R o b o f e s t   eNewsletter, 12-14-07

 

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Contents:

 

(1)  Robofest 2008 Kick-off on Tuesday Dec. 18

(2)  Fall Mini Urban Challenge on Tuesday Dec. 18

(3)� The Gates Millennium Scholars Program, Due on January 11, 2008

(4)  MCWTF Offering Four $500 Grants to All Female Teams in Michigan

(5)� Asia-Pacific Robofest 2008 Camp

(6)  Wanted: Robofest Coordinators

(7)  Thanksgiving RoboParade 2007 video on YouTube

(8)  Robofest is Seeking Sponsors for 2008 Competitions

(9)  Current List of Site Hosts for 2008 Competition Season

 

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(1) Robofest 2008 Kick-off on Tuesday December 18

Robofest is a festival of educational robotics competitions. Robofest 2008 will feature Games, Exhibition, RoboSumo, RoboFashion Show, VEX Pentathlon, and Mini Urban Challenge. The rules for 2008 season will be announced during the kick-off meeting at Lawrence Tech in Southfield, Michigan on

 

December 18, 2007, 6:30pm ~ 7:30pm,

in Faculty dinning room in the Buell Management Building (No. 4 building on the campus map at http://www.ltu.edu/contacts/campusmap.asp).

Free pizza and pop will be served for attendees. Donation is accepted.

 

Directions to Lawrence Tech can be found at http://www.ltu.edu/contacts/directions.asp

 

The rule documents will be posted on the web at www.robofest.net on Tuesday night. Additional kick-off informational meeting will be held on Friday, December 21, 6pm ~ 7pm in M218 in the same Buell Management Building at LTU.

 

Streaming video version of the kick-off presentation will be available on the web, tentatively, on Friday On Saturday, December 22, Noon ~ 2pm, Eastern Time, anyone can participate in an additional interactive meeting using Skype voice call, chat, or video call. Our Skype ID is robofest. You can download Skype software for free from Skype.com.

 

Repeated kick-off informational meeting for those who missed all the above will be held on Thursday, January 10th, 2008 from 4:30pm till 5:30pm in E156 in Engineering Building at LTU.

 

(2) Fall Mini Urban Challenge

Inspired by the DARPA Urban Challenge, Lawrence Tech offers an indoor autonomous robot competition solely based on an onboard CCD camera as a sensor. The contestants are to use a laptop robotic platform called L2Bot. Teams must implement a vision guidance software system to allow the robot to maneuver a given course simulating roads and traffic signals. The event will be held on Tuesday, December 18th, 6pm ~ 9pm at Lawrence Tech University in the Buell Management Building. See the above (1) for maps. This event is open to the public.

 

(3)� The Gates Millennium Scholars Program, Due on January 11, 2008

The nomination deadline for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program is January 11, 2008.   The target population of this scholarship program is high-performing, low-income African American, Hispanic American, Asian Pacific Islander American, and American Indian Alaska Native students.  Application materials are available online at http://www.gmsp.org. Dr. Chung, Robofest founder and Associate Professor of Computer Science at Lawrence Tech would be pleased to write the �nominator forms� or �recommender forms� for veteran Robofest participants. We also recommend using GMS Imagine www.imaginegms.com for more opportunities.

 

(4) MCWTF Offering Four $500 Grants to All Female Teams in Michigan

The Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation (MCWTF) offers four $500 grants to all female Robofest 2008 Teams from Michigan.  If you are interested in applying for one of these grants supporting all female Robofest Teams from Michigan, you can obtain the application at http://www.mcwtf.org.  The grant application is due no later than December 17, 2007.  If you have any questions, please send an email to [email protected] or call 248-281-5391.

 

MCWTF is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to inspiring and assisting girls and women in Michigan to pursue technology education and careers.

 

(5)� Asia-Pacific Robofest 2008 Camp

Our Robofest partners, Hanyang University and KASG (Korea Association of educational contents for Science Gifted) , is having a Robotics Camp for students in Asian Pacific counties from Jan 23 to Jan 26 at Hanyang University, Ansan Camus in Korea. The camp program includes: lectures, hands-on workshops, and Robofest competitions. For more information, please go to: www.robofest.or.kr or email at [email protected]

 

(6)  Wanted: Robofest Coordinators

We are looking for part-time coordinators to help with ever growing Robofest administrative tasks. If you are interested in this position to work with Robofest coaches, teams, parents, and teachers, please contact Dr. Chung at [email protected]

 

(7)  Thanksgiving RoboParade 2007 video on YouTube

2nd annual Thanksgiving RoboParade was held on Nov. 17 at Lawrence Tech. 31 robots participated in the event. YouTube video can be found at http://youtube.com/watch?v=dpo8a9XEkFM

 

(8) Robofest is Seeking Sponsors for 2008 Competition

In an effort to keep Robofest a low-cost affordable contest for everyone while maintaining its quality, we are still seeking sponsors for the 2008 season.  If you or your organization is interested in helping to support the important work of Robofest, please contact Dr. CJ Chung, [email protected].  Robofest appreciates any type of support, big or small.  Robofest accepts both cash contributions and in-kind services donations. Please contact us if you are able to support Robofest in any way. The sponsorship (pledge) form can be found at http://www.robofest.net/2008/Sponsorship08form.doc .

 

You can also make a gift to Robofest online by visiting the following Lawrence Tech University link: 

https://www.applyweb.com/public/register?ltualum

 

All Robofest donations are tax deductible contributions. Transactions must be processed by December 31st to receive 2007 tax credit. We appreciate your support.

 

(9) Current List of Site Hosts for 2008 Competition Season

The following sites have been confirmed to host Robofest 2008:

 

G.S. Lakie Middle School, Lethbridge Alberta, Canada TBD

Aurora High School, Aurora ON, Canada, TBD         

Brockhill Park Performing Arts College, Kent, England, Early April

Burt Elementary School, Detroit MI, TBD

Canton Charter Academy, Canton MI, Apr 12

Communities In Schools, Detroit MI, TBD

Cypress Springs High School, Cypress TX, Apr 12

Detroit Edison Public School Academy, Detroit MI, March TBD

Detroit Community High School, Detroit MI, Mar 29

Detroit Merit Academy, Detroit MI, TBD

Digital Arts and Sciences Academy, Highland Park MI, Mar 8

Ernest J. Dossin Elementary, Detroit MI, Apr 10

Genesee Intermediate School District, Flint MI TBD

Hanyang University, Ansan, Korea, Jan 25 (Asia Pacific Qualifier

Hawaii TBD

Hillside Middle School-Austin Robotic Network, Northville MI, TBD           

Hill Country Middle School, Austin, TX, Apr 12

Howell, Michigan TBD

ICYTEG, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico, TBD

Kettering High School, Detroit MI, TBD

Lawrence Tech organized by Cranbrook, MI, April 25

Levy Middle School, Southfield MI TBD

Macomb Christian Schools, Warren Mi, TBD

Macomb Intermediate School Dist., Clinton Township MI, Apr 12

MACUL, DeVos Center in Grand Rapids MI, Mar 5

Mae C. Jemison Academy, Detroit MI, Apr 3

Dakota Technical College, Apple Valley MN, TBD

Neinas Elementary, Detroit MI, Apr TBD

Ralph Waldo Emerson, Detroit MI, TBD

Southfield Christian School, Southfield MI, TBD

St. Clair County RESA, Marysville, MI, Apr 5

St. Dennis, Royal Oak MI, Apr 12

St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Houston TX, Apr 5

U of D Jesuit High School & Academy, Detroit MI, TBD

Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor MI, TBD

Sky Valley Education Center, Monroe Washington, TBD

Woodland High School Woodland, CA Apr 5

YMCA Service Learning Academy, Detroit MI, TBD

Van Buren TBD

Video Submission Site for teams anywhere!

 

Robofest is still seeking site hosts for the 2008 Competition Season across the USA and the world.  Please check out site host info, application form, and FAQ at www.robofest.net under General Information Section on the Robofest home page. 

  

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Lawrence Tech University / Robofest World Headquarters

CJ Chung, Associate Professor, Robofest Director

21000 W. Ten Mile, Southfield MI 48075

[email protected]                www.robofest.net

(248) 204-3504                   Fax: (248) 204-3518