Updated CAD Library

We've updated our CAD Library that we published last year with new models from VEXpro, AndyMark, REV Robotics and more.

Also included now are Solidworks sketch blocks created by team 4183 (Bit Buckets), and Versaplanetaries that have almost every configuration you could want created by Kevin Ainsworth of Pwnage FRC#2451.

CAD.Spectrum3847.org will take you to our Grabcad Partnerspace

The github version of the library is located here.
https://github.com/Spectrum3847/Spectrum-CAD-Library

Let us know if there are models that you want added or how we can improve the library.

- Spectrum

2016 Texas FRC Mentor Workshop Videos

This is from a few months ago but we finally have the video posted to Youtube. This is over 11 hours of content but if you are a new mentor there is a lot of great information in here.

- Spectrum

Spectrum Pre-Season Update

FLL, Jr. FLL, Build Season View this email in your browser Spectrum Pre-season Meeting Parents & Students Jan 3rd - 5:00 PM We will be having our Pre-season Meeting on Jan 3rd at 5:00PM. Parents and Students should attend. We will talk about the season, expectations, etc. We will discuss meals, tentative event plans, and more. Please plan on attending. RSVP Here Alumni Meetup - Jan 1st We will be meeting for dinner with any Alumni that are interested on Jan 1st at 6pm. Sign up here if you are able to come. RSVP Here - http://ift.tt/2iBjX1T   2017 Events - Save the Dates FRC Kickoff - Jan 7th Dallas Scrimmage - Feb 17-18th Hub City Regional (Lubbock) - Mar 1st-5th Lone Star Central (Strake Jesuit Gyms) - Mar 15-18th Alamo Regional (San Antonio) - Apr 5th - 9th FIRST Championship Houston (GRB Convention Center) - Apr 19th-22nd check_in We will be a part of a new live web show every Tuesday for the first 7 weeks of the season starting Jan 10th. More information can be found here.  http://ift.tt/2hlvgpO New Website Our website has been updated to make it more useful. Please visit and see what you think. It should be easier to direct people here if they are interested in starting a team at a school or volunteerng at events. www.spectrum3847.org   Fall Recap Winners 2016 The Remix FRC Off-season Event - Photos NRG FIRST Football Showcase  - Photos Canstruction 2016 - Donated 3,000 Cans - Photos FIRST Lego League Qualifier - Photos Volunteering - Photos Copyright © 2016 Spectrum, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Spectrum 9000 Bellaire Blvd Houston, TX 77036 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

from Spectrum Archive Feed http://ift.tt/2iBox0b

Illuminations 2016: Rookie Resource Guide

Are you new to FRC, you probably have a lot of questions. Illuminations is here to help you get up to speed in FRC.

Here is the 2016 updated version of Illuminations

Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Developing your Brand
3. Communication
4. Build Season Tips
5. Post-Bag Pre-Regional
6. How to Get Picked for Eliminations
7. Texas Specific FRC Information
8. Other Advice
9. Resources Guide
10. FAQ
Appendix A: Spectrum Pit Design Guide
Appendix B: Team Tool List

- Spectrum

Woodie Flowers: The Father of Competitive Robotics

Woodie Flowers is the co-founder of the FIRST Robotics Competition. His contributions to educational competitive robotics is remarkable. In his MIT Course 2.70, he developed a way to inspire students to work extremely hard, use engineering principles, compete like crazy, and work together with even their opponents. This model is used in nearly all of modern educational robotics competitions today, not just FIRST.

Please watch the videos below to learn more about Woodie Flowers, his course, and his legacy on competitive robotics.

Here is another good video about the course as well.

Here are a couple other great videos about the 2.70 course.

Without Woodie Flowers non of the robotics programs that we have today would ever be possible. Many of the foundational things that we take for granted like gracious professionalism, limited build time, novel challenges each year, etc all were developed under his guidance.

Thank you Professor Flowers for all your work and inspiring so many students,

Spectrum

Spectrum 2016 FLL Qualifier

Our 2016 Spectrum FLL Qualifier Tournament was held Dec 3rd in the Strake Jesuit Dinning Hall.

Photos, videos and the results can be found below.

Photo Gallery 

Spectrum FLL Photo Gallery

Video Archive

Live Stream Archive

Event Results

Award Scripts 
Robot Scores Webpage

Thank you to all our wonderful Volunteers!

We hope to see all the team back next year for our 2017 event.

- Spectrum

Competitive Robotics: It's More Than Robots

Our mentor Allen Gregory gave a talk at the 2016 Houston Mini Maker Faire about why Competitive Robotics is one the best programs for students and what the students get from it. The audio and slides from the presentation is now posted to our YouTube channel and you can watch it below.

- Spectrum