Dive into FIRST Robotics with Minnesota Splash!
By Greg B. -- Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816, The Green Machine, will help host a first-ever regional wide FIRST event, the Minnesota Splash. On Saturday December 8th, more than 30 FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams from all over Minnesota are expected to participate in pre-season activities geared toward the needs of young teams. This event will take place at Lockheed Martin, Eagan, MN.
Due to space constraints however, there will be a limited number of members and mentors from each team allowed to attend. To extend the reach of this event, plans are underway to steam via Webcast several of the seminars.
At the facility, first and second year teams will have a chance to participate in a wide of variety of learning activities, ranging from seminars to actual robot demonstrations. The seminars, put on by student veterans and mentors alike, will convey valuable information relevant not only for building a robot, but also for organizing and running a robotics team. Topics such as what to expect and do at competitions, fundraising, and game strategy will also be covered during the seminars and workshops. Several FIRST teams will be invited to bring their 2007 competition robots and demonstrations of these robots in action will complement the seminars. It’s going to be very exciting, and we hope to see your team there!
In related developments, there will also be an orientation and information session for team mentors new to FIRST and the FIRST Robotics Competition. Planning is underway for this meeting to be held at the University of Minnesota on a weekday evening towards the end of November. Topics will include an overview of what the FIRST experience is, what resources are available to mentors, what it means to be a mentor, and what happens during the build/competition season.
More information on both the team mentors-only event and the Minnesota Splash will be available soon; the main contact for each team should expect more details via a notification email shortly.
Directions
Lockheed Martin is easily accessible from the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. By taxi or rental car, our facility is less than 15 minutes from the airport terminal. The facility is located on the Northwest corner of Pilot Knob Road and Yankee Doodle Road in Eagan, Minnesota.
From the Airport - Take Highway 5 west (Bloomington-Richfield exit) to Interstate 494 east, to Pilot Knob Road. South on Pilot Knob Road to Yankee Doodle Road.
From Minneapolis - Take 35W south to Interstate 494. Then Interstate 494 east to Pilot Knob Road. South on Pilot Knob Road to Yankee Doodle Road.
From St. Paul -Take 35E south to Yankee Doodle Road. Go west 1/2 block to Pilot Knob Road.
Eagan Facility Parking
Parking is available off Pilot Knob Road, or turn west onto Yankee Doodle Road to access the south parking area. Customers, suppliers and other visitors are encouraged to use the East Visitor/Main Entrance off Pilot Knob Road unless the employee you are visiting has instructed you to park in another designated area. Sometimes larger groups of visitors are directed to the visitor lot at the South entrance.
Handicap parking is available at all entrances. Student parking is recommended at the North entrance of our facility (off of Pilot Knob Road).