Snapology Space Wars Robotics - registration open now for 4th to 6th graders beginning Jan 2023

NEW ROBOTICS CLASS: Registration now open!

Snapology Space Wars Robotics: 

In this Star Wars-inspired program, your padawan learner will explore the basics of robotics while digging into their favorite parts of the Star Wars movies - the machines! 

While working with a partner to complete various challenges, your student will be taught how to effectively utilize sensors, how different mechanical components work in their robots, and how programming is a challenging but rewarding skill that they can master with just a little practice. 

May the force be with them as they build and grow!

Register online ->  https://franklinma.myrec.com/info/default.aspx  

Shared from ->  https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck8ru8FLvrP/

Snapology Space Wars Robotics - registration open now for 4th to 6th graders beginning Jan 2023

"human operators will do little to offset the biases of AI programming"

"The New York police department has acquired a robotic police dog, known as Digidog, and has deployed it on the streets of Brooklyn, Queens and, most recently, the Bronx. At a time that activists in New York, and beyond, are calling for the defunding of police departments – for the sake of funding more vital services that address the root causes of crime and poverty – the NYPD’s decision to pour money into a robot dog seems tone-deaf if not an outright provocation.

As Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who represents parts of Queens and the Bronx, put it on Twitter: “Shout out to everyone who fought against community advocates who demanded these resources go to investments like school counseling instead. Now robotic surveillance ground drones are being deployed for testing on low-income communities of color with underresourced schools.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/02/nypd-police-robodog-patrols

Check out the FHS Robotics channel on YouTube!

"Check out the Franklin High School Robotics Channel! Don't forget to like and subscribe!" https://youtu.be/rPoDlmAN41M



Shared from Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FHSRobotics3/status/1249056287708643329?s=09


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Website: https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/fhsrobotics/home 
Email: fhsrobotics99@gmail.com 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FHSRobotics3

FHS robotics team takes 2nd Place at WPI #SavageSoccer

via Twitter we share some success for the FHS robotics club from the weekend:

Incredibly proud of FHS Robotics! Yesterday we had 2 teams compete in #SavageSoccer at #WPI and had one robot make it to the finals, ultimately coming in 2nd! #STEAM #teamwork pic.twitter.com/b0ujGOOebO

— Alyssa Taranto (@MsTaranto) November 17, 2019

What is savage soccer?

"Savage Soccer began in 1995 and has continued since as an annual event hosted at WPI. Initially created as part of a university project (IQP), it is now coordinated each year by WPI students in their free time.

Savage Soccer is designed to help students learn about basic robotics principles and teamwork. The original focus was a way to get students 'psyched up' for the FIRST Robotics Competition. From its inception through the 2001 game, it challenged students to modify a radio controlled car with authorized parts that could best perform certain tasks like moving ping pong balls into goals while avoiding obstacles and other hazards. In 2002, the kits became more advanced as we started using the Robovation/Vex kits to make for a better competition and a more realistic version of FIRST. Each year the game is modified to present new goals and challenges for teams to test their creative abilities."

Continue reading about Savage Soccer at WPI  https://users.wpi.edu/~savage/About/

2nd place team (Twitter photo via @MsTaranto)

 

“We live in the hub of the robotics universe”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The site of a long-vacant drug manufacturing plant on Otis Street is getting a new life.

Amazon.com Inc. announced plans on Wednesday to construct a $40 million Amazon Robotics Innovation Hub at the former AstraZeneca site at 50 Otis St. and bring 200 new jobs to town. The 35,000-square-foot facility will be in addition to the Amazon Robotics facility in North Reading that will together serve as the e-commerce giant’s epicenter of robotics innovation.

“We are going to completely re-do that site,” said Tye Brady, Amazon Robotics chief technologist, in a phone interview with the Daily News. “I can guarantee it’s going to be a world-class, state-of-the-art facility.”

The innovation hub will feature corporate offices, research and development labs and manufacturing space. The new location will allow Amazon Robotics to grow its engineering, manufacturing, support and test teams in the state. Crews will design, build, program and ship robots all under the same roof that will improve delivery speeds for customers around the world, said Brady."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191106/amazon-to-build-robotics-innovation-hub-at-former-astrazeneca-site-in-westborough

This is good news. There are robotics groups in local schools. There is also the robotics group that has moved into the Red Brick School to utilize that facility for their robotics activities.

For more info about 4H Alarm Robotics 2079 visit their page   https://www.alarmrobotics.com/

"The Alarm 2079 robotics team is a competitive high school robotics team"

Town Council recap: Ag Commission, Fire Captain sworn in, robot enters the Chamber, Electric Youth perform

The Town Council meeting Wednesday was one of the most varied and entertaining meetings in a long time.

FSPA's Electric Youth sang a song as part of their annual visit before heading to their annual tour in Europe.

FSPA's Electric Youth sang a song as part of their annual visit

Fire Captain Darrell Griffin was sworn in by Town Clerk Teresa Burr

Fire Captain Darrell Griffin was sworn in by Town Clerk Teresa Burr

The Agriculture Commission presented an update on what they have done since they were formally approved last year.

Franklin Agricultural Commission Update from Franklin Matters

The 4H Alarm Robotics Club presented an overview of their operation and educational mission. They will lease the Red Brick School as their base of operations in Franklin. They had been located in the old Thompson Printing building (until it was torn down) and recently in another location in Bellingham but wanting to return to Franklin.

After the Council approved of the lease arrangement, their robot entered the Chamber to deliver the pen for the signing ceremony. With some technical difficulty they did demonstrate the robots movements and capabilities along with how the team operated under pressure and recovered from problems.

My notes from the meeting can be found in the links here:

• Live reporting: Town Administrator's Report to Clo...
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/06/live-reporting-town-administrators.html
• Live reporting: Legislation for Action
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/06/live-reporting-legislation-for-action.html
• Live reporting: Presentation - Red Brick Schoolhou...
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/06/live-reporting-presentation-red-brick.html
• Live Reporting: Presentation - Ag Commission
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/06/live-reporting-presentation-ag.html
• Live Reporting: Swearing in - Public Hearing on 19...
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/06/live-reporting-swearing-in-public.html
• Live reporting: Town Council - June 5, 2019
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/06/live-reporting-town-council-june-5-2019.html

Have you met Marty?

From the Boston Globe, an article of interest for Franklin:

"It was just a scrap of paper on the floor of a Stop & Shop supermarket in Quincy, near the produce section. But for Marty, no matter how small the scrap, it was one piece too many. At the sight of it, Marty froze and called for backup. 

Marty is not some teenager working an after-school shift. It is 140 pounds of plastic and metal, with glowing lights atop a towering frame with big cartoon eyes, and cameras and lasers to spot garbage, spills, and other stuff that shouldn’t be in the aisles of a supermarket. 

The $35,000 machine is one of about 500 robots that Stop & Shop’s owner, the Dutch company Ahold Delhaize, has deployed in some of its US grocery stores. And in the process, Ahold is doing its part to normalize robots in public places."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2019/05/26/robots-becoming-more-normal-retailers-roll-them-out/NWKMrr1XyrDOUd8X9vSUZM/story.html

Have you met Marty?

Tri-County Regional Wraps-Up Successful Year of Robotics

Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School's FIRST Robotics team, Tri-Force Team 3236 has had an excellent year.

The high school robotics team participates in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition (FRC). Through work on engineering, design, animation, and development, students are inspired and encouraged to explore the wonders of technology. More importantly, team members gain valuable insight in cooperation and teamwork through intensive activities that encourage members to design solutions with the help of their peers.

Robotics as a whole encompasses a broad range of specialties necessary for the functioning of the team. Our members are skilled and specialize in a wide variety of fields.

The Tri-Force Team 3236 robotics team is made up of a group of 20 students from skilled and specialized career-focused vocations including electrical, automotive technology, engineering, computer information systems, and medical careers. Through the mentoring, teaching and coaching from Mr. Michael Garland and Mr. Tom Vagnini, the students have been able to succeed in winning competitions all the way to the World Championship in Michigan. The team also has three major sponsors, DoD STEM and TE Connectivity and Tri-County Regional that have helped them to achieve so much this season while supporting them every step of the way.

Every year, all of the teams around the world are given a new challenge. This year, the challenge was called Power Up. Teams had to place milk crates on elevated platforms to score points faster than their opponents did. The teams have 6 weeks to build and program a robot out of scratch that can perform a number of the scoring objectives. To be successful the robot had to be able to operate both automatically on its own, and with the help of human drivers. The robot also had to lift objects from the floor up to 8 feet in the air to score the most amount of points. After a 6 week build season, teams go onto competitions where they compete against over 40 other high school robotics teams and robots.

This year, Tri-Force Team 3236 attended events at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Bryant University to compete for a spot at the New England District Championship. For the first time, the team qualified for both the New England Championship and the World Championship.

The WPI event was an excellent start to the competition season. At the end of the qualification round, the team placed 16th out of 41 teams and were selected to be on the 7th seeded alliance. This caused a major upset due to the team beating the 2nd place alliance but losing in the semi-finals at the event. However, Tri-Force Team 3236 did not go home empty handed. Through the hard work of the safety captain, Mike Barba, a junior from Franklin, and the rest of the team, they earned the Safety Award. Mike Barba also moved on as a semi-finalist for the Dean's List Award.

The team continued to do well going into the second event at Bryant University. Before the matches began, the students disassembled a section of the robot with hopes of making it better and stronger. This improved design helped to finish the qualification rounds 9th out of 42 teams. In the playoffs, the team was the captain of the 6th seeded alliance and beat the 2nd and 3rd alliances to make it into the finals. They barely lost in the finals to the event winners finishing in 2nd place for the entire event.

With the number of points earned for those 2 events, the team qualified for District Championships at Boston University. They ended up in 7th place out of 64 teams overall, and qualified to be a 6th place alliance captain. Tri-Force Team 3236 placed 18th out of 209 teams in New England, and 4th in Massachusetts, allowing them to qualify to be one of the 42 New England teams attending the World Championships in Detroit, Michigan.

This year, almost 400 teams were invited to compete at the World Championships. The team competed in the Daly division against 68 teams from all over the world. After 2 days of intense competition, major work, and several design changes to their robot during competition, the team ended up 30th in their division, which was a major accomplishment for their first time at the World Championships.

"Each of these students have consistently gone above and beyond to design, build, market, and operate a competitive robot in a business-like environment while supporting the ideals of FIRST," said Michael Garland, Engineering Instructor and Robotics Mentor. "I am so proud of the team's accomplishments and am excited that the students are already preparing and looking forward to the challenge next year."

Tri-County RVTHS, located at 147 Pond Street in Franklin, is a recipient of the High Schools That Work Gold Achievement Award and serves the communities of Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole, and Wrentham.

Tri-County Regional Wraps-Up Successful Year of Robotics

“I think this inspired all age levels”

From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin

"Robotics are indeed the way of the future, and to get there, it’s wise to start at a young age. 

But that doesn’t mean the present is limited to children. 

At Saturday’s inaugural robotics expo at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, first-graders paired with older students in a display of previous work. 

Angela Batt, an engineering teacher at Tri-County and the event’s coordinator, runs a Daisy Girl Scout troop out of Plainville, where she has 13 first-graders who are passionate about Lego robotics. She broke her troop into three junior Lego-league teams, and with the younger leagues being non-competitive, they always end the year with an expo. This year, they combined their expo with area middle schools and the Tri-County high robotics team."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180402/tri-county-robotics-expo-includes-first-graders-high-school-students

“I think this inspired all age levels”

Tri-County Robotics team (Tri-Bots 3236)

The Tri-County Robotics team (Tri-Bots 3236) competed at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) today (Thursday, March 2) in the FIRST Robotics Competition. 

This clip is from the second run the team competed in. Go Tri-Bots! 

#tricountyrvths #wpirobotics #tribots #firstroboticscompetitionne

Did you know Tri-County has a Robotics team? Our students are amazing! Here's some photos from today's US First Robotics Competition at WPI. Go Tri-Force! Team 3236! #tricountyrvths #wpirobotics #tribots3236 pic.twitter.com/dvrueZEoWZ

— Tri-County Regional (@TriCountyRVTSD) March 2, 2018

“We have to respect each other’s ideas”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"A group of middle schoolers is solving the world’s engineering problems one Lego brick at a time. 

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School’s robotics team, Gearminds, was chosen to compete on Saturday at the First Lego League Regional competition at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. There were 11 teams out of a pool of 40 that were given the golden ticket to continue onto the state championship. 

This year’s theme is hydrodynamics. Using Lego robotics in sync with computer programming, the team was challenged with about 25 different tasks to be done on a pre-designed map. Each challenge is representative of a role that water plays in everyday life. 

On top of completing the goals for the Lego portion of the competition, the team must also create something real that will offer a solution to an issue people face with water."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171213/franklin-robotics-team-heading-to-lego-state-finals

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School First Lego League to Attend States Championship

Related post

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/12/benjamin-franklin-classical-charter.html

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School First Lego League to Attend States Championship

The BFCCPS Robotics has been hard at work since this summer. Over the weekend, the Gearminds Team competed at the First Lego League Regional competitions at WPI and was selected for the upcoming States Championship on December 16.

Gearminds was one of the 11 teams among 40 to receive the Golden ticket to the States. The team was selected based on their consistent show in Robotic matches, excellent Project presentation and teamwork during the Instant Challenge. They competed against some of the best teams in New England and placed 4th overall in Robot matches, and won a special jury award for Core Values which reflects the Character Education built here at BFCCPS.

The BFCCPS First Lego League Middle School team GEARMINDS is comprised of 7th and 8th grade students and is mentored by BFCCPS Alumni and one current Grade 8 student. The Elementary school training team attended the regional competition and have been inspired with the good ring side view of the matches and the team's achievement.

Many thanks to the parent volunteers Mr. Ramesh Balan and Mrs. Upasana Pendkar who have coordinated team practices to make this competition possible for our students!
About the Benjamin Franklin Charter School

The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School's mission is to assist parents in their role as primary educators of their children by providing students with a classical academic education coupled with sound character development and community service. Our mission is supported by four distinct, yet interconnected pillars that provide for a collaborative, rigorous education for all students. These pillars guide, direct and define the school in all it does.

special jury award for Core Values

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School First Lego League to Attend States Championship

selected for the upcoming States Championship on December 16

Additions to the FCF 2017 Schedule for Saturday, July 29

Two additions to the schedule for Saturday, July 29. The bridal gown display at the Historical Museum is open from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. A speaker on the history of bridal gowns is scheduled for 10:30. Next door, Mr Markee's kinetic robots are also on display at the Methodist Church from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

*** FRANKLIN HISTORICAL MUSEUM

10:00 AM – 1:00 PM = Display of bridal gowns; 
10:30 AM -> Speaker on history of bridal gowns

Stella Jeon's wedding gown, upper body view of veil and lace detail

*** FRANKLIN METHODIST CHURCH

10:00 AM – 1:00 PM = Kinetic Robots and Space Creations With Mr. Markee

"The Electro X" put together by Mr Markee

"earned another called the 'Awesome Autonomous'" (video)

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Boy Scout Troop 99 has competed in a robotics tournament at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in recent years, called "Savage Soccer." This year's entries into the tournament were quite successful. 

In the qualifying stages of the tournament, the two teams finished 10th and 11th, respectively, out of 30 teams overall. The scouts are routinely competing with and against high schools with robotics classes and clubs. 

The team that finished 10th overall, made up of Andrew Giacalone, Sam Fiorillo, Nitin Tiruveedi, Vignesh Jangareddi and Abhiram Kollipara, were invited to join a coalition that competed in the elimination portion of the tournament. As part of that coalition, the boys won their quarterfinal and semifinal matches, and competed twice in the finals, falling just short in the end."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161216/boy-scout-troop-99-ranks-at-robotics-tournament

http://users.wpi.edu/~savage/

More on the Savage Soccer Competition   http://users.wpi.edu/~savage/