Roboticon Tampa Bay
2015
FIRST students and guests enjoy a full scale competition event, a college and career fair, and more! Guests are able to tour Team Pits to see team members working on their robots and have a chance to talk to students, visit the Roboticon Exhibit Hall to enjoy STEM demos, vendors and organizations, and learn more about technical, math and science career and college opportunities.
Show Episodes
F5 Live: Refreshing Technology
ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015 - Episode 417 (Part 1)
2015-10-10
This week, we're at ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015. ROBOTICON is a FIRST Robotics showcase competition involving teams from Junior FIRST Lego League (Jr. FLL), FIRST Lego League (FLL), FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). Scott and Daniele talk with members of teams, program partners, sponsors and organizers.
F5 Live: Refreshing Technology
ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015 - Episode 417 (Part 2)
2015-10-17
This week, we're at ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015. ROBOTICON is a FIRST Robotics showcase competition involving teams from Junior FIRST Lego League (Jr. FLL), FIRST Lego League (FLL), FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). Scott and Daniele talk with members of teams, program partners, sponsors and organizers.
F5 Live: Refreshing Technology
ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015 - Episode 417 (Part 3)
2015-10-10
This week, we're at ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015. ROBOTICON is a FIRST Robotics showcase competition involving teams from Junior FIRST Lego League (Jr. FLL), FIRST Lego League (FLL), FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). Scott and Daniele talk with members of teams, program partners, sponsors and organizers.
PLUGHITZ Live Presents
Maestro Maines @ ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015
2015-10-10
One of the most interesting aspects of ROBOTICON Tampa Bay every year is the inclusion of external entertainment. For all 3 years we have had the pleasure of DJ Jake Dela Cruz, a local teenage DJ. This year we were pleased to be introduced to Maestro Maines Studio, which has a local steel pan band called Show Steelers.
The group of youth performed a Star Wars-inspired musical show on Sunday, adding to the entertainment. This was the group's first public performance, and the attendees enjoyed it greatly. Before that, though, we spoke to the director, Matthew Maines, about where the band came from and where they are headed.
From Surface Pro 4 to Surface Book, Windows 10 and Xbox One, get it at the Microsoft Store.
PLUGHITZ Live Presents
Robotic Bears (FLL 10531) @ ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015
2015-10-10
This year we did things a little differently from the past and broadcast on Saturday as opposed to Sunday. In addition to being able to experience entertainment, we got to speak with teams we wouldn't normally get to speak to. For example, we got to speak with our first FIRST Lego League team, Robotic Bears (FLL 10531).
The team is made up of 10 middle school students, and is based in their school. While the team has only been around a short while, the kids involved are incredibly passionate about both the program and this year's challenges, which are all centered around recycling.
From Surface Pro 4 to Surface Book, Windows 10 and Xbox One, get it at the Microsoft Store.
PLUGHITZ Live Presents
Edgar Allan Ohms (FRC 5276) @ ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015
2015-10-10
One of the initial teams we interviewed when we started covering FIRST events was a rookie FRC team, Edgar Allan Ohms. The team was founded as the first FRC team based in a library, and the library took on the challenge because it was the biggest and hardest. What they didn't necessarily expect was the cost.
The team has now been around for a few seasons and has gone from a rookie to a well-known team. They spend a lot of time doing outreach in the community, including at the event that introduced Maestro Maines to the organization. They have also helped the library to introduce a makerspace which will be opening in the near future.
We spoke with Vishal Vellody, a member of the team, about his experiences with FRC and his plans after school.
From Surface Pro 4 to Surface Book, Windows 10 and Xbox One, get it at the Microsoft Store.
PLUGHITZ Live Presents
Florida Polytechnic University @ ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015
2015-10-10
One of the most important part of FIRST is supporting students after graduation. One of the ways they accomplish this is by creating relationships with colleges and universities. One of the sponsors for ROBOTICON Tampa Bay is a fairly new university in the area: Florida Polytechnic University.
Splintered from the University of South Florida, the new school has a different take on the educational process. Rather than forcing students to fulfill all of their basic requirements before taking classes in their chosen field, students get to take classes almost immediately. The setup of the school has even attracted our own Daniele.
We spoke with Holly Pafford, who works as a tour guide for the admissions department, about the unique aspects of the school.
From Surface Pro 4 to Surface Book, Windows 10 and Xbox One, get it at the Microsoft Store.
PLUGHITZ Live Presents
Suncoast FLL @ ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015
2015-10-10
Within the realm of FIRST there are 4 leagues: Junior FIRST Lego League (Jr. FLL), FIRST Lego League (FLL), FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). Each league has its own structures and program directors. For FLL, the new Affiliate Partner for the area is Desh Bagley.
Her main goal is to help develop new, sustainable teams within her region. Since taking the role she has made great strides, but sees places where new teams are needed and has begun to try to help some new teams get started.
In addition to her responsibilities with FLL, Desh also works for the Hillsborough Community College and also owns a company call TechPlayzone, which provides hands-on workshops for young people in the tech world, including Lego robotics programs.
From Surface Pro 4 to Surface Book, Windows 10 and Xbox One, get it at the Microsoft Store.
PLUGHITZ Live Presents
TechnoKnights (FTC 7263) @ ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015
2015-10-10
FIRST events run thanks to the kindness of volunteers. Between judges, referees, coaches, pit crews and more, almost everyone involved is a volunteer. While parents, alumni and community members make up a large percentage of the volunteers, some teams get involved in volunteering as well.
In the Tampa area, the TechnoKnights are well-known for their volunteer time. Their coach is a referee, their students help out at almost all events, and they even offer their school for competitions. Around all of the volunteering, they still find time to run a successful FTC team that is one of the most spirited around.
We spoke with team captain Alana Lindie about her role on the team, her experiences with FIRST and her plans after school.
From Surface Pro 4 to Surface Book, Windows 10 and Xbox One, get it at the Microsoft Store.
PLUGHITZ Live Presents
Team Duct Tape (FTC 2845) @ ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015
2015-10-10
While a lot of teams have been around for a number of years, few in the area have been around as long as FTC Team Duct Tape. Founded in 2008, the team has participated in State, Super Regional and World competitions on many occasions.
Our host Daniele is an alumni of Team Duct Tape, and her experiences on the team led her to pursue a career in software engineering. We spoke with Marissa Schiereck, a senior on the team and the team's business lead, about her experiences over the years she has been on the team, how it has affected her and what her plans are after graduation.
From Surface Pro 4 to Surface Book, Windows 10 and Xbox One, get it at the Microsoft Store.
PLUGHITZ Live Presents
Horsepower (FRC 801) @ ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015
2015-10-10
Dating back to 2002, FRC Horsepower has been around for a long time. Over 13 seasons, they have seen a lot of game styles come and go and a lot of changes to FIRST. They have also seen their share of the best and worst of competition. After seeing their robot destroyed the night before competition in 2013, they were able to reconstruct it with the help of the entire FIRST community.
Very few competitive organizations foster the idea of community to the point where Gracious Professionalism comes before personal gain, and competitors come together to help their competition. Horsepower, however, can speak to the benefits of that environment.
We spoke with John Wells, team safety captain, about his time on the team and what he plans on doing after school.
From Surface Pro 4 to Surface Book, Windows 10 and Xbox One, get it at the Microsoft Store.
PLUGHITZ Live Presents
Renaissance Robotics (FTC 5937) @ ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015
2015-10-10
One of the interesting aspects of the way FIRST leagues are designed is that when you graduate from one, there is another, more challenging league waiting for you. FTC Renaissance Robotics is a team comprised of members who graduated from two separate FLL teams. In fact, before they graduated, they began researching their next challenge in FTC.
Now in their 4th season with FTC, the team has matured and grown into a truly competitive team. In the last season they earned a spot in the State and Super Regional competitions, both through on-field and off-field accomplishments.
We spoke with Adam Turransky about his time with the team, what he has learned from FIRST and what he wants to do after school.
From Surface Pro 4 to Surface Book, Windows 10 and Xbox One, get it at the Microsoft Store.
PLUGHITZ Live Presents
Robotic Bacon Eating Narwhals (FTC 10204) @ ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015
2015-10-10
Sometimes it can be hard being the new kid in town. You have to learn your way around, you have to learn the rules of the area and get to know people, all in a short period of time. When you add engineering into the equation it only gets more difficult.
That isn't slowing down rookie FTC team Robotic Bacon Eating Narwhals. This team, the first we have seen with a 5 digit team number, is confident about their capabilities and even brought a fully functional robot to the scrimmage, while many established teams did not.
Despite some of the difficulties of this year's game, the kids are excited about aprticipating, and believe they can be competitive at the local and state levels. We spoke with Picabo Lesh about why she got involved with FIRST, her experiences so far and how the team is doing thus far.
From Surface Pro 4 to Surface Book, Windows 10 and Xbox One, get it at the Microsoft Store.
PLUGHITZ Live Presents
FIRST AmeriCorps VISTA @ ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015
2015-10-10
While competitions run because of volunteers, the organization itself is pushed forward with the help of AmeriCorps VISTAs. The organizationm's goal is to help nonprofits with building capacity, which in terms of FIRST means helping to build new and sustainable teams, whether they be FLL, FTC or FRC.
In the past we have spoken to former VISTA Joel Croteau. This year we sat down to talk to our current local VISTA, Rebecca Hannaford about what AmeriCorps is, why they are around, and what she does to help build FIRST programs in the area. She also discusses what it takes to join the program yourself.
From Surface Pro 4 to Surface Book, Windows 10 and Xbox One, get it at the Microsoft Store.
PLUGHITZ Live Presents
Eureka! Factory @ ROBOTICON Tampa Bay 2015
2015-10-10
As always, we end our coverage with our good friend Terri Willingham. Terri is known in the community not for sitting around talking about what might be possible, but instead for getting things done. Because of this, there are a lot of really exciting programs in the Tampa area to help promote education, engineering and the maker culture.
Between ROBOTICON, Gulf Coast MakerCon, TEDxTampaRiverwalk and a myriad of programs based in libraries. She has also been involved in building makerspaces in libraries and even co-authored a book on the topic and trains library staff on the culture.
In addition to all of this, Terri is also Regional Director of FIRST in Central Florida. She sat down with us to talk about this event, future FIRST events in the area, including the upcoming Orlando FRC Regional, and her other events, including TEDxYouth@TampaRiverwalk in November and the next Gulf Coast MakerCon in April.
From Surface Pro 4 to Surface Book, Windows 10 and Xbox One, get it at the Microsoft Store.
