Resources

Important Websites:

• First Inspires : www.firstinspires.org

• First Inspires Wisconsin : www.firstinspireswi.org

• FTC WI.R.E.S : http://ftcwires.org 

• Resource page for current season: https://www.firstinspires.org/resource-library/ftc/game-and-season-info

• Advocacy:  https://mysasa.org/  Contact : Emma Schuff eschuff@firstinspires.org 

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Team information: 

• Registration and Dashboard : www.firstinspires.org -> Login, https://my.firstinspires.org/Dashboard 

• FTC Team Search : https://www.firstinspires.org/team-event-search  

• FTC Events: https://ftc-events.firstinspires.org/2020

• Orange alliance: https://theorangealliance.org/home

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Facilities, Learning / Practice options, Scrimmages & Qualifiers: 

• Open Practice Facilities : 

  • We Energies STEM Center : https://www.msoe.edu/about-msoe/k-12-stem-at-msoe/we-energies-stem-center/ Contact : Mike Meilicke meilickem@msoe.edu 

  • Lakeshore Robotics Education Center : https://lakeshorefirstrobotics.org/ Contact : Arrow Guetschow Arrow@lakeshorefirstrobotics.org 

• Learning / Practice options, Scrimmages : 

  • Team Hazmat 13201 : Email: teamhazmat13201@gmail.com Web page: http://13201hazmat.org - Scrimmage, Practice sessions, MSOE Kickoff workshop

  • Lasertech 14631 : Email: ftclasertech@gmail.com Web page : https://ftclasertech.weebly.com/ 

  • Supposable Thumbs 4106 : Email : supposablethumbsftc@gmail.com Web page: https://www.supposablethumbs.org/ 

  • Kraken Pinion 8680: Email : krakenpinion@gmail.com 30-hr challenge

• Qualifiers & State Championship: 

  • https://www.firstinspireswi.org/post/2023-2024-centerstage-event-dates

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Livestream:

• Twitch: https://twitch.tv/ftc_wisconsin

• Youtube: ~https://www.youtube.com/c/FTCWisconsin 

 

Collaboration: 

• FTC discord : https://discord.gg/first-tech-challenge 

• FTC WIRES discord: https://discord.gg/uwC6CzRm 

• Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/FIRSTWisconsin 

• Instagram :https://www.instagram.com/firstinspireswi/ 

• FTC Forum : https://ftcforum.firstinspires.org/forum

 

General resources: 

• Game Manual 0 : https://gm0.org/en/latest/

• Official FIRST Resources : https://www.firstinspires.org/resource-library/ftc/game-and-season-info

  • Includes Game Manual 1, 2, Field Manual, etc.

• Rev Robotics FTC Documentation https://docs.revrobotics.com/docs/first-tech-challenge 

• FTC Sim - http://ftcsim.org A simulation environment for FTC Robot programming

• Virtual Robot Simulator from FTC Illinois https://powerplay.vrobotsim.online/homepage.html https://youtu.be/Kg87yN4oRQQ 

• OnShape for CAD : https://www.onshape.com/en/ 

 

Hardware resources:

• Rev Robotics : https://www.revrobotics.com/

• Gobilda : https://www.gobilda.com/

• Servocity : https://www.servocity.com/

• AndyMark : https://www.andymark.com/

• Pitsco : https://www.pitsco.com/ 

• McMaster-Carr : https://www.mcmaster.com/ 

• Long Robotics : https://longrobotics.com/

• OpenOdometry : https://openodometry.weebly.com/

• Speedy Metals : www.speedymetals.com

• GEarheads How To : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvdPn8BdIWaWhwaCBCWzmZw

 

Programming resources:

• Introduction to Programming : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8HZ0pojM34Xkz7Yh7JxoSRytoa8FR7gV 

• Introduction to Object Oriented Concepts :

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiBw7os-_zI&t=99s

  • Classes & Objects : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3cFiJnxUBY

  • Interfaces : https://yfain.github.io/Java4Kids/#_java_interfaces

  • UML https://staruml.io/ 

• Learning Java : https://books.trinket.io/thinkjava2/ 

• FTC Programing resources : https://www.firstinspires.org/resource-library/ftc/technology-information-and-resources , 

• GitHub : 

  • Link to FTC Github https://github.com/FIRST-Tech-Challenge 

  • Basics of Git : https://git-scm.com/docs/gittutorial  , https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/learn-the-basics-of-git-in-under-10-minutes-da548267cc91/ 

  • Github guides : https://guides.github.com/activities/hello-world/  , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv8rSLsi1xo 

• FTC Installation of Android Studio : https://youtu.be/uTjYo9w0TaY , https://www.firstinspires.org/sites/default/files/uploads/resource_library/ftc/android-studio-guide.pdf 

• FTC Programing Overview: http://paws.kettering.edu/~webe3546/FTCJavaProgramming.pdf 

• Class room Structured training for FTC Programing: https://stemrobotics.cs.pdx.edu/node/4196 

• Learn Java for FTC book by Alan G Smith https://github.com/alan412/LearnJavaForFTC/blob/master/LearnJavaForFTC.pdf 

• Finite State Machine model : https://gm0.org/en/latest/docs/software/finite-state-machines.html

• Roadrunner : https://learnroadrunner.com/,  https://acme-robotics.gitbook.io/road-runner/, https://acmerobotics.github.io/ftc-dashboard/

• Machine Learning Tool Chain : https://ftc-ml.firstinspires.org/ , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAYD08FMBtM 

 

Game strategy resources:

• Scouting Guide :  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lVtBp20XT_ZGtRpURoLbqTFpbBjoPcP--gMr0LWLjcY/edit?usp=sharing

• Scouting Template :  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xTaqrJ0Oa78LuvpcWJY4RMEX1h8dl4dudOmHT9PZL4A/edit?usp=sharing

 

 

Sponsorship:

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FIRST Wisconsin Team Grants

https://www.firstinspireswi.org/post/first-team-grants - Multiple grant opportunities. Don't miss it!

Wisconsin DPI

https://dpi.wi.gov/stem/grants/robotic-league  Up to $5000 matching funds as reimbursement for balance expenses. Submission before Nov 1. Paid end of season

 

MSOE

https://www.msoe.edu/about-msoe/k-12-stem-at-msoe/first-frc-ftc-amp-fll-team-sponsorship/  Upto 500$ for FRC and high-school FTC Teams. Submission Sep, Oct, Jan.

 

FIRST Grants

https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/team-grants  Grants offered by various institutions. Filter by program and location.

 

PITSCO

• https://my.firstinspires.org/Dashboard  on registration of new team. Rookie grant for $500 towards purchase of Electronics/Field elements and registration. Go to Team Options -> Order products. 

• https://my.firstinspires.org/Dashboard  - Team Options -> Order products Discount on 1 order of electronics. Discounts available on 1 order of electronics. Go to Team Options -> Order products. 

 

RevRobotics

• https://www.revrobotics.com/competition/ftc/discounts/  Discount of 15%.. Voucher on https://my.firstinspires.org/Dashboard 

• https://www.revrobotics.com/team-sponsorship/  Team Sponsorship. Submission in Sep-Oct

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Gobilda

• https://www.gobilda.com/ftc/  25% Discount for FTC teams. Tax exemption for Eligible Non-profit and public schools.

• https://www.gobilda.com/ftc-team-sponsorships/  Strafer Kit worth $500 for $150. Submission in Sep-Oct

• https://www.gobilda.com/event-donation-requests/  FIRST Event Donation request

• https://www.gobilda.com/gobilda-first-robotics-scholarship/ , https://www.gobilda.com/gobilda-stem-scholarship/  FIRST Robotics and STEM Scholarships for High school seniors 

 

Servocity

• https://www.servocity.com/first_team_discounts/ 25% Discount for FTC teams. Tax exemption for Eligible Non-profit and public schools

• https://www.servocity.com/ftc-team-sponsorships/ Team sponsorship . Submission in Sep-Oct

• https://www.servocity.com/ftc-event-sponsorships/ FIRST Event Donation request

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GE Healthcare

Up to $1000. Employee must be team mentor, and should contact Chuck Bartelsen @GE. Announced between Sep - Nov. Form has to be submitted. Paid through FIRST Funds & Grants

 

Lockheed Martin

https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/communities/applying-for-contributions.html  Upto $750. Employee must be team mentor, and should initiate request. Paid through FIRST Funds & Grants

 

Johnson Controls

https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/corporate-sustainability/community/philanthropy/funding-guidelines  Upto $750. Employee must be team mentor, and initiate request. Paid through FIRST Funds & Grants

 

Rockwell Automation

Upto $500. Employee must be team mentor, and initiate request. Paid through FIRST Funds & Grants

 

ABB

Upto $250. Employee must be team mentor, and initiate request. Paid through FIRST Funds & Grants

 

John Deere

https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/team-grants  Apply on FIRST team grants link.Sponsors teams within 40 miles of John Deer office. Also sponsors teams with employee mentors

 

Komatsu 

Employee must be team mentor, and initiate request to Manager, Social Responsibility in the organization.

 

Amazon 

https://smile.amazon.com/  Amazon donates 0.5% of all purchases done on portal to Non-profit set up as recipient .

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G2UQTUL5CHRCA7BL  Amazon Tax exempt program for Non-profit organizations

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GEarheads Computer Project:

If you know of, or are, a Wisconsin FTC or FLL  team that does not have the resources needed to provide laptops desktops, or computers for your team, contact the GEarhead team. (Contact by email at ftcgearheads@gmail.com)

 

Matching Gifts Program from Corporate

Most corporations with offices in Wisconsin offers matching gifts program for the donations made by employees. If your robotics organization is a non-profit or part of public school system, you may be eligible for this. Check out the list of companies that offer matching gifts here : https://www.elmbrookschools.org/elmbrook-education-foundation/about-us/gift-matching . Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and you will need to manage the registration for matching gifts from your own non-profit or public school system. List provided is only indicative of the companies.