Author: Scott Rippetoe

Earlier this summer, Texas Torque performed not one, but five demonstrations in our area. These demonstrations were done at local Primrose Preschools, for children from the ages of 2-6, as a way to give the children their very FIRST look at robotics. Team members distributed themselves among the five events around our community, promoting science and technology at the various presentations. Our 2013 World Championship robot “Sonic” was demonstrated at two of these events, while our 2014 robot “Rev1” had its very first showing at the three others. Our students took pride in explaining the function of our robot to the children.

Texas Torque is proud to be such an influential factor in the scientific growth of our community’s youth. We are continuing these efforts with more demonstrations in the near future and we will certainly continue to strive for an even greater impact.

In addition to the Houston Astros vs. Detroit Tigers game, there were FIRST teams all around Minute Maid Park this past Sunday. Texas Torque joined forces with robotics teams from around Houston to demonstrate their hard work and “Make it Loud”. Texas Torque was pleased to have organized this event for the second time in a row, and hope to establish this as an annual off-season event for all of the teams in the Houston area.

Starting early in the morning, robots could be seen everywhere in Minute Maid Park. 1477 Texas Torque and 624 CRyptonite demonstrated their 2013 robots from Ultimate Ascent in Union Station, much to the entertainment of the crowds. Our team members were happy to encourage the young children in attendance to join FIRST robotics teams in their schools. Just outside the entrance gates, robots from Aerial Assist performed alongside eachvother, propelling the 2014 game pieces into the air. As the Astro’s game spectators walked along the park’s inner rim, all of the teams had booths set up, playing release videos, showing off 2012 robots, and handing out stickers, buttons, and brochures. All of the teams in attendance were happy to answer the questions from the crowds and were proud to promote FIRST in our community.

FIRST Pitch was a huge success thanks to support by the Astros’ administration and management. We hope to continue our partnership with them, so that we may promote FIRST in the years to come.

A huge shout out to the other teams in attendance, 624 CRypotnite, 148 Robowranglers, 3847 Spectrum, and 2587 Discobots. Texas Torque would like to thank these teams again for their time, support, and participation in this event.

Texas Torque student speaking to a crowd of Astros game spectators.

Texas Torque had a very successful demo this past week at the grand opening of the Microsoft Store in The Woodlands. While there, Texas Torque engaged people of all ages by speaking about FIRST, FRC, and our team as the crowds waited to enter the store. We then showed off our 2012 Rebound Rumble robot and handed out stickers to the attending children. In addition to these normal demo activities, Texas Torque also had the opportunity to meet with James “The Beard” Harden, an olympic gold medalist and professional basketball player for The Rockets. Students were able to “Make it Loud” by talking to Harden about both FIRST Robotics and Texas Torque. Harden then signed our 2012 robot, Velociriptar, and in return Texas Torque offered him one of our iconic t-shirts.

James “The Beard” Harden with members of Texas Torque.

This past Fourth of July, Texas Torque team members walked the 1.3 mile stretch for this year’s city parade held annually in The Woodlands, Texas. Between the South Pacific musical and the firetruck, kids watched in awe as our robot, Rev1, shot 2 feet in diameter exercise balls to the crowd of Torque following behind. Proudly wearing it’s patriotism, Rev1 performed at its highest, mounted where all could see. Stickers and smiles were shared throughout the crowd as Texas Torque displayed it’s patriotism and spread the enjoyment of FIRST to an excited community.

We hope to participate in this wondrous event in the upcoming years, continuing to Make It Loud!

Texas Torque had yet another very successful demo at Comicpalooza, held at the George R. Brown convention center this past weekend. Our team managed to handle the problems that arose well, including the breakdown of both our robots, Sonic and Rev1 by the third day.

Saturday, Rev1 was performing well for interested spectators, the team effortlessly awing the crowd. Some of Texas Torque and other teams members played a casual game of lasertag, demonstrating that robotics kids can have lots of fun while they work. Later R2D2 and other robotic celebrities came by to visit their competitive friends and posed for a few group photos. After a long day of running, Rev1 was having some mechanical problems so he stayed home for a repair party while Sonic stepped in and took his place on Sunday. In between speaking about FIRST, operating the robot and fetching frisbees, a few members from Texas Torque and the Robonauts had a game of Mech Corps, Torque ultimately coming out on top while the others easily kept the robot running smoothly. At the end of Day 2, Comicpalooza seemed to be too much excitement for old Sonic to handle and by Monday he refused to run. However, that didn’t stop us. We continued to shoot frisbees as a show and supported the other robotics teams present with batteries and tools. The owner of the batmobile stationed in the convention center came by and was one of the many spectators that Torque spoke to. Impressed with our team work and kindness he invited the teams over to his batmobile where he explained the inner workings of the movie prop and even allowed one of our members to climb inside.

Throughout all three days of demonstration, Texas Torque didn’t just show off it’s impressive robot. Torque showed the amazing teamwork it takes to build such a robot, it’s passion in spreading FIRST to a broader community, and it’s ablity to create friendships with other team members outside of Torque, whether it’s through playing lasertag with the Disco Bots, Mech Corps with the Robonauts, or catching frisbees with Spectrum. Torque also advanced within itself where members who didn’t know how were able to learn to drive and operate the robot showing grand potential for the future drive team, ready to lead us to the champs again next season.

The teams lined up for a group photo with the robots.