July 3, 2009
2009 International Botball Tournament Seeding Rounds!
The results are in from the 2009 International Botball Tournament seeding rounds. Download the pdf to find out how well your favorite team did.
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June 5, 2009
Oakgrove Eaglebots in the News
After taking 1st and 2nd overall in the Northern California Regional Botball tournament earlier this year, the San Jose Oak Grove High School Eaglebots have been featured repeatedly in the news as they continue their hard work with their sights set on this year’s International Botball Tournament at the Global Conference on Educational Robotics.
KGO-TV abc7news Lisa Amin, Thursday May 28, 2009
KTVU-2 Heather Holmes, Monday May 25, 2009
See their site for more information.
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May 4, 2009
Botball on TV in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Educational Television Authority’s documentary program State of Creativity will feature a segment on Botball during the episode premiering May 5th 2009 at 9:00pm. For more information, check out the show’s website.
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April 21, 2009
2nd International Autonomous Robot Contest
Botball teams looking for additional summer activities can use their Botball equipment to enter the 2nd International Autonomous Robot Contest. This year’s contest runs June 26-30 and will be held at the San Diego County Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA.
For more information, send email to info@wintrisstech.org
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March 18, 2009
2009 Oklahoma Botball Robotics Tournament
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Public Outreach Coordinator
outreach@kipr.org
(405)579-4609
BOTBALL ROBOTICS COMPETITION: ROBOTS THAT DON’T NEED REMOTE CONTROL
Botball Educational Robotics Program teaches Science, Technology, Engineering, Computer Programming, and Math through Robotics
Oklahoma City, OK - February 28, 2009 - 36 middle and high school robotics teams from around the region (including 26 from Oklahoma) participated in the 10th Annual Oklahoma Botball Educational Robotics Tournament at the Science Museum Oklahoma. Botball is an international program of the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics, a nonprofit organization based in Oklahoma. The Botball Educational Robotics Program engages middle and high school aged students in a team-oriented robotics competition, developing students’ skills in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), as well as project management and the fine art of working together as a team.
Melissa Maynarich from Channel 9 emceed the Botball Tournament, with a loud, enthusiastic crowd cheering the teams on. Several legislators attended and spent time interacting with the students.
Whittier Middle School Boys Team, from Norman were the overall champions, receiving the highest combined score from Seeding Rounds, Double Elimination, Documentation, and On-site Presentations. In the Double Elimination Rounds, Oklahoma teams swept the top 4 spots, with Whittier Boys Team in first place, followed closely by Whittier Middle School Girls Team, Southwest Covenant High School, and Alcott Middle School. Norman High School won the KISS Trophy for a very simple but unique approach to programming. Other awards that went to Oklahoma teams were: Outstanding Middle School: Whittier Middle School, Best Rookie Team: Howe Public Schools, Most Effective Strategy: Alcott Middle School, Outstanding Spirit: Moore West Jr. High School, Overcoming Obstacles Award: Haileyville High School, Quick Learning Award: Dimensions Academy, ACE Award and Best Approach to Conquering Windmills: Southwest Covenant Schools, Best Defense: Whittier Middle School Girls Team.
Botball teams consist of 5-20 middle and high school aged students who learn how to design, create and program two autonomous (no remote control) robots to address this year’s game based on the theme of “Alternative Energy”. What was the hardest part of the challenge? “It takes A LOT of teamwork!” exclaimed a young man from Davenport High School. Others agreed. One girl on the Dimensions Academy Team stated that she was most proud that “we all worked together - even when our programmer didn’t show up today. Non-programmers had to learn fast!”.
Team leaders and student participants began their 2009 season at the Botball Educators Professional Development Workshop on January 9-10, 2009 at the University of Oklahoma. During this two-day professional development workshop, teams received their reusable robotics kit. Each kit contains enough to create at least two original robots. This equipment will be used for competition and can be integrated into the classroom. This ensures that schools will be able to continue to grow their science, math and technology curricula through robotics after the Botball season is over.
KISS Institute for Practical Robotics, an Oklahoma based nonprofit organization, will present 14 Botball Workshops and Tournaments this year - 12 in the United States and 2 based internationally. All teams who participate in their regional workshop and tournament, regardless of how they place in their competition, are eligible to participate in the International Botball Tournament taking place this summer in Leesburg, VA, during the Global Conference on Educational Robotics on July 1-5, 2009.
Over 6,000 students participate in Botball every year and more than 50,000 have competed worldwide over the course of 13 years. In 2009, teams from 23 states and 6 countries will participate in Botball.
Why is it important for young people to know how to do computer programming? “Getting students programming early is crucial if we want to have better software. Botball Programming in the C programming language is not like using an Email or Word program, which has already been created. These students are learning how to design the software we’ll be using in ten to twenty years.” said Cathryne Stein, President of the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics. KISS stands for the old engineering term, “Keep it Simple, Stupid.”
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February 2, 2009
Inaugural Youth Advisory Council Announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Steve Goodgame, Executive Director
KISS Institute for Practical Robotics
(405) 579-4609
sgoodgame@kipr.org
Inaugural Youth Advisory Council Announced January 28, 2009 - delay due to Oklahoma Ice Storm
I am pleased to announce the students selected for the inaugural Botball Youth Advisory Council:
Anna Cyganowski, age 19, Rensselar Polytechnic Institute.
Arvind Harinder, age 15, Greater D.C. Region.
Tessa Niehoff, age 16, Greater D.C. Region.
Wesley Myers, age 18, Carnegie Mellon University.
Aaron Parker, age 18, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Jeffrey Hsu, age 16, Florida Region.
Matthew Thompson, age 17, Florida Region.
Jeff Chan, age 16, Northern California Region.
Joe McCormick, age 16, New England Region.
Jeremy Rand, age 19, Oklahoma Region.
Nick Uebele, age 15, Texas Region.
Alexander Nabavi-Noori, age 14, Southern California Region.
Jake Sticka, age 17, Southern California Region.
These candidates were selected by a committee from a large pool of high quality candidates through a blind application review process. The committee was overwhelmed by the number of highly qualified applicants and wants to make sure that applicants who were not accepted at this time and prospective applicants keep up their Botball promotional activities and submit an application in September.
The application process included; a letter of reference from a former teacher or mentor, a survey of positions and responsibilities held on their current or former Botball teams, extracurricular activities, outreach and fundraising activities, and their written response describing what they have gained from participation in Botball and why it is important to be a part of the council.
International Botball Champions will automatically receive a letter of reference from the KISS Institute if they choose to apply for the council.
Jamie Boiles, Public Outreach Coordinator, has been excited about getting the group in place and will be working with the council to develop a strategy and plan of action for the group whose task is to not only promote Botball through social media but to also advise the KISS Institute on issues related to Botball.
“The future I see for this group is limitless. The council represents a diverse pool of high achieving students who are leaders not only on their team, but also in their school and community. Through their assignments and efforts this council will have an impact on a national and international level. These students have expressed a passion to see the Botball program grow and I am looking forward to brainstorming with them about their ideas,” Boiles commented about the council.
As was announced, the inaugural members will serve until September 1, 2009. Subsequent councils will serve a one calendar year term starting each September.
“I want to personally invite all current Botballers to keep up their Botball promotional efforts and to consider applying for the second term,” Steve Goodgame, Executive Director.
Steve and Jamie are excited to get started with the council and look forward to working with them on expanding and improving the Botball Educational Robotics Program.
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Robot traverses the surface of the heart
Robot traverses the surface of the heart
Sci/Tech | Akanksha Vaidya
The term “robotics” brings to mind visions of probes that zoom up to the sky and land on the rocky surface of the moon. Carnegie Mellon, however, has introduced a robot of a different kind: one that lands on the slick surface of the heart. HeartLander, barely the size of a finger, is being developed by Cameron Riviere, an associate research professor at the Robotis Institute, and is capable of revolutionizing the way cardiac surgery is done today. Read more
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January 13, 2009
Oklahoma Botball in the News
More robots than ever coming to Oklahoma
Edmond Sun - OK,USA
The students will be participating in the Ninth Annual Botball Educational Robotics Competition Feb. 28 at the Science Museum Oklahoma Read More
Botball, anyone?
Norman Transcript - Norman,OK,USA
By M. Scott Carter OKLHAOMA CITY — The KISS Institute for Practical Robotics will host Oklahoma’s Ninth Annual Botball Educational Robotics Competition. Read More
2009 OKLAHOMA BOTBALL ROBOTICS TOURNAMENT
Bixby Bulletin - Tulsa,OK,USA
Oklahoma City, OK - January 5, 2009 - The KISS Institute for Practical Robotics announces the 9th Annual Botball Educational Robotics Competition. Read More