Skip to content
Menu
RoboJackets
  • Teams
    • BattleBots
    • RoboNav
    • RoboCup
    • RoboRacing
    • RoboWrestling
  • Outreach
  • FIRST Kickoff
  • Training
    • Software Training
    • Firmware Training
    • Electrical Training
    • Mechanical Training
  • Calendar
  • News & Media
    • Newsletter
    • Technical Reports
  • Our Sponsors
  • Join Us
RoboJackets

FIRST Robotics Competition Kickoff

For the fifteenth year in a row, RoboJackets will be hosting a Local Kickoff for FIRST® Robotics Competition teams on January 7th, 2023. Teams are required to register on the FIRST website for the kickoff.

The kickoff will consist of guest speakers, live kickoff broadcast, and workshops to begin the 2022-2023 FIRST® ENERGIZESM season. The event will begin with team check-in at 8:00 AM to turn in release forms and receive wristbands.

This year, workshops will be hosted before the kickoff presentation from 9:00 AM-11:00 AM at the Georgia Tech Student Center. The kickoff presentation will take place in the Ferst Center For The Arts starting at 11:00 AM. After the FIRST Kickoff Broadcast, we’ll be doing KOP distribution.

Please check this page before coming to the event as any updated information will be posted here.

Live Stream

We will be streaming the local kickoff ceremony on the RoboJackets YouTube channel. You can either use the player below, or click here to view directly.

Schedule

All times listed are in EST and are subject to change.

Saturday, January 7, 2023

TimeEventLocationNotes
8:00 AM to 9:00 AMCheck-In*Student Center, 1st FloorPlease bring all required release forms to receive wristbands for each attendee
9:00 AM to 11 AMWorkshopsStudent Center, 3rd FloorWristbands are required to enter. Find more details about the workshops we offer below.
11:00 AM to 12:00 PMLocal Kickoff CeremonyFerst Center TheatreWristbands required to enter
12:00 PM to 12:45 PMFIRST Kickoff BroadcastFerst Center TheatreWristbands required to enter
12:45 PM to 2:00 PMKit of Parts DistributionFerst Center Loading DockPlease bring 2 team members and a mentor to pick up the KoP. At least one person picking up the KoP must be 18 years or older and have a valid photo ID.

*Note: We will not be providing breakfast this year due to the later start time of the FIRST kickoff broadcast

Forms

These forms are required for in-person attendance; please ensure each student has printed out and had a parent complete their release before leaving for kickoff!

It will be ideal to have a mentor collect the forms outside the Student Center and bring them inside to check-in while limiting people inside the building. Each attendee needs to have their completed release form turned in or they won’t be able to enter the theater or participate in workshops.

This is parental release is required for all student minors:

gt-parental-release-formDownload

This image release is required for all adult attendees:

group_image_license_release_for_gt_activityDownload

Parking Instructions

Attendees should park in the nearest visitor parking lots to the Ferst Center. There have been recent changes to the GT campus nearby so please review closely:

  • Visitor Area 3: Student Center Deck (W02) – Please use this lot for parking of cars, there is a low height requirement for the deck (6’6″) – Will cost $10 per vehicle
  • Visitor Area 2: Ferst Drive and Student Center – Please use this lot for parking of larger vehicles/vans – Will cost $2/hour with a 4 hour limit
  • Bus Parking – There will be parking located on Ferst Drive across from Visitor Area 2 for teams who indicate they will arrive on campus in a school bus, please follow further instructions to let us know about this option

Workshops

These workshops will be hosted in-person 2023 kickoff. In the meantime, feel free to check out the 2021 and 2022 recording links hosted on our YouTube channel!

WorkshopDescriptionIn-Person Location2023 Slide Deck2022 Live Stream2021 Recording Link
Mechanical* This workshop will introduce you to common mechanical systems from the FRC world and when to use them. You will learn how to select, construct, and implement these mechanisms to approach any new FRC game; audience participation is encouraged! Presented by RoboJackets mechanical members.Student Center: Northside RoomPDFView on YoutubeView on YouTube
Electrical* An introduction to FRC electrical components, presented by RoboJackets electrical members.Student Center: Castleberry RoomPDFView on YoutubeView on YouTube
Software/Java*An introduction to Java and how to get started programming your FRC robot, hosted by RoboJackets software members.Student Center: Peachtree RoomPDFView on YoutubeView on YouTube

*Note: You will not need the Kit of Parts or tools for the workshops; there will be no building component. Please see here for guidance on assembling last year’s KoP chassis and here for help wiring an FRC electrical system.

COVID-19 Guidelines

We will follow the current guidance from Georgia Tech and FIRST HQ at the time of the event.

We intend to stream the local ceremonies publicly so that anyone feeling unwell is still able to participate. Links to view the live streams are available on this page.

We anticipate a return to normal capacity given the following considerations:

  • We encourage everyone in the Georgia Tech community to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations, vaccinate, and wear a mask in campus buildings. 
  • If there is one thing each one of us can do to protect ourselves and keep others safe, it is to get vaccinated. The new vaccines have proven to be extraordinarily effective at preventing severe illness.
  • The CDC recently issued new interim guidance recommending the use of masks inside public buildings even by fully vaccinated individuals. At Georgia Tech, everyone is encouraged to wear a mask or face covering while inside campus facilities.
  • We will ask that all attendees perform the daily self-checklist prior to arrival. 

Please review these websites if you have any concerns: Tech Moving Forward, GT Campus Events Guidelines, COVID-19 Impact Updates from FIRST HQ, and CDC COVID-19 Homepage

Contact Info

If you have any questions, please contact Shishir Pandit-Rao at kickoff@robojackets.org.

Made Possible By:

Recent Posts

  • RoboNav’s Autonomous Drone
  • RoboJackets @ Basketball Game
  • Hockii’s New Teeth
  • New RoboRacing Drive System 
  • General Meeting

Recent Comments

    Archives

    • February 2023
    • December 2022
    • October 2022
    • July 2022
    • May 2022
    • March 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • January 2019

    Categories

    • April 21 Newsletter
    • August 21 Newsletter
    • August Newsletter
    • Blog
    • December 21 Newsletter
    • December 22 Newsletter
    • February 21 Newsletter
    • January 21 Newsletter
    • January 22 Newsletter
    • January 23 Newsletter
    • July 21 Newsletter
    • July 22 Newsletter
    • June 21 Newsletter
    • March 21 Newsletter
    • March 22 Newsletter
    • May 21 Newsletter
    • May 22 Newsletter
    • Newsletter
    • November 21 Newsletter
    • November Newsletter
    • October 21 Newsletter
    • October Newsletter
    • September 21 Newsletter
    • September 22 Newsletter
    • September Newsletter

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org

    Additional Links

    • COVID-19 Guidelines and FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Our Sponsors
    • FIRST Robotics Competition Kickoff
    • About RoboJackets, Inc.
    • Alumni Association

    Follow us

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Newsletter
    • YouTube
    ©2023 RoboJackets | Powered by WordPress and Superb Themes!