2007-2008 FTC (was FVC) Season is Official

[gblake]

******NEWS FROM FIRST!!******


After two successful pilot seasons as the FIRST Vex Challenge, we are
pleased to announce that the intermediate program, now named the FIRST
Tech Challenge, is an official FIRST program. It joins our continuum of
FIRST programs with the Junior FIRST LEGO League, FIRST LEGO League, and
FIRST Robotics Competition. This program will be structured similarly to
our pilot seasons and will continue to target an audience between the
FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Robotics Competition both to serve as a
feeder program into the FIRST Robotics Competition and to bring FIRST to
new geographic areas.


The next season of the FIRST Tech Challenge will begin in September
2007, and planning is underway. Team registration is expected to be open
on or shortly after July 11, 2007. Details on tournaments and season
information will be provided as soon as it is available. Please check
the FIRST website at www.usfirst.org for periodic updates.

The FIRST Tech Challenge will continue to use the Vex Robotics Design
System for this coming season. After registration opens, FIRST will
make Vex kits available at a price that only registered FIRST Tech
Challenge teams will be able to access. Teams may also use their
existing kits from previous years' competitions. Things may change in the future, but for now the Vex Robotics Design System is the official tournament kit.

We are excited to launch this new FIRST program sure to engage a greater
number of students.


Darlene Pantaleo (This message from Darlene to the Virginia FVC/FTC community was posted in this thread by Blake)
FVC Affiliate Partner
(804) 745-2493

[pacoliketaco]

ooh, this sounds like vex is going to be a much bigger program in future years.:D

[corpralchee]

As I understand this means that this is now a "permanent" part of the FIRST program.

[mister_t]

seems to me like changing the name implies that the vex kit won't be the medium in the future. my guess is it will be more like FRC (any building supply) just smaller scale and lower cost limit.

[gdpant]

What this means is that FIRST is going to continue to explore other robotics kits. The name change allows for them to change platforms easily. It is the name change which is permanent, not the Vex Robotics Design System, but Vex is in for at least this coming season. :D

Darlene Pantaleo

[gamerfrEEk]

Since FVC is going big-time, could this lead to the possibility that VEXLabs could be producing a more steady flow of new parts?

[John V-Neun]

Note, I reposted a statement from IFI which answers some of the questions from this thread:

http://www.vexforum.com/showthread.php?p=10888#post10888

Regards,
John

[gamerfrEEk]

From what I am understanding, FTC (that's going to take some getting used to) teams get a discount, that's really good because newer teams that don't have as much of a budget can really be on the same level with veteran teams, maybe not as mechanical or know exactly what the competitions are like and what everyone else is bringing to the competitions, but they can really have a good start. I, of course, am wrong in some cases, some teams could be more mechanical or were in FRC or something, but thats not the point. This is a good chance to start off at a more even level.
What does everyone else think about the new acronym? I don't like it because FIRST Tech Challenge makes it seam too young for us, like it's the Lego League or something. I think FIRST VEX Challenge makes it seam more mature.

[corpralchee]

Whether or not it sounds mature our team now gets to go back and relabel everything from FVC to FTC. Anyways changing the name opens it up to allowing more parts or other kits besides the VEX one in the future. It may become more like the FRC where if you can find it you can use it.

[sturm]

After registration opens, FIRST will
make Vex kits available at a price that only registered FIRST Tech
Challenge teams will be able to access.

I like the sound of that:PThat means they will be cheaper right?

[corpralchee]

Yeah but there's only so much you can do with a starter kit.

[mister_t]

Yeah but there's only so much you can do with a starter kit.

the first demo year they gave us 3 starter kits and only that to make our robot.

[corpralchee]

My main objection with the starter kits is that they don't have any of the long chassis rail. The only long pieces of metal you have are the 1X25 flat pieces and the angle metal with a long grove on one side and double wide holes on the other. I personally can't stand to build a chassis out of that stuff it doesn't match up well.

Anyways back on topic I'm wondering when registration is going up considering they were aiming to start on July 11th.

[mister_t]

My main objection with the starter kits is that they don't have any of the long chassis rail. The only long pieces of metal you have are the 1X25 flat pieces and the angle metal with a long grove on one side and double wide holes on the other. I personally can't stand to build a chassis out of that stuff it doesn't match up well.

Anyways back on topic I'm wondering when registration is going up considering they were aiming to start on July 11th.

it opens july 30th

[corpralchee]

Ah, ok well I guess we only have 5 days to wait now. Just curious how did you find that out?

[KathieK]

FIRST Tech Challenge registration opened today. The new registration system uses the TIMS (Team Information Management System) system which may be familiar to some of you. FTC team registration will cost $275 this season; tournament costs will vary.
https://my.usfirst.org/ftc/tims/site.lasso

[corpralchee]

Your link takes you to a page that says bad hacker. I don't think it's likes a direct link so use this one and then click registration. http://www.usfirst.org/community/fvc/content.aspx?id=750

[skimoose]

Just go to the FIRST website and go to FTC page to reach registration. It was open as of Friday 7/27/07.

We're registered and are officially team #10.

When you register you will be give a temporary team number (our was 33 I think) your official team number will be given when you pay the $275 team registration fee.

Note: There will no longer be permanent team numbers, like FLL team numbers will be different each year and based on first come first serve. :confused:

[KathieK]

Your link takes you to a page that says bad hacker. I don't think it's likes a direct link so use this one and then click registration. http://www.usfirst.org/community/fvc/content.aspx?id=750
I apologize for that, it was working fine for me; thanks for providing a new link.

[KathieK]

An updated announcement about the FTC program has been posted at http://www.usfirst.org/who/content.aspx?id=5654

[corpralchee]

Why no permanent numbers. I am going to having to relabel everything with a new number each year. Although presumably the team names will stay more or less the same teams are sometimes easier to remember by their number.

[texasranger]

well, if you have a really notable (good) team, and have a schnazzy name, then it shouldn't be a problem:D