G-FORCE is a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics team made up of Garrett County 4-H members. Our high school aged team members come from different 4-H clubs and schools in Garrett County. Our team was formed in 2008 with the help of 4-H and GEARS. In our rookie season G-Force won the inspire award at the MD State FTC Championship and went on to compete at the World Championship in Atlanta, Georgia where our alliance placed second in the world.
G-Force Splits Into Two Teams
With Nine members in 2010 and more 4-H members wanting to join the team. The decision was made to have two teams in 2010-11. The new team is team F.T.C (Four-H Techno Clovers) 4240. Currently 4240 has 8 members and 2818 has 10 members this year. That is a total of 18 which is twice as many members as last year.
We would like to thank our great sponsors! Click below to learn more about each of our sponsors.
Sponsors (2010-11)
After attending the 2009 World Championship in Atlanta, our team decided that we wanted to inspire others to become involved with robotics. Our team has participated in numerous activities in the community to inspire youth to join robotics and 4-H. Our goal is 1,000 hours of community service by December 31st. Click Here to learn more about our many community service activities which includes many state wide and national 4-H events.
Community Service
The FIRST FTC game for 2010-11 is called Get Over It! The robot must retrieve 6" long batons from one of three dispensers around the perimeter of the field and score either in a stationary or rolling goal. The challenge it that your baton dispenser is located on the other side of the field which is separated by a cliff, a mountain and tilting bridges. We have been working hard since the September kickoff to create a robot. Click Here for more information on the Get Over It! game.
Read about G-FORCE's involvement with National 4-H
G-FORCE Works With National 4-H Council
After attending the world festival we decided to take the challenge set forth by Woody Flowers to increase the number of FTC teams by 500 for 2010. We figured that meant we needed to have 10 new teams from Maryland. We would also like to have more teams in our area so we can have more competitions and we do not have to travel as far to competitions. We are currently have to travel five hours to the nearest tournament.
We wrote a proposal to the Maryland State 4-H Organization to help fund a "Boot Camp". The "Boot Camp" was designed to train ten new teams state wide. The idea of the "Boot Camp" was received very well however funding was not available to fund the project. The "Boot Camp" proposal was also forwarded to the National 4-H Council. The National 4-H Council also liked the idea but was also unable to fund the proposal at the time. We later received a phone call from the National 4-H Council wanting G-FORCE to assist them with special project with the JC Penney Afterschool Foundation.
The 4-H and FIRST partnership is just one part of the JCPenney Afterschool Fund’s (JCPASF) generous $1 million investment in the 4-H Youth Development Program. The Fund’s support included sponsorships of 4-H JCPASF FIRST Robotics Teams, development of year-round 4-H Robotics curriculum, and grants for 4-H Afterschool programs. The JCPASF robotics effort provided mini grants to new and existing 4-H based FLL, FTC and FRC teams for the 2009-10 season. G-FORCE is working with the National 4-H Council to mentor the 4-H grant recipients through conference calls and information on the National 4-H Council website (http://sites.google.com/site/4hfirstconnection/home).
The most recent development in the 4-H robotics area is that the Maryland 4-H program was selected by the National 4-H council to develop a pilot program to expand robotics to every county in the state. The program is being funded by Lockheed Martin, Inc. G-FORCE has been working with Maryland State 4-H Specialists to develop the pilot project. G-FORCE will be very involved in the training provided to 4-H Extension Educators and volunteers. We have already conducted two state wide workshops to introduce educators and volunteers to the different robotics platforms. We were also asked by National 4-H Council to attend the 2009 and the 2010 National Association of Extension 4-H Agents National Conference as part of the National 4-H Councils Set exhibit. We are looking forward to conducting more training in 2010.
National 4-H Council has been very impressed by the efforts make by the G-FORCE team. Eddie Locklear, Ed. D, National 4-H Council, Director for 4-H SET, said "By interacting with the 4-H members and volunteers of G-FORCE, we have developed several strategies for building a 4-H Robotics Program to serve thousands of youth throughout the 4-H System. Thanks to G-FORCE members for the tremendous contribution they are making to this important 4-H SET Program. Don Floyd, Jr., President and CEO of the National 4-H Council said the following about G-FORCE, " G-FORCE members have a passion for robotics and science that gives me great confidence in our future." G-FORCE is also featured in the 2009 National 4-H Council Annual Report.
2010 Maryland State Championship Results
4-H Techno Clovers 4240, G-Force 2818 and Grizzl-E 2897 Finished the 2010 Maryland State Tournament with the Finalist Award. The alliance lost the first match but won the second in the final round. The third match was replayed and in the end the Alliance lost the match 52 to 50. The 4-H Techno Clovers received the Rockwell Collins Innovate Award. G-FORCE received the Connect Award. G-FORCE also received the Inspire Award which gives them an automatic bid to the FIRST FTC World Championship to be held in St. Louis, MO in April 2011.
9/11/10 FTC Kick-Off at GEARs
Latest Happenings
10/25-29/10 Four G-FORCE members participated in the National 4-H Engineering Challenge Robotics Contest. They won 1st in the Autonomous and 2nd in the TeleOp.
8/28-29/10 G-FORCE members assist with Robotic Demonstrations and Sugo Tournament at the Maryland State Fair
8/9-13/10 G-FORCE members demonstrated various robotics platforms each afternoon at the Garrett County Fair
10/23&24/10 G-FORCE mans a booth for the University of Maryland Extension at the USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, DC
11/13/10 G-FORCE members help Girl Scouts learn about robotics at GEARS.
11/20/10 G-FORCE members assists with 4-H Robotic classes at the Maryland 4-H Volunteer Forum in Ocean City.
July 2010 - G-FORCE Members help out at Garrett County Technology Camps (4 weeks)
6/23/10 - Maryland 4-H Teen Focus - Robotics Class Bot in a Box
5/6/10 - FIRST presentation for Lions Club
5/26/10 - Garrett County Business After Hours Presentation
4/15-17/10 - FIRST World Championship
G-FORCE was 4-3 in match and finished in 17th place in the Franklin Division. G-FORCE was recognized as a Finalist for the Think Award.
G-FORCE members will be helping with the Garrett County FLL Qualifier and demonstrating FTC on Dec. 18th.
12/10/10 Engineering Department at the University of Maryland. Visited the Neutral Bouyancy Tank to learn about Autonomous Underwater Vechicles.
G-FORCE members to visit WVU Children's Hospital in Morgantown, WV in December.
Great Video Interview from 2010 World Championship - Click Here
Congradulations to the FIRST Techno Clovers team 4240 Captain of the winning alliance at the First State Championship in Delaware. The Technoclovers had no losses in the qualifers and had the highest ranking points to be the top ranked team. They then selected 2nd place 2843 Under the Son and 121 Rhode Rage to join their alliance. The alliance won all but one match to take the Championship. The Technoclovers scored a high score of 85 during the tournament.
G-FORCE members attend Delaware State FTC-Championship - Jan 22
4-H Open House - April 17th
Super Sugo on Super Bowl Sunday at GEARS. Twelve teams showed up with over 100 kids and parents!
G-FORCE and TechnoClovers met with Garrett County Commissioners on February 20th
2/20 Gears Open House - FTC members demonstrated the FTC Game and other robotics platforms.
FIRST Open House at Gears - Feb 20th
4-H Teams visit with Co. Commisioners
G-FORCE and TechnoClovers demonstrate FTC and SUGO at the 2011 Maryland State FLL Tournament on Feb 26th
FTC tems to provide afterschool workshops for Elementary Schools. First one scheduled for 3/1 & 3/2.
Statewide Robotics Training at Gears - March 26th
Congradulations to FLL Team 971 - Maryland State Champions Award. They will be moving on to the Word Festival in St. Louis. They are coached by Arlene Lantz, Phill Malone and G-Force members Aaron and Levi Lantz.
Phil Malone also received the Maryland FLL Mentor of the Year Award - Very Well Deserved!!!!!
FRC Team 1629 - Will also be joining the FTC and FLL teams in St. Louis. GaCo was named the Engineering Inspiration Award winner and was a semi-finalist at the Buckeye FRC Regional in Ohio. Congradulations. G-Force Team members Aaron Lantz, Levi Lantz, and Kevin Heafenling are members of GaCo. Programing mentor Phil Malone will have four teams to keep up with in St. Louis.
Go GaCo!
Maryland State 4-H Robotics Challenge
Check out the new Maryland State 4-H Robotics Challenge on line (click here). The state competition will be held at the Maruland State Fair. Thanks to G-FORCE and Techno Clovers for helping design the game, devlop the manurals and put together materials.
GO SuGo
For more info on a great way to use the mindstorms lego kits for a great activity (click here)
