This week the team visited a new sponsor, Fowler High Precision, a Newton-based company that designs and sells high quality measuring instruments. The team was grateful to be given a tour of the Fowler laboratory and warehouse, and got to have a hands-on tryout of a measuring instrument that is still in development. Team members were excited to be allowed to choose Fowler micrometers, calipers and gauges to help the team construct our 2018 robot more precisely. We also left with some great Fowler swag–rulers, pens and hats. Thank you, Fowler!

Fowler Director of Product Management David E. Leboeuf showing high-precision tools to LigerBots members

This week the LigerBots also did a team-wide training session in constructing “elevator” speeches, a technique for making a very quick presentation or pitch. Team leaders explained the uses of elevator speeches when talking to judges at FRC competitions, as well as in life. Then the team broke into small groups to brainstorm and practice pitches in pairs, before coming back together and presenting speeches to the whole team. Veteran and rookie members alike gained valuable life skills that they can use in post-high school experiences.

Student executive teaching students how to give an elevator speech

Last Saturday the LigerBots competed in the Bay State Brawl, an off-season event where FIRST teams can play the previous year’s game. Every team member — rookie or veteran — got a chance to drive the robot. These off-season events teach team members many things, such as time management and improvisational skills, since we often have as little as two and a half minutes to repair any damage to the bot using materials that are often not ideal. We were selected by the 3rd seed team and we got the high score of the day, although sadly, we weren’t able to win the competition. We were also given the Robo-Ohana Award, which is given to the team that works together the best and makes all the team members feel accepted and included. It was truly an enjoyable experience for everyone.

The LigerBots are excited to compete in the Bay State Brawl this Saturday! Bay State Brawl is an off-season event that allows teams to play last year’s FRC game for fun before the new game is announced. We will be leaving for Westborough High School at 6:45 a.m. We will begin unloading at 7:30 a.m. and leaving the event around 5:30 p.m. with the hope of returning by 6:30 p.m. All LigerBots are invited to participate and the public is invited to come watch!

The LigerBots spent the past week working to spread STEM in our community. Several LigerBots spent last Saturday assembling FLL field kits. FLL is the junior version of the FRC program, giving elementary and middle schoolers the chance to design, build, and program smaller robots to complete tasks for points. The LigerBots host two competitions for teams from around Massachusetts. Each of the assembled kits contains the components which make up this year’s FLL competition field, and the LigerBots are proud to contribute to this wonderful STEM opportunity.

On Tuesday the LigerBots hosted the first ever Girls + Tools event! The night was full of engineering challenges and building opportunities to inspire local middle and high school girls to get more involved in engineering opportunities in the community! Every attendee milled a smiley face out of metal stock, then wired and soldered LED lights for eyes. It was a fun night of introductions and building.

It was wonderful to meet team parents this past Wednesday at the LigerBots annual Parent Night! The LigerBots exec board members gave a presentation to new and returning parents to inform them about how the team runs and what to expect in the coming season.

As build season draws closer the team continues to push for more outreach and events. From encouraging young engineers to providing them the tools to become involved, the LigerBots are proud of being a voice for STEM in the community.