Robofest eNewsletter, 12-1-12

 

(1) Thanksgiving RoboParade, Vote for your favorite float!

(2) Robofest 2013 Kick-off on Dec 5

(3) Teacher Education Course using Lego NXT at LTU

(4) MCWTF Scholarship

(5) Special RoboParade Opportunity at COBO Hall in MI

(6) Seeking Site Hosts for Spring 2013 Competitions

(7) Wanted: Robofest Coordinator

(8) Please return L2Bots

(9) Bottle RoboSumo North American Championship Winners

---------------------------------

 

(1) Thanksgiving RoboParade, Vote for your favorite float!

The world's unique Autonomous Robot Parade has been started by Robofest since 2006. Young students construct and program robotic floats.

The voting for RoboParade 2012 People's Choice Award is still open. Please watch this 7 minute video showing all the parade robots at Macomb Community College Expo Center.

http://youtu.be/lFmznXBHhlg

Send a text message to (248)230-2370 with the robot flag number to cast your vote.

The winner will be announced during the Robofest kick-off on Dec 5, 3pm. You may win a raffle prize.

 

(2) Robofest 2013 Kick Off Meetings in December

The 14th annual 2013 Robofest will kick-off on Wed, Dec. 5, 2012, 3:00pm ~ 4:30pm (EST) at LTU, Southfield in Buell Mgt. Building, room M218. Rules will be announced, 2013 Game (RoboSRC2) will be unveiled, and team registration will begin.

Anyone can participate in the meeting online using Wimba. The direct link will be on our website at www.robofest.net. To join the online Webinar meeting, we recommend you test the connection before the meeting. Identical repeated meetings will be held on Fri, Dec. 7, 6:30pm ~ 8pm; and Sat, Dec. 15, 10am ~ 11:30am.

 

(3) Teacher Education Course using Lego NXT at LTU

Lawrence Tech University in Southfield Michigan offers a 14 week (Jan 22 ~ Apr 26, 2013) 3 credit course entitled Autonomous Robotics for Education. (Course number: MET 5263). This is a course in the MET (Master of Educational Technology) program at LTU. The course will introduce concepts involved in robotics and robotics programming and how to use robotics education technologies to teach STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects. It will provide hands-on experience in programming Lego robots with NXT-G language. Please contact Dr. Valentina Tobos ([email protected]), MET director, if you are interested in taking this class. We meet twice a week:� on Tuesday 7pm ~ 8:15pm and online during the week.

(4) MCWTF Grants Offered to All-Girl Teams

The MCWTF (Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation, http://www.mcwt.org ) is offering $500 grants to all-girl middle school or high school Robofest teams.

 

Application forms can be accessed at:

http://www.mcwt.org/Robotics_Grants_187.html

 

The deadline for returning applications is December 22, 2012 by midnight. Late applications will not be accepted. Winners will be notified by January 13, 2013.

 

(5) Special RoboParade Opportunity at COBO Hall in MI

All RoboParade Teams -- you are invited to the following special RoboParade event at COBO Hall, Detroit during the North American Auto Show On Saturday, January 19, 2013.

We look forward to seeing your fabulous floats again! No team registration fees. Registration is open at www.robofest.net, under the 2013 page, and only 20 teams are invited.

 

(6) Seeking Site Hosts for Spring 2013 Competitions

In contrast to other big robotics competitions, Robofest does not require teams to hold major fundraisers to underwrite the cost of participation. However, Robofest provides unique opportunities to maximize math and science learning through autonomous robotics. Robofest is seeking site hosts for the 2013 Competition Season. Qualifying Competition Sites are needed in Feb ~ early April of 2013. Interested individuals, organizations, or schools should contact Robofest office at [email protected] or check out www.robofest.net and click on *For Site Hosts* link. We are looking for site hosts especially in Africa, Europe, and South America.

 

(7) Wanted: Robofest Coordinator

Robofest is growing and we are looking for a part-time Robofest Coordinator. Please contact Dr. Chung ([email protected]), if you are interested in this position at LTU in Michigan. Robotics knowledge is not required.

 

(8) Please return L2Bots!

We expect more L2Bots next year. If you borrowed an L2Bot from LTU, please return it to THE Robofest office. We appreciate your cooperation.

 

(9) Bottle RoboSumo North American Championship Winners

The following first place winner teams will be representing USA to compete at the International Robot Olympiad on December 17-20 in South Korea.

Team Cyber Trax, Sr. Division,

Team RoboCruisers, Jr. Division

 

Please visit http://www.cybertrax-usa.com to support �team Cyber Trax�s fundraising.

 

--------

If you have questions, please *do not reply* directly to this email message. See below for contact information.

 

Lawrence Tech University / Robofest / M219

21000 W. Ten Mile, Southfield, MI 48075

Fax: (248) 204-3518

CJ Chung, Professor, Robofest Director, [email protected]

Christopher Cartwright, Associate Professor, Robofest Program Manager, [email protected]

Teri Dubois, Robofest Associate Coordinator, (248) 204-3568, [email protected]

William Power, Robofest Assistant Coordinator, (248) 204-3569, [email protected]

 

[email protected]

http://www.robofest.net

http://facebook.com/robofest �-- please like us�