
Rockin' Robots (FTC 5940) at the Georgia FIRST Kick-Off Event. (L-R: Jordan, Mike, Max, Kate, JP, and Vince)
Vince, coach for FTC 5940, on stage answering questions for Rookie Teams at Georgia FIRST's Season Kick-off.
The Season Kick-off Event at KSU-Marietta held by Georgia FIRST was very exciting with awide range of events - from guessing the game elements for this season's game, to workshops, and ultimately the reveal of the new game RES-Q!
