Mark Breadner

Executive Director

FIRST Robotics Canada

mark.breadner@firstroboticscanada.org

FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Please welcome John Hobbins to the FIRST Canada Staff this year !

Full time FRC Director in Canada this year

WFFA winner

Chairman’s award winner

Created by Tawny Robinson – Team 781

FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Compared to their matched peers, FIRST Alumni are:

✔ 50% more likely to attend college.

✔ 3x more likely to major in engineering.

✔ 9x more likely to have a co-op in freshman year. 

✔ 4x more likely to pursue a career in Engineering. 

✔ 2.5x more likely to volunteer in the community.  

Brandeis University Study

“More Than Robots”

(Funded by Ford Foundation)

FRC Impact – Mentors make a Difference

FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Cool Stuff we are working on:

Once again World Champions (FLL, now FRC Chairmans)

FLL registration is up and tournaments are running

2 provincial FLL championships this year

New Calgary FRC regional

Tons of new FRC rookie teams (Timmins, Windsor, Ottawa)

Quick Build session at kickoff

Curriculum for FIRST programs

2 new FIRST Trailers with FLL tournaments in a box

More scholarships

Meeting with the Governor General

FIRST Robotics Canada

FRC Events for 2012/13

GTR East – UOIT Capacity 54Montreal Capacity 50Waterloo Capacity 30GTR West Capacity 54Calgary Capacity 40

Ontario Total spots 138

Projected Growth in FRC in Ontario

2012/13 90 teams2013/14 120 teams2014/15 140 teams

FIRST Headquarters Strategic Plan (2013-2017)

http://www3.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Who/Leadership/BOD/FIRST_Strategic_Plan.pdf

“Make FRC, the ultimate robotics program, more available, accessible, and sustainable – to

enable as many students as possible to have this transformative experience, we will implement a

new, higher-value, lower-cost competition structure that enables students to compete more often

and closer to home, while maintaining the same high-quality FRC experience.”

FIRST District Model

This model has been running in Michigan for 5 years

Basic Concept

-Lower entry cost for new teams-Increase the number of plays for teams for less money-Reduce the amount of time for volunteers at an event *-Make the overall cost of a qualifying event much cheaper

FIRST would like all regions that are large enough to move to the District ModelIn the next 5 years.

Ontario is large enough to be considered for this model in future years.

Basics of the District Model

Item Regional Model District Model

Registration Fee $6500 – 1 play $5000 – 2 plays

Length of Event 3 days 2 days

Locations Hershey Centre University/College/High school

Size of event 40-60 teams 25-40 teams

Audio Visual As is currently Reduced lights and sound

Competition As is – 6 qualifiers per event

Top 64 teams based on points * play in provincial champs

Plays to qualify for Championship

1 3

# Events 3 7, (6 districts, 1 championship)

# Teams Qualifying for Championship

18 18

Michigan Points System

Typical Schedule for a District Tournament

Qualification Spots at District Competitions

Other areas being studied

Can swapping occur to allow sharing of teams between districts ?Allow Ontario District teams to travel and still stayin the points system

Effect on Volunteers – more events of a shorter duration

4 new venues for events would be needed- Math – 120 teams, two plays = 240 plays

40 teams/event - 6 eventsplus provincial championshipsYIKES !

- Central, East, West and North likely locations for new district events

Events would take place in Colleges and UniversitiesHigh schools unlikely due to seating issues

Questions ?

If you would like to send your constructive comments on the district modelTo be considered by the committee, please email them to

info@firstroboticscanada.org

FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY