Scrimmages this weekend + Important Updates

Scrimmages - Happening tomorrow!

With just under two weeks until our first qualifiers, scrimmages are opportunities for your team to practice on a full field, get your autonomous dialed in, get help with programming and design, and run practice matches with other teams. Please RSVP directly to the listed contact to attend.

• Flagstaff - November 5
• 10 AM to 2 PM
• Coconino High School Cafeteria (2801 N. Izabel St. Flagstaff, AZ 86004)
• RSVP to Christine (csapio@firstpartners.org) 
• Chandler - November 5
• 8 AM to 12 PN
• Valley Christian High School (6900 W Galveston St, Chandler, AZ 85226)
• RSVP to Matt (robotics@valleychristianaz.org)
• Goodyear - November 5
• 11 AM to 4 PM
• Trivium Prep (2001 N Bullard Ave, Goodyear, AZ 85395)
• RSVP to Zach (zarriaga@triviumprep.org)

UPDATES from AZ Head FTA Zach: 

Automated Inspection & SDK Updates

A new feature has been introduced in the field inspection process that will allow the field inspection tablets to scan a QR code on your driver station to check that it meets the requirements. This feature is only available in version 8.0 and above of the driver station and robot controller apps; version 8.0 is also the minimum legal version of the apps so be sure to update before competition! Resources on how to update the apps can be found at the ftc-docs website. For any teams that are using hardware version 1.1 of the control hubs, a new version of the SDK will be available in early November that includes support for the new internal IMU. This will also introduce a universal IMU API that will help with software compatibility.

Robot Power Management

New high-power servos are capable of drawing up to 3.5 amps of current when stalled. The control hub has a built-in current limiter with shared maximum power across the servo ports; this can also lead to brown-out events that cause robot communications to temporarily stop and show up in the logs as an SDK bug. To get around this, teams can use a servo power module to deliver up to 90 watts of power shared across all connected servos. Note that stalling enough servos can cause the fuses on these devices to pop!

FTC Docs

A new website has been released that includes links and documentation for all things FIRST Tech Challenge! It includes everything from how to get started with computer-aided design to implementing machine learning on your robot. You can view this website here.

Complimentary Software Available for FIRST^® Tech Challenge Teams

As a benefit of being a FIRST Tech Challenge Team, some sponsors of FIRST programs have generously provided complimentary software, licenses, and/or support to teams. Check out our website for more information.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

With eight qualifiers happening statewide, volunteers are needed nearly every weekend between November 19 and February 4! If you're team isn't competing one weekend, consider volunteering. Check out the volunteer resources page HERE and contact Susan Garduno (sgarduno@firstinspires.org) with questions about volunteering. 

Qualifier Invoices

Invoices for qualifying tournament registration were sent out earlier this week. Just a few reminders: 

• Payment is due in full by December 2, 2022. Failure to meet this deadline will result in a $50 late fee and your team getting dropped from your events! 
• Cost for the season is $225 for two qualifiers and $300 for three qualifiers. 
• Teams can still apply for the CocoNuts' Registration Grant. Their next application review dates are October 20 and November 3. The link to the application is here. 
• If your team hasn't registered for qualifiers yet, please do so ASAP! Our January and February events are full, but we are working on getting another event added for teams that still need a spot to play. We have plenty of room in the November events, and three spots left at each of the December events. 

Dean's List Nominations

Teams may nominate up to two students (10th and 11th grade) for the FIRST Dean's List Award. Nominations are due by December 15, 2022 at 11:59 PM EST to be considered. Interviews of each student nominee will take place January 24 - 26 in the late afternoon/evening. 

The nominees from each team are called Dean's List Semifinalists. We will announce our three Arizona Dean's List Finalists at the Arizona FTC Championship on February 25. Even if your team doesn't qualify for the Championship, all nominated students are eligible to become Dean's List Finalists! 

For more information on the Dean's List and how to nominate your students, please see the FTC Dean's List Guide.

Nominations for the Inspire the Future: FIRST Educators Recognition Program are Now Open! At FIRST, recognition is not only part of our name but core to our ethos, and we are proud to launch our second year of the Inspire the Future: FIRST Educators Recognition Program! Help us celebrate the FIRST educators who impact and inspire their learning communities; we truly could not further the mission of FIRST without them. Learn more about the Inspire the Future: FIRST Educators Recognition Program and how you can nominate an educator who has made an impact in your community.