Wild Ride at FiT San Antonio District Event
Hopes were high going into this past weekend but reality easily exceeded expectations. FRC 1477 Texas Torque went undefeated over the two days of competition, finishing with a record of Continue Reading →
2014 Robot Remix
On November 8th, Texas Torque hosted and competed in the third annual Houston Robot Remix. Texas Torque was proud to have two robots in the competition. The first of which was our 2014 robot “Rev1”, which was displaying the roboRIO and competed as Team 1477 Texas Torque during the competition. We also premiered our 2014.5 robot “Jounce” which competed as Team 7741 Kalifornia Kinematics.
After leaving qualifications with 1477 ranked 21st and 7741 ranked 31st, alliance selection began. In the first round of alliance selection Team 1477 was chosen third overall by 4587 Jersey Voltage. Meanwhile, as selection moved into the second round, 7741 was chosen as a third bot by 118 The Robonauts and 624 CRyptonite. 418 The Purple Haze was picked up by 1477 and 4587 during this time as well.
As eliminations approached, both alliances prepared for the upcoming matches. Team 7741 competed first, winning both of its quarter finals matches. After that 1477 lost its first QF match only to come back and win the next two matches in order to advance to the semis. Then 1477 and 7741 competed head to head in the semi-finals. After two heart pounding matches, 7741’s alliance came out on top. 7741 then faced off against 3847 Spectrum, 1625 Winnovation, and 2080 Torbotics. 7741, 118, and 624 then came out on top to win the competition.
Rev1’s drive team flashes torque signs at the start of elimination matches.
Texas Torque is glad to have competed with many of our close friends in our last competition before the upcoming 2015 season. We are extremely grateful to all of the teams in attendance, especially 624 for co-hosting the competition, 3847 for graciously loaning out their practice field, and 1625 for coming all the way down from Illinois to Texas for the competition. We were thrilled to have hosted this event and we hope to hold it again next year.
The full team gathers around Jounce after winning the competition.
Woodlands Township Robotics Day Proclamation
Happy Woodlands Robotics Day!
This past September 24 was declared Woodlands Robotics Day by our township government. On that day, students and mentors of Texas Torque were recognized at a Woodlands Township meeting by Bruce Trough, the Chairman of the Board. The team was recognized for our invaluable part in spreading STEM throughout our community, including our elementary school demos, outreach efforts, and creation of over 15 other robotics teams in our area.
In addition to this, Team Captain Matthew Bartell gave a short presentation to the town citizens in attendance, spreading FIRST awareness to over 20 prominent community members. Matthew Bartell then conversed with the government officials about the creation of an annual robotics celebration in our community, which would culminate in a widespread demonstration of robots from all teams in The Woodlands area. This event would not only be a day to recognize FRC, but also to celebrate of all robotics teams throughout The Woodlands, including Vex, BEST, and FLL.
Texas Torque is currently working with the Township to establish a venue and date, but will be extending our communication into the near future. The team looks forward to a continued relationship with the Woodlands Township, and is excited about this step in our mission to spread the idels of FIRST and STEM.
Texas Torque receives the Woodlands Robotics Day proclamation.
Women’s Shelter Demonstration
This past Saturday, Texas Torque furthered our partnership with our local Women’s Shelter by demoing at one of their housing locations. While there, we demonstrated our 2012 robot velociraptor in front of many of the children living at the Women’s Shelter complex. We drove the robot, shot baskets, and answered the questions of all everyone in attendance. In addition, we advocated for FLL, and got many of the children interested in the program. Texas Torque is proud to have such an influence on our community. We plan on continuing our partnership with the women’s shelter and we will continue to strive for an even greater impact as our relationship with this charity grows and develops.
Angel Reach Home Renovation Project
Texas Torque is well known for its active role in the community, and this summer has been no exception. Texas Torque students banded together this past tuesday in order to help the Angel Reach Foundation with a home renovation project. Starting early in the morning, members of the team could be found all over the renovation site, helping with everything from demolishing flooring to repainting walls and ceilings. All of the attending team members found the experience very rewarding, and Texas Torque plans to assist the Angel Reach Foundation with even more projects in the upcoming months.
Texas Torque students help out at a home renovation project for the Angel Reach Foundation.
2014 Texas Robot Roundup
Last weekend, Texas Torque traveled to Austin for the fourth annual Texas Robot Roundup. This two day competition proved to be a great testament to the skill and ability of Texas FIRST teams, of which Texas Torque was happy to be a part of.
After unloading early in the morning, Texas Torque soon began to prep for the afternoon qualifications matches. Texas Torque ended up with a 3-2 record by the end of the day, and was near the bottom of the rankings. However, Texas Torque was able to come back the next day and finish with a qualifications record of 7-3. This put Texas Torque in the 5th seed position for alliance selection. After the first and second seeds made their choices, Texas Torque was in position as the third alliance captain. Texas Torque chose 4587 Jersey Voltage as our first pick, and in the remaining rounds chose 3735 Klein Bots and 5287 Flare to round out the all-Houston alliance. After winning our quarterfinals matches, Texas Torque ran into tough competition in the semis facing off against the affectionately nicknamed “three cyclers” 1296, 3005, and 2158. After each alliance won one match, our alliance pulled of a victory in the rubber match winning 254-200. After a couple rounds of friendly rock-paper-scissors, the finals matches started and our alliance was defeated by the first seeded alliance, going home with a second place finish.
Texas Torque would like to congratulate our friends 624, 118, 2789, and especially pre-rookie team 9997 for their finish as the Texas Robot Roundup champions. We would also like to thank team 2158, the AusTIN CANS, as well as National Instruments, for hosting this amazing event for the fourth year in a row. We would also like to thank all of the Austin area FIRST volunteers and the Alamo FIRST organization for their phenomenal event running. Texas Torque was thrilled to have been a part of this amazing Texas event, and hopes to compete in it again for years to come.
Women’s Shelter Volunteering
The past two Tuesdays, Texas Torque students and alumni have been hard at work making a difference in the community. Team members have accomplished this through the dedication of their time at “Something Special”, a discount store benefiting the local Women’s Shelter. Texas Torque students were able to help out with many of the on-site projects that needed doing, such as packing and labeling inventory, reorganizing the store, and bringing in large donations of items. This volunteering has quickly become a weekly event, and the team hopes to continue it far into the school year.
Texas Torque students in “Something Special”.