News

This is the current news items about Downingtown Robotics, all the teams: FRC and FTC.

Remember to read about Current Events coming your way.

Best wishes to 1640 Alumni Graduates!

Carly McKown (DEHS class of '11) graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelors of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Carly goes on to doctoral studies at the University of Tennessee and research work at Oak Ridge National Laboratories. Carly joined 1640 during the lead-in to the 2008 (DEWBOT IV) build season; ultimately serving as Co-Captian and Driver.

Paul Klufas (DEHS class of '12) received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from Bucknell University.

Jennifer Stanton (Conestoga HS class of '12) graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in Game Design and Development.

Nicholas Z receives Shining Star Award

DMS and FTC 7314 student Nicholas Z was named a the Shining Star in the Keystone Federal Credit Union fifth annual Shining Star Award program.

Demo at Downingtown West High School - 2-May-2014

Mackenzie and Dana led a robotics demonstration for incoming freshmen and Downingtown West High School.

In Memorium - Miranda Ram-Nolte

Miranda

It is with greatest sadness that report the passing of 2013 Sab-BOT-age student, Miranda Ram-Nolte on 26-April.

FRC Championship Newton Division CHAMPIONS and Championship FINALISTS - 23-26 April 2014

Thanks to alliance partners 1678 (Citrus Circuits - alliance captain), 1114 (Simbotics) and 5136 (Mechapirates), we were Newton Division Champions and Einstein Finalists at FRC Championships.

MAR Championship 4^th seed & alliance captain - 10-12 April 2014

Another strong performance. Sab-BOT-age completed qualifications as 4^th seed with a (9-3-0) record. We led the 4^th alliance and while not advancing past quarterfinals, we earned a spot at the FRC Championship.

Lenape-Seneca MAR Qualifying Tournament 2^nd seed & FINALIST - 22 & 23 March 2014

Big turn-around from Hatboro-Horsham! Our detailed analysis of the shooter failure facilitated an effective correction. 1640 finished qualifications at 2^nd seed with a (10-2-0) record. Joining the 1^st alliance, we finished the event as FINALISTS. The 56 MAR qualifying points earned secured a spot for us a MAR Championships.

Hatboro-Horsham MAR Qualifying Tournament - 1 & 2 March 2014

Our performance was seriously compromised by an unanticipated Shooter Failure which was only diagnosed and corrected after the competition. We finished qualifications as 19^th seed with a (6-6-0) record. We were the first pick of the 8^th alliance, but did not advance past the quarterfinals. We earned just 21 MAR qualifying points at this event.

Downingtown Area Robotics-TCHS-Penn FLL Qualifying Event 2013 - 7-December-2013

I love it when a plan comes together!

Downingtown's second annual FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Event was held on 7 December, 2013 at the CCIU TCHS Brandywine Campus in Downingtown, PA. This competition was hosted by Downingtown Area Robotics to allow area FLL teams to compete and qualify for the Penn FLL Championship in this year's game, NATURE'S FURY^SM.

Congratulations to teams 763 (Robo Engineers), 1503 (Notre Dame) and 14042 (Ciberneticos), who qualified for the Penn FLL Championship Tournament.

DAR FLL Scrimmage - 23-November-2013

The team hosted an FLL scrimmage at the CCIU TCHS. 18 area teams participated.

Brunswick Eruption - 9-November-2013

Completed qualifications as 16^th seed with (3,3,0). 2^nd alliance captain 222 (Tigertrons, Tunkhannock PA) picked us as a partner, with 271 Mechanical Marauders, Bayshore NY) completing the alliance.

Alas, we were eliminated (1,2,0) in the semifinals. With this competition, DEWBOT IX retires.

Ramp Riot - 2-November-2013

Both Sab-BOT-age teams (FRC 1640 & FTC 7314) participated in Ramp Riot this year. 1640 finished qualifications (4,1,0) and ended up 4^th alliance captain. Many thanks to alliance partners 1626 (Falcon Robotics, Metuchen NJ), 2539 (Krypton Cougars, Palmyra PA) and 708 (Hardwired Fusion, Upper Moreland PA). We were, alas, eliminated in the quarterfinals.

FTC 7314 finished this scrimmage in 5^th place in a field of 12. A great performance by both teams.

Duel on the Delaware CHAMPIONS - 19-October-2013

1640 after Duel victory

In a very hard-fought elimination (6,2,0), we were able to secure our third consecutive Duel on the Delaware championship. Many thanks to our 7^th alliance partners 341 (alliance captain Miss Daisy) and 1089 (Team Mercury). Miss Daisy shared the Duel championship with us last year (also as alliance captain).

Great job by the entire team, which really pulled together for this win. A special acknowledgement to our new drive team members.

Siri Maley records FTC inspection video

Mentor Siri Maley prepared and recorded the Robot Inspection video for the 2013-2014 game: Block Party.

Siri Maley Named Selected Research Scholar of the Year - 5-October-2013

Mentor Siri Maley was named a Selected Research Scholar of the Year (Africana) for her peer-review published work on the engineering design process curriculum in Penn State's Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship Program. Siri's also been a teaching intern for engineering design and a Kenya changeagent for Penn State; she is a 1640 alumna (Captain, '08-09 seasons) and serves as the field coach and co-lead engineering design mentor for 1640.

Welcome Caitlyn Mackenzie Kulik - 1-October-2013

A hearty welcome to Caitlyn Mackenzie Kulik and congratulations to proud parents Julie and Richard! Julie and Richard Kulik are both 1640 mentors.

Battle O' Baltimore CHAMPIONS - 21-September-2013

Winning alliance

Together with first alliance captain 225 (TechFire, York PA), 2519 (TIGER PRIDE, Washington DC) and 339 (Kilroy, Commonwealth Governor's School, Fredrickburg, VA), we won the 2013 Battle O' Baltimore!

Many thanks to 225 for selecting us. Man, we worked well together!

FTC Kickoff - 7-September-2013

The 2013-2014 FIRST Tech Challenge game, Block Party! was unvieled. This is an enormously rich game of strategy. Watch game animation. The kickoff was hosted by the CCIU TCHS!

Clem McKown accepted by Boy Scouts Chester County Council as a Robotics Merit Badge Counselor

Participation in either our high school FRC or middle school FTC program will be tailored to allow the fulfillment of the BSA robotics merit badge requirements.

DAR is also planning to provide structured robotics merit badge workshops.

Move to CCIU Technical College High School - August

We moved to our permanent home at the Chester County Intermediate Unit's (CCIU) Technical College High School Brandywine Campus at 433 Boot Road, Downingtown.

Indiana Robotics Invitational - July-2013

For the 4^th consecutive year, we participated in the exclusive Indiana Robotics Invitational in Indianapolis.

MidKnight Mayhem FINALISTS! - 29-June-2013

1640 after MidKnight Mayhem

Together with 11 (alliance captain MORT) and 2495 (Hornets), we were Finalists at the inaugural MidKnight Mathem off-season competition. We'd been looking forward to working with MORT for a long time and the experience was even better than expected! Congratulations to winners 225, 316, 369 & 869.

INCOSE International Symposium - 25-June-2013

The International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) had their International Symposium in Philadelphia this year and graciously set aside a booth for Youth Activities: FRC. The invitation came through Alan Ostrow of FRC team 341 (Miss Daisy); 341, 1640 and FRC Team 1218 (Vulcan Robotics) each took a day of the symposium to spread the word about FIRST, and show off cool robots as well.

Congratulations to our Graduates

Congratulations to:

• Douglas M - Co-Captain & Driver - Downingtown West
• Michael M - Programming Lead - Downingtown East
• Kenneth A - Downingtown West Valedictorian - Class of 2013
• Jason M - PA Leadership Charter School

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Older news items can be found in:
News Archive 2013
News Archive 2012
News Archive 2011
News Archive 2010
News Archive 2009