Hello Teams and Volunteers,
Welcome to Pennsylvania FIRST Robotics first email blast of the 2022-23 Season!
This season the FIRST Robotics theme is Get Energized! and the FTC Challenge is called 2022-2023 POWERPLAYSM presented by Raytheon Technologies – compete in an energy-driven game and test the limits of performance, efficiency, and endurance to power innovations forward. If you have not viewed the teaser yet, please go to the following link on the FIRST Inspires website:
https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/ftc/game-and-season
There are two very important messages associated with this blast. First, Team registration is open for the season! Go to the following link for more information on new registration cost and what the team registration includes, Hit the Quick Links Radio button for access to:
- Dashboard Login
- Youth Team Member Registration
- Grant Opportunities (Rookie Grants Available)
- Team Management Resources
- Payment Terms
https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/ftc/cost-and-registration
The second message has to do with FIRST Tech Challenge Control Hub Availability which you should have been made aware of through a direct email from FIRST earlier this spring and as was also explained in a new email blast sent yesterday, Thursday June 16th, that I am quoting below.
Our appeal – this is a real dilemma that I know first-hand, and with certainty, that the HQ team is working on diligently, but the reality is that new teams will likely be short of the Rev Control Hub at the start of the season and perhaps beyond. As such, we at Pennsylvania FIRST Robotics, your partner, are reaching out to our veteran team community for assistance in supplying up-and-coming PA rookie teams. The Rev Control Hub was introduced in fall of 2020 and the physical unit is still the same today. This appeal applies to both working and perhaps non-working hubs that may be repairable as well as Expansion Hubs with the appropriate Android Phones.
What we respectfully ask is that any existing teams that possess a spare (or spares) of these essential components consider lending or donating these to a Rookie team. Additionally, we are reaching out to teams that may have no intention of competing this upcoming 2022-23 season, whatever the circumstance, and have a Control Hub or other equipment they can provide to get our rookies up to speed.
If you are a team adequately resourced to support this, please let me know ASAP. I will be sure to connect your team with teams in need up to and through the start of the season, as a minimum. We thank you in advance for your support of our PA Robotics Community!
The augmented message from FIRST:
Dear FIRST® Tech Challenge Community,
We are excited about the upcoming 2022-2023 season, FIRST® ENERGIZESM presented by Qualcomm, and the FIRST Tech Challenge game, POWERPLAYSM presented by Raytheon Technologies. Unfortunately, the REV Robotics Control Hub, a core component of the reusable FIRST Tech Challenge robot kit, is currently unavailable due to ongoing global supply chain disruptions. All efforts are being made to have Control Hubs in stock in time for kickoff in September.
In the meantime, we are asking our existing teams to help rookie teams get started by sharing spare Control Hubs and/or Expansion Hubs with Android Phones. Many teams have spare equipment or Expansion Hubs that they have replaced with Control Hubs. If you can help “share the spare,” please reach out to Tom Zawislak at ftc@pennfirst.org
Alternatively, teams have the option to participate in the REV Control System buyback program which may be a good option to help rookie teams that are not in your region.
Buy-Back Program (revrobotics.com)
We are sincerely proud and grateful for our PA community in particular and the wonderful acts of Gracious Professionalism® and Coopertition® our teams display both on and off the field each and every season. Thank you for everything you do to help grow the FIRST community and help us deliver the Impact of our mission to as many students as possible.
Sincerely,
Tom Zawislak and the PA Team
Pennsylvania FIRST® Robotics
FIRST Tech Challenge® Program Delivery Partner
phone: (302) 383-9925
email: ftc@pennfirst.org
Website: www.FTCPenn.org