Contact Us
If you have questions about the Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program, send an email message to
questions@ortop.org
or call 503-725-2920 or 503-725-2915
If you would like to register for an ORTOP workshop click here
If you need to contact us by mail, please use the following address:
ORTOP c/o OUS Industry Affairs
PO Box 751, IAFF
Portland, OR 97207-0751
If you need to visit us in person, we are located at:
Industry Affairs, Oregon University System
ORTOP
2125 SW 4th Ave., Suite 505
Portland, OR 97201
We are in the Unitus Building.
Background Information
For an overview of the FIRST Tech Challenge, the FIRST organization and ORTOP - click here.
Summer Camps and Classes
Check back in the spring.
If you are offering camps, workshops or classes that pertain to Tetrix or NXT robotics or programming in Robot C, NXT-G for Tetrix or Labview please let us know at ftc(at)ortop.org
FIRST Tech Challenge Tetrix Robot Competition Kit
For information on the FTC Tetrix Robot System click here.
Links
coming soon..... If you would like to suggest helpful links please drop us a line at ftc(at)ortop.org
Books
coming soon..... If you would like to suggest helpful books please drop us a line at ftc(at)ortop.org
ORTOP Scholarships for FIRST Tech Challenge Teams
NEW! 8/30/10
ROOKIE TEAM: This is defined as schools or organizations that have never had an FTC Team prior to the 2010 Season AND schools or organizations that are ADDING a new team(s) to their school or organization.
VETERAN TEAM: Is defined as a school or organization that previously had an FTC Team and competed in a 2008 or 2009 FTC Season using a Tetrix robot.
ROOKIE TEAM GRANT PROCEDURE: Rookie Teams are eligible for grants that pay in full or partially for an FTC Robot Kit and Resource Kit. ORTOP will determine the award based on need and availability of grants. PLEASE NOTE: To be eligible for this grant teams MUST NOT have already purchased and paid for their robot kit. To be eligible team coach or school administrator must complete the online ORTOP scholarship application. ORTOP will notify applicant if scholarship has been granted. If granted, team must REGISTER AND PAY the $275 Registration fee and then the grant will be applied. Teams can register up to the point of paying and then wait to see if the scholarship was granted.
ORTOP will also award a limited number of Intel FLL to FTC Scholarships to Rookie FTC Teams largely comprised of students who participated in FLL in 2009.
VETERAN TEAM ORTOP SCHOLARSHIPS: ORTOP will also award a very limited number of other small rookie and returning team grants provided by ORTOP sponsors. Veteran Teams should complete the online application.
Teams fill out the same application for the New/Additional Team and Veteran Teams.
INFORMATION TO COLLECT BEFORE GOING ONLINE!
1) Coach contact info; name, email, phone.
2) Estimated or exact demographic profile of the team.
3) Knowledge if team members participated in FLL in 2009?
4)
Graduation Rate for High School attended by team members
5) If you have or have not registered a FTC team this year? If so what is the Team#
6) If you have or have not already ordered and paid for your Tetrix robot?
7) What other items might you need to request?
Keep in mind there is FULL Scholarships to cover all costs will not be granted. Teams must do fundraising on their own.
FTC Grants are intended to for teams with students demonstrating some degree of financial hardship.
| Item that can be requested | Grant Eligible | |
| FTC National Registration Fee | $275 | Rookie/ Additional Team/ Veteran |
| New Tetrix Robot Kit | $749 | Rookie/ Additional Team |
| New Tetrix Robot Kit minus NXT | $549 | Rookie/ Additional Team |
| FTC Resource Kit | $199 | Rookie/ Additional Team |
| Field Elements Materials | $200 or $400 | Veteran / Rookie |
| Extra FTC Parts Budget | $150 - $250 | Rookie/ Additional Team/ Veteran |
| 2010 Software Upgrade Kit | $69 | Veteran Teams |
2010 ORTOP FTC SCHOLARSHIP ONLINE APPLICATION LINK
Fundraising
Each new team will need $1500 or more for registration fees, kits, and related costs. In addition they will need transportation to the tournaments. See the for FTC-at-a-Glance for details. Costs for returning teams will be less because most of their materials from the previous year can be used again.
Teams will often use a combination of approaches to underwrite their efforts.
- Team member dues. Often a team will request that each team member contribute a certain minimum amount towards the costs of the team. Depending on the team and the ability of the team members to pay, each member might contribute from ten to hundred dollars.
- Fundraising activities. Teams may decide to engage in fundraising activities such as car washes, garage sales, or bake sales.
- Team sponsors. Often a local business or private individual will be interested in sponsoring a team. The sponsor may contribute part of the costs of the team. In addition the sponsor may want to help purchase team shirts or hats. The sponsor will often appreciate recognition on the team shirts, banners, etc.
- Scholarships.
ORTOP FIRST Tech Challenge Fests and other resources
General Information / Workshop Calendar / Workshop Registration / Workshop Class Descriptions / Workshop Calendar /
ORTOP FTC FESTS - ORTOP will hold several FTC fests for teams and prospective team members and coaches. At a fest prospective team members/coaches participate in a Tetrix Try-it session and Intro to Robot C.
For a Schedule of Events: Click Here for a PDF with details OR a Click Here for an overview.
Registered and prospectiveFTC team members can participate in a Tetrix Try-it /Intro to Robot C. Registered FTC Team members work on their robot, programming or attend mini-workshop if available. The FTC HOT SHOT competition field will be set up for teams to use in the design process and later in the season to scrimmage and try out their Field Control System.
UPCOMING FTC FESTS
FTC FEST AT BENSON HIGH SCHOOL - November 14, 2009-- 9am - 4pm
=== Laying the foundations for the FTC competition ===
Compete head-to-head with other teams in simplified challenges, test early designs on the field, get help mastering the Field Control Stations (FCS), or make a first step at building your robot. You will find much of the same expert help there was at OMSI - only we will have the Benson High School to ourselves so there will be plenty of space. There will be opportunities for Rookies to advanced. Come for the full day, half day or just for an hour. Bring the whole team or just ask a member or more to come.
=== IMPORTANT ===
Please register early. Providing opportunities for teams is important to us. Benson will incur a significant expense. We will gladly foot the bill but only if we have the numbers to justify. Just send an email to questions@ortop.org
Here are more details about some of the available opportunities. We will follow up with an event schedule.
- Past team members and coaches will be on hand to answer questions and provide pointers. We will help you
- Load competition software on you laptop.
- Set up the robot with the programming templates.
- Install and run the Field Control Station on your computer.
- We will have competitions to see which team can score the most balls in the lower goal:
- In autonomous mode
- Under remote control
- There will be formal and informal sessions. Possibilities can include
- RobotC (what do you want to know?)
- What judges are looking for.
- Game strategies
- (Let us know what you want to learn)
- This year's competition field will be set up. You will have opportunities to:
- Use the time to meet with your team and build your robot.
- Build and test your robots on the field (bring your Tetrix kits, Mindstorms kits, and laptop). Bring them even if you haven't started to build
What to bring
- Bring the whole team, a few members, or just one person.
- Come if you have never touched a robot before or if you are experienced.
- Come for the whole day, half day, or just an hour.
- Bring your Tetrix and Mindstorms kit and laptop if you have them.
- Bring an assembled robot if you have one ready (Tetrix or Mindstorms only)
- There will be plenty of space.
Register at: questions@ortop.org
NEXT UP: FTC Fest at Liberty High School January 16 & 17
NEXT UP: FTC Fest at Amity HS- January 23
NEXT UP: FTC Fest at ORTOP/PSU Campus
The FTC Engineering Notebook -
Link to official information about the FTC Engineering Notebook at the FTC site
In 2008, Oregon's Inspire Award Winner the Psychotic Strawberryz competed at the FTC World Championships and were awarded the Think Award. The FTC Engineering Notebook is an important part of the judging process for the Think Award. The Psychotic Strawberryz's presented an outstanding engineering notebook. The team shares it to help other FTC teams CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD. If you want to print it, warning it's over 150 pages.
ORTOP's Tetrix Try-it Construction Instructions
The ORTOP's Tetrix Try-it construction Instructions and materials were developed by ORTOP FTC Coaches and Workshop Instructors Jeff McBride, John DeLacy and Dale Jordan. If you have questions about the materials, send them to questions(at)ortop(dot)org
NEW!!! Tetrix Try-it 3.0 now available for download (6/28/10)
Tetrix Try-it Overview (READ ME)
Modular Robot Parts List
Modular Robot Tools
Group 1: Arm Assembly
Group 2: Chassis Assembly
Group 3: Contol Module Assembly
Group 4: Final Assembly
NEW! Programming: Tetrix Try-it Robot C program to control motors, arm and pincher to pick up pop cans or wiffle balls. Update will be available 7/1/10.
Videos
There are lots of FIRST Tech Challenge videos posted at www.youtube.com . Use these links:
FIRST Tech Challenge
Quad Quandry
Carnegie Mellon Demo Tetrix Robot
LOCATIONS AND DIRECTIONS TO ORTOP TRAINING WORKSHOPS
Map to the Capital Center
Address: Capital Center, 18640 NW Walker Road, Suite 1065, Beaverton, OR 97006
Parking: Park in lot on Walker Road side (North Side of building, east of Entrance A) Do not park in the Wm. Barnhart Parking lots! , Use Entrance A,follow yellow signs to Suite 1065