Ready, Set, Go!

Greetings fellow TechTigers. After a brief hiatus, it's time to ramp up the blog again.

As you may know, kickoff is just around the corner. Sonny's has graciously offered to host us for the fourth year. An email was sent with the specifics but here is a recap:
When: Saturday, 1/5/08
Where: Sonny's Enterprises, 5605 Hiatus Road, Tamarc, FL
What: 9:15 - 9:45AM Arrive, continental breakfast, mingle
10:00 - 11:20AM Watch kickoff live from Manchester, NH
11:30AM - 1:45PM Lunch, brainstorm, report, wrap-up
Who: All TechTigers and supporters - please let me know if you will be there and
with how many by Wednesday, 1/2/08

The Town Crier delivery normally scheduled for next Sunday, 1/6/08 has been postponed to Sunday, 1/13/08. Same time and place.

We will be posting frequent updates (with picture or two and maybe even short video clips) as the build season progresses so check back often.

Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!
E

1251 Video montage on YouTube

Below is a link to a video created by 1251 alumni and mentor David Guzman featuring the TechTigers at the 2007 Florida Regional. Enjoy!



link

Watch Mission Mayhem live!

Today is Mission Mayhem 2007 at Stranahan High School, in which the TechTigers will be participating and helping to run. Tune in and watch the webcast from

http://www.missionmayhem.org/

Just click on the "watch Live Now" link. Information about the other teams and past events are also available on the website. Good Luck TechTigers and have a great time everyone!

Happy Labor Day!

The TechTigers wish everyone a Happy Labor Day!

Be sure to look out for updates on our off-season event, Mission Mayhem 2007, being held this weekend!

IRI Recap

On the plane from Fort Lauderdale to Memphis








Random thoughts on IRI...

Very well run - friendly people, helpful, courteous. But what do you expect, it's held in Indiana. (disclaimer - I'm a Hoosier)

Weather was perfect - upper 60's in the morning, 80 midday. Very low humidity.

Sitting on the bleachers for any length of time was "uncomfortable".

Love those White Castle's. The boys were able to pack 'em away! (I had 7)

The IRI talent show was a hoot.

Dean Simmons and The Kamen Brothers rocked!

We're staying at the Super 8 next year.

Prices at the concession stands were very reasonable eg. bottle of water - $1.00.

This event is just as good as, if not better than, The Championship.

Indiana is one state that "get's it" as far as what this program is all about.

It's amazing how many people Drew Disbury knew at this event - and I'm talking about people from other states!

IRI had really cool trophies.

I love IRI's slogan - "Where Egos Come to Play".

Thanks goes out to Jon Catt for keeping us up to date on our return flight status. We stayed through the entire awards ceremony and were able to make it to the airport on time.

Props to Andrew Hopman for helping shuttle students. Although only with us one year, we will miss him.

Despite issues with our drive system, we managed a 4-4 recored. It was a heroic effort by the guys to keep the old girl together.

Congratulations to Melissa Smith for receiving the Rolls Royce Scholarship Award. Imagine the look on peoples faces when I walked up to accept it for her! (They forgot to announce that she wasn't there to accept it)

Exploding Bacon (Team 1902) used 3 of our batteries and 2 chargers during their run to the finals with 233 (The Pink Team) and 71 (Beatty Hammond).

Next year we'll drive and make a mini-vacation out of it. Maybe spend a day in the Smokey Mountains (ever been to Rock City?).

After a short break, we start getting ready for Mayhem...

Ready for IRI!

Well I think we're set. Andrew Disbury and Kenny Partenan delivered the robot and support items to The Pink Team yesterday. It is currently in transit to Indianapolis.

We leave tomorrow at 4:15Pm. I sense the guys are getting a little anxious.

This is Kenny's first commercial flying experience. We've told him that as long as the plane gets in the air and lands, we should be fine.

First thing we do after checking into the hotel is visit the nearest White Castle! Yum, Yum.

I sent an email with the webcast link. In case you didn't get it here it is again: http://live.wildstang.org/iri.php

On Friday I will post our match times here.

Stay tuned...

IRI Webcast Link

http://live.wildstang.org/iri.php

Be sure to look out for the TechTigers!

Updates during IRI

As you may know, we are competing in the Indiana Robotics Invitational (IRI) competition next week. Assuming I have internet access through the day at the venue, I will post updates on our performance (and different happenings) including pictures.

Still no word on a webcast. As soon as the information is available, I will post it.

TechTigers to attend IRI

From Mr. Ellich:

The TechTigers applied for and were selected to participate in the Indiana Robotics Invitational (IRI) offseason event in July. A group of 9 students will be traveling to Indianapolis on the 19th. This competition is considered the premiere offseason event in the country. Many of the top teams will be there. There's a good possibility it will be webcast - stay tuned for information.

2007 Views!

Thank you Jonathan Parreira for catching it! Next milestone: 5000

Happy TechTiger Day!

May 11 was dedicated as TechTiger Day by the City of Coconut Creek Board of Commissioners in 2004.

Hope you have a TechTiger Day!

TechTigers in Sun-Sentinel Newspaper

The TechTigers are featured in the Community News section of today's [Sunday, May 6, 2007] Sun-Sentinel newspaper. Link to the internet version.

Awesome job, 1251!

2007 End of the Year Banquet

This evening, we TechTigers had our annual End of the Year Banquet in the Bon Apettite lounge at ATC. It was a great get-together and it was an excellent conclusion to the 2007 season.




Happy Birthday, Mr. Ellich!


Official Presentation of the trophies to Sonny's, represented by Tony


Rookie All-Star Award: Jonathan Parreira


Unsung Hero Award: Phil Capozzi


MVP Award: Kenny Partanen

2007 FIRST Season Debriefing

Today, the TechTigers had their 2007 season debriefing where the team gathered to discuss what we did right and what we could improve of the 2006-2007 FIRST Robotics season. Next Thursday will be our annual banquet at Bon Appetite. Be sure to check this blog periodically for updates on team 1251!


Tony, Mr. Burke, and Mr. Ellich




Mrs. Petrill running the meeting.

Day 96: Championship Day 3

Wow, what an overall amazing weekend for the TechTigers. Today was the third day of the 2007 FIRST Championship Event in Atlanta, Georgia and what a day it was. We played our last two matches, ending the qualifying matches 3-4. We were not chosen during the alliance selections, but we greatly enjoyed watching and learning from the Galileo elimination rounds and the consecutive finals on Einstein. [Congrats to team 1270 for winning in the Curie division and making it to Einstein!] Our team then attended the 2007 Championship Wrap Party, which was held indoors in the Georgia World Congress Center this year due to inclement weather; the Wrap Party was loads of fun and a great way to round-off the 2007 FIRST season. We will be heading back to South Florida bright and early tomorrow morning. w00t, 1251!


Our match breakdown [wins in green, losses in red]




Einstein in the foreground, the stage and Galileo in the distance.


Woodie Flowers


Dean Kamen, FIRST founder


One of the highlights of the Closing Ceremony


A local drumline performing


Our Fellow Florida Regional Winner Partners 1270 made it to Einstein! [The were the Curie Division Winners]




The Wrap Party


One of the many attractions - can you see why this appealed to us? :)


Part of the amazing stage performance




Our mentors enjoying the Wrap Party


2007 Seniors: Melissa and Phil, with head mentor/coach Mr. Ellich

Day 95: Championship Day 2

Today was the second day of the 2007 Championship Event and the first day of qualifying matches. It was all in all a good day - we had five matches total and ended 2-3.

Today was a good day for the TechTigers. Today was the first day of qualifying matches of the 2007 Championship Event. We had 5 matches today, and ended 2-3. Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day. Be sure to watch the live broadcast of the matches, and be sure to watch out for 1251 [we are on Galileo]!


Meeting up in the lobby












Galileo's stands


A gift poster from team 86 - Thanks 86!


Battle scars...




A Tech Trolley: one of the sites of our tour of Georgia Tech, led by our sponsor Tony.


On tour with Tony

Day 94: Championship Day 1

Today was the practice day of the 2007 FIRST Championship Event in Atlanta, GA. Our team made 1.5 of our 3 practice matches and we are ready and prepared for the first day of qualifying matches. We passed inspection, with our final weight being 119.6 lbs and all the requirements met. During lunch, the Chief Delphi Webhug was held, which is always a fun time getting to meet other Chief Delphi users. This afternoon, a few members from our team attended the 1st ever FIRSTProm, hosted by team 399 at the Mariott Marquis. It was a fun event and we hope it will become a FIRST Championship tradition.


Atlanta


On the bus


Galileo


Our practice day schedule


Fellow South Florida team 108 in Curie division




Chief Delphi Webhug


The Georgia Congress Center








Final weight: 119.6 lbs


Our drive team with Dave Lavery






Mrs. Capozzi 's fortune :)






Our team getting ready for the FIRST Prom


At the Prom


Congrats Leticia for making FIRSTProm Court! [far right]

Championship: It's here!