Fwd: Mars New Year - coaches update

[Earl Scime]

-------- Forwarded Message --------

Subject:	Mars New Year - coaches update
Date:	Fri, 30 Jul 2021 15:33:38 -0400
From:	Jeff Beckstead <jeff.be...@marsroboticsassociation.org>
To:	earl....@gmail.com, frobotic...@gmail.com, Sean McMahon <coach.se...@gmail.com>, dyacku...@northcatholic.org, tac...@kssrobotics.org

An update for the Mars New Year Exploration Celebration, ...

A lot is coming together to make this a lot of fun and a GREAT opportunity for your students.

I make our students do a lot of the coordination and decision making.  Sometimes we mentors have to do things behind the scenes.  This is one of those behind the scenes, so you are informed early.

Student / Team meeting update

I want to have a virtual student meeting to update your students and introduce the students.  I will work with our student lead, Nathan Hale, to communicate and coordinate with you, and you can coordinate with your teams.

NASA Attendees

NASA has been given the green light to travel and attend this meeting.  Some very top officials are coming. Chief Science Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Director of Missions, PI's from latest missions, and others.   Lots of cool displays are coming.

Astrobotics

Astrobotics won the contract for the next lunar lander, and is based in Pittsburgh.  They are bringing a lot of people and displays as well.

Argo AI - a Pittsburgh autonomous vehicle company

Argo AI is bringing an autonomous car and several staff.

Buzz Aldrin Foundation

This organization is bringing large maps of Mars (and maybe the Moon)  By large, 15 x 33 ft.  These are going to be available to schools to use in the fall.  More on that to come out as structure and plans are developed.  I will keep you informed so you are in the know for your potential use at schools you are associated with.

LEGO robots

At the festival, we will be driving LEGO robots on the Mars map and picking up sample containers like the Perseverance and future Mars mission.  Those containers will contain a prize for the visitor.

If you are a LEGO team and want to participate in this, let me know.  I will send you particulars.

Breakfast with Guests

Saturday morning, we are arranging a simple breakfast time with our guests.  Several from NASA will be there, we will be reaching out to other dignitaries attending Saturday.

This is meant to give our and your students some discussion time with these dignitaries.  This will be early: 8:00 AM so some of you will have to travel early to attend.  But allows the guests and our students time to socialize and then to get ready for the main event starting at 10:00 AM  More will be coming out on this.

Dunking Tank

To raise money for robotic teams, we have gotten a dunking tank.  Thank you to many of you who said you would be willing to get wet (or not depending how good robots do).

This will be setup so robots can shoot.  Ideally if visitors can aim the robot and press a shoot button that would be great.  We will be determining how to do this for all robot classes with you.

Funds raised will be used to support new robot teams.  Your teams will be asked to help reach out to find new teams in need.

If you want to raise funds prior that would be awesome.  We have a donor who has offered up a $500 matching grant.

FRC Robots

We will have a 15 x 30 ft (guess) carpeted area.  I will be reaching out to you about how we can use that area for your teams to demonstrate your robots.  Last event we got field elements from Girls of Steel.  They have been all remote this year and will not be attending.  

If you have demo elements and can bring something, let me know.

FTC Robots

We will have the Ultimate Goal field.  If you want a previous game, we have those as well.

We will also have FTC robots that visitors can drive and play a 2x2 soccer game.  If you want to have your robots participate in the soccer play, let me know. 

FLL Robots

Above discussed the Mars Map robots.  We will also have the Cargo Connect field (game released prior to Mars New Year), we will also have the past RePlay field.

If you have any other ideas, please let me know.

STEAM Outreach Activities

Buzz Aldrin Foundation has really enjoyed our students discussing our outreach and hands-on activities.  They have suggested a few others related to the moon, Mars and space.

If you are able, please prepare a hands-on / demonstration STEAM outreach activity.  The goal is get visitor youth doing A LOT of different fun things.

More to come out over the next few weeks.

Thank you for all coming to this event.  It will be a great opportunity for your students.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.  We will have a student meeting soon.  May also have a mentor meeting to address any questions, etc.

Jeff

Jeff Beckstead

Mars Robotics Association

724-321-2579 cell