Fall 2006 News
NASA Grants
November 21, 2006 – Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816 – The Green Machine was awarded a $6,000 second-year participation grant by the NASA Robotics Alliance Project. This regional challenge grant will enable the team to participate in the Wisconsin Regional, March 8 – 10, in Milwaukee. Among the 17 teams awarded Wisconsin Regional Participation Grants are three rookie Minnesota teams: Irondale High School Team 2052, New Brighton; Woodbury Math & Science Academy Team 2175, Woodbury; and Minneapolis Southwest High School Team 2129. Congratulations to all!
The Green Machine to be Fueled by the Green Machine!
November 13, 2006 – Edina Robotics Team 1816 -The Green Machine is one of 30 FIRST Robotics teams selected to pilot an alternative energy/fuel cell project this year. The program, coincidentally enough, is called the “Fuel Cell ‘Green Machine’ Pilot program.” The challenge to teams is to design a game, which could be played by fuel cell hybrid robots, as well as to demonstrate how these hybrid fuel cells might be used in place of standard batteries and energy sources. The competition is divided into four parts: research and development; building and testing a fuel cell/system; designing a game, including game floor, to be played by fuel cell hybrid robots, and inserting the hybrid fuel cell system into a FIRST Competition-ready robot. Teams in 20 states were selected to participate in this new program. Each team will receive two 10-cell stack kits to build one 20-cell stack or two 10-cell stacks.
Enrolling Sponsors Now
November 11, 2006 -- Edina Robotics is actively recruiting sponsors for its 2007 season now. To be listed in FIRST Robotics' printed competition programs, sponsors giving substantial amounts must contribute prior to December 1, 2006. Sponsors giving at the Platinum and Gold levels who contribute prior to December 1 will also have their name appear as part of the team's name (e.g., Edina's 2006 team was the Medtronic, NASA, Edina Education Fund, Edina Robotics Team 1816). A document specifying the giving levels and the benefits that will accrue to each is available among the downloads on the team's home page and also under the Sponsors section.
Volunteer Signup
November 8, 2006 --THANKS to those who already signed up at our Open House. We are looking to fill all necessary behind-the- scenes, non-technical volunteer slots to support the team as it prepares to move into the competition season. Each family should preference two places to volunteer ASAP. Assignments will be finalized by November 17. See the sign up information under Downloads to the right. Please contact Susan Lee, sleem@umich.edu, with your preferences. Thank you for helping.
Fall 2006 Newsletter Now Available
October 27, 2006 -- The Green Machine invites you to download the latest newletter, highlighting the team's outreach efforts. Our participation in the recent STEM Summit and contacts with area schools have had positive results, with another Minnesota team already registered and another on the way. We welcome other schools' participation in FIRST Robotics. The newsletter also notes the generous contribution of a loading dock space at a Honeywell facility in which our team will build our 2007 robot.
Edina Robotics Looking for Supplies and Equipment
Edina Robotics Team 1816 has posted a "Wish List" in the download section of our Home Page for donated items including hand tools, power tools, cleaning supplies, office supplies and folding or stacking chairs. Please check it out. Many of the items we need are things you might have at home or at work that you no longer have a use for.
Edina Robotics Visits Southwest High School
In an effort to encourage the formation of other FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics teams in the Twin Cities area, Edina Robotics took its show on the road to Southwest High School in Minneapolis on October 11th. Seven team members and the team’s 2006 robot met with interested Southwest High School students to share what it’s like to be a rookie FIRST team. The team also showed its 2006 marketing video (available on this website under videos) and responded to questions.
Thanks to our 2006 sponsors! Can we count on you again?
Edina Robotics was sponsored in 2006 by: Medtronic Inc., NASA, Edina Education Fund, the law firm of Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner, and Kluth, EHS Parent Council, Best Buy, Barr Engineering, Spanlink, Ergotron, Jerry's Enterprises, Handy Pro, Big Image Corp., Coooper Research, Kaemmerer Group, LLC, Exlar Corp., and Evalumed. Our expenses for the 2006 season totaled over $30,000. You, and other contributors, allowed us to build our 2006 robot, successfully compete in the FIRST Regional Competition in Milwaukee and the National Championship in Atlanta in the spring of 2006, and enter our 2007 season free of debt. We thank you.
In the 2007 season, we anticipate expenses of nearly $50,000 to accommodate a larger team. Again, we request your support.
Contact us through the website.
EHS Homecoming Parade
The Green Machine’s award-winning 2006 robot made its debut appearance in the Edina High School Homecoming Parade October 6. Controlled remotely by team members riding in the back of a green decorated pick up truck, the robot briefly made its own way south on Wooddale Avenue until its wheels no longer could roll over various obstacles in its path. Team members had substituted street-worthy wheels for the nubbed wheels used in competition. Team members, who threw candy to the crowd lining the parade route, were delighted to add to the Homecoming festivities.
The Green Machine to Participate in EHS Homecoming Parade October 6
Edina Robotics will participate in the Edina High School Homecoming Parade on Friday, October 6 at 4:30. The Green Machine's award-winning 2006 robot will make its own way south on Wooddale Avenue from 50th Street controlled remotely by team members riding in the back of a green decorated pick up truck. Team members have substituted street-worthy wheels for the nubbed wheels used in competition. Team members are delighted to add to the Homecoming festivities.
Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816 Exhibited at the STEM Summit
September 30, 2006 -- Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816, The Green Machine, exhibited at the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Summit for High Schoolers at the Science Museum of Minnesota on September 30, 2006. Over 1,000 high school students, parents, and educators attended the Summit; over 40 businesses and institutions of higher learning exhibited. Nine Edina student team members represented the team at the Summit to encourage the formation of more FIRST teams in Minnesota. Edina High School is the only public school in the state to have a team. In Wisconsin, there are 17 public school teams. The Edina team showed a video of last year’s experience in building a 5-foot tall robot and competing at the Wisconsin regional and National Championship competitions. The team demonstrated the ability of the machine vision system they built during the summer to differentiate between colors of light. Last year’s robot and trophies were also on display. The team will field its 2007 robot in March at a regional FIRST competition. Key sponsors of the team are: Medtronic Inc.; NASA; Edina Education Fund; the lawfirm of Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner and Kluth; and the EHS Parent Council.
Edina Robotics to Exhibit at the STEM Summit for High School Students
Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816, The Green Machine, has been invited to exhibit at the STEM Summit for high school students on September 30 at the Science Museum of Minnesota, 10:00-2:00. (STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Math.) The team will have its award-winning robot on site and will be demonstrating the machine vision system created by team members over the summer. The team’s marketing video and video of matches in which the team competed last season will also be shown. The team will be assisting FIRST Robotics in identifying students from Minnesota schools who are interested in forming teams. To register for this free activity, visit the Minnesota Department of Education website. Stop by to see us in action!
Team Handbook
September 22, 2006 --The Green Machine has posted its Team Handbook and registration forms for the 2007 Season. Current team members, prospective members and parents are invited to download and print the handbook and forms. The team's official opening of registration will be the Parent-Student Information Night on September 26, 7:00, Edina Community Center, room 351. We look forward to seeing you there! Completed registration materials will be accepted at Information Night, or should be mailed with a registration check of $150 to Edina Robotics c/o 7320 Glouchester, Edina 55435 by Tuesday October 3, 2006.
The Green Machine Kicks Off 2007 Season with Honeywell Donation!
September 7, 2006 -- Les Kuivanen (right), vice chair-community projects, Honeywell Retirees Volunteer Program, personally delivered a $1,500 donation to Edina Robotics Team 1816-The Green Machine. Accepting on behalf of the team are captain Chris Miller (left) and Mary Manderfeld, interim principal, Edina High School. The donation will be used to help the team defray expenses while competing in the 2007 FIRST Robotics Competitions. Expenses to build and participate in the Wisconsin Regional and National Competitions exceeded $30,000 in 2006, the team’s rookie year. In 2006, The Green Machine received major funding from Medtronic, Inc., NASA, and the Edina Education Fund.
Honeywell Site Visit Report
August 9, 2006 – On August 9th, 11 members and mentors of the Green Machine visited the Honeywell building, where it appears we will be working during the 2007 build season. The facilities have all the space we could ever use, and more. For the web team we will have internet access and power outlets in a locked room. We have enough extra space to build an entire practice field. There is also room for workbenches and tools. Honeywell is lending us some tables and chairs for meetings. We also have a loading dock which will make picking up the crate really easy for FedEx?. And for all you crate builders out there, we will not be building the crate in the freezing cold. We are currently working on obtaining tools for the new workspace.
Honeywell Site Visit!!!!!
August 3, 2006 – The Honeywell Corp. is extending to Edina Robotics Team 1816, The Green Machine, an opportunity to tour and review a site for a Robot Fabrication Lab workshop at their Minnetonka, Minn., location. All team members who were part of the 2006 build and competition season are invited to be part of the planning, design and layout of this space. Honeywell is offering the team an unused, heated loading dock and storage facility. The site visit is scheduled for 3 PM, Wednesday, August 9.