R o b o f e s t�� eNewsletter, 1-12-09

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Contents:

(1) REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

(2) Technical Workshops in January and February

(3) L2Bot Workshops sponsored by DENSO

(4) Fall Mini Urban Challenge Video Available

(5) MCWTF 2009 Grant Winners Announced

(6) NASA Invites Students to Name New Mars Rover

(7) Grant Info for Robofest teams using Lego Robots

(8) Two Lego NXT Mindstorms Kits for Sale

(9) Free team Registration at the MACUL Cobo Center, Detroit site

(10) Free RobotC License for Robofest Teams

(11) Robofest Seeks Your Help in Reaching More Students

(12) Robofest is Seeking Sponsors for 2009 Competition

 

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(1) Robofest 2009 Regional Qualifying Sites are now registering teams�

Please go to robofest.net and click on the >>Enter Robofest 2009<< link.� Official Rules are posted. Follow the directions for registering as a new coach, or to register your team at an official Robofest Regional Qualifying site.

*** Additional Info meeting is scheduled on the following dates:

=Sat. 1/17, Noon~1pm, Lawrence Tech, MI, Room M218

=Sat. 1/24, Noon~1pm, Lawrence Tech, MI, Room M218

This meeting will be broadcasted using Wimba on the web at:

http://ltu.horizonwimba.com/launcher.cgi?room=_ltu_s__4223_1_470887

 

(2) FREE technical workshops offered right here on LTU�s campus

The workshops will be held every Saturday morning throughout January and February, beginning on Jan. 17, 2009, and continuing through Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009. Only registered teams are allowed to attend the following workshops (or webinar).

=Sat 1/17: NXTG (morning) / NXTG (afternoon)

=Sat 1/24: NXC (morning) / RobotC (afternoon)

=Sat 1/31: NXTG (morning) / NXJ Java (afternoon)

=Sat 2/7: NXTG (morning) / NXTG (afternoon)

 

Check out http://www.robofest.net/2009/Robofest0809Events.doc for more details.

Please follow this link for a map of LTU�s campus: http://www.ltu.edu/futurestudents/campus_map.asp  M218 is in building 4 on the map.

We will send the webinar info only to the registered 2009 coaches.

 

(3) FREE L2Bot java Programming Workshop

This workshop, sponsored by DENSO, will be a total of 12 contact hours, and takes place on LTU�s campus on Sat. 2/14/09 and Sat. 2/21/09.� Lunch will be provided.� ***Registration is required to attend these workshops � with a maximum of 20 spaces, so register early!�� Upon successful completion of the L2Bot workshop, the student will be able to:

=Understand object-oriented Java programming concepts

=Write basic Java console and SWING GUI applications using Eclipse IDE

=Understand basic concepts in autonomous robotics control and computer vision

=Implement dashed line and lane following

=Participate in Robofest Robotic Mini Urban Challenge 2009

=Begin studying for Computer Science AP exam in Java

After the workshop, your school can borrow L2Bots from LTU for free, if you plan to participate in Robofest 2009. Email [email protected] to register.

 

(4) Fall Mini Urban Challenge Video Available

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1211752172056374715&hl=en (23 min)

 

(5) MCWTF 2009 Grant Winners Announced

The Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation (MCWTF) offers five $500 grants to all female Robofest 2009 Teams from Michigan. Here are the team names:
=Fem-bots of Ann Arbor Trail, Detroit Public Schools

=Emerson Beauty Queen of Emerson Elementary, Detroit Public Schools

=Shrine Lady Roboladies of Shrine Catholic Schools

=Robot Queens of Levey Middle School, Southfield Schools

=Oxford Wildcats of Oxford Community Schools


MCWTF (http://mcwtf.org) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to inspiring and assisting girls and women in Michigan to pursue technology education and careers.

 

(6) NASA Invites Students to Name New Mars Rover

If you are interested in the contest, please go to: http://marsrovername.jpl.nasa.gov

 

(7) Grant Info for Robofest teams using Lego Robots

LEGO recommends the following foundations as sources of grant-based funding, particularly geared toward supporting STEM education opportunities:

 

=Ford Foundation� (http://www.fordfound.org/grants) Annenberg Foundation (http://www.annenbergfoundation.org/grants/)

=David & Lucile Packard Foundation (http://www.packard.org/home.aspx)

=Annie E Casey Foundation (http://www.aecf.org/AboutUs/GrantInformation.aspx)

=Charles Stewart Mott Foundation (http://www.mott.org/grantseeker.aspx)

=Bank of America (http://www.bankofamerica.com/foundation/index.cfm?template=fd_grantprograms)

=Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (http://www.gatesfoundation.org/grants/Pages/overview.aspx)

=GE Foundation (http://www.ge.com/foundation/index.html)

=JP Morgan Chase Foundation�� (http://www.jpmorganchase.com/cm/cs?pagename=Chase/Href&urlname=jpmc/community/grants)

=Michael & Susan Dell Foundation (http://www.msdf.org/Grants/Grant_Application.aspx)

=ExxonMobile Foundation (http://www.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/community_ed.aspx)

=Walton Family Foundation (http://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/educationreform/index.asp)

=Heinz Endowments (http://www.heinz.org/grants.aspx)

 

(8) Two 2 Lego Mindstorm kits (complete with all the parts) plus add on kits are being offered for sale, in previously used condition by a seller in Oxford.� Anyone interested should contact [email protected] for further details and arrangements.

 

(9) Free team Registration at the MACUL COBO Center, Detroit site  
Any of the teams that register for Robofest MACUL qualifying site at Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan on Wed., March 19, 2009  1~5pm,, will have a free team registration thanks to a grant from the REMC Association. Space is limited. Please register teams now. Robofest will be held as an associate event during the MACUL (Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning) conference, March 19-21. For more information about the conference, please go to: http://www.macul.org

 

(10) Free RobotC License for Robofest Teams

CMU�s Robotics Academy has offered to partner with Robofest and provide one copy of RobotC, free of charge, to each team that registers for Robofest 2009.

RobotC is a C-based programming language for LEGO RCX, NXT and VEX robots. It is the only programming language at this level that offers a comprehensive, real-time debugger. It is a cross-platform solution that allows students to learn the type of C-based programming used in advanced education and professional applications. For more information, please visit www.robotc.net� Please note that Robofest will be providing a RobotC workshop on Saturday, January 24, 2009 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.

 

(11) Robofest Seeks Your Help in Reaching More Students

Robofest is always looking for ways to promote participation in competition.  If you are a member of an organization, an on-line community, list serve, or other group who might be interested in being a part of Robofest, please forward them information about the Robofest 2009 Season, or forward them the Robofest web site address, www.robofest.net    Robofest is also willing to send out electronic and hard copies of promotional flyers if you would like to forward mail lists to [email protected]  Thank you for your continued support!!

 

(12) Robofest is Seeking Sponsors for 2009 Competition

In an effort to keep Robofest a low-cost, affordable contest for everyone, we are seeking sponsors for the 2009 season.� If you or your organization is interested in helping to support the important work of Robofest, please contact Jeff Sparling, [email protected].� Robofest appreciates all support, big or small.� Robofest accepts both cash contributions and in-kind services donations.� Please contact us if you are able to support Robofest in any way. Sponsorship (pledge) form can be found at http://www.robofest.net/2009/Sponsorship09form.doc

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CJ Chung, Associate Professor, Robofest Director, chung at LTU.edu

Jeff Sparing, Robofest Coordinator, njsparling at LTU.edu, 248-204-3566

Jerri Ureel, Robofest Coordinator, jureel at LTU.edu, 248-204-3568

Sara Moss, ARISE Web Programmer, smoss at LTU.edu

Susan Latos, Robofest Assistant Coordinator, 248-204-3569

Tiffany Platt, Robofest Assistant Coordinator, 248-204-3569

 

Lawrence Tech University / Robofest / M219 21000 W. Ten Mile, Southfield MI 48075

[email protected]��������������� www.robofest.net���������� Fax: (248) 204-3518