After winning the 2009 Peachtree Regional, our team decided to make an effort
to bring the message of FIRST to our community. In 2009/2010 we were able to
demonstrate our robot at several locations including two schools, a movie theater,
a water park, and a technology fair for high schools.
Soon after coming back from the 2009 Championships in April, our team had the
opportunity to show off our robot outside of a local movie theater the day after the
premier of X-Men Wolverine. During that day we were able to discuss our robot,
FIRST, and FRC with many groups that came to watch a movie.
In July, the Platypi were invited to an FTC
off-season tournament at Wet N' Wild water park and had a great time
driving our robot around and firing orbit balls.
In early August, our team was honored to be asked to be present,
along with other North Carolina FIRST teams, at the North Carolina
Technology Association's Annual Leadership Conference to talk to local business
leaders about FIRST and out personal experiences with FIRST.
By November, our team had done three more demonstrations, the biggest of which
was 2009 Technology Career Days. We were graciously invited by NC
FIRST to help promote the 2010 North Carolina Regional, and garner interest in
FRC. During the two day technology fair, we were able to reach out to over
600 students representing nine counties, allowing them to see and drive a working
robot built by their peers.
The additional two demonstrations took place at local elementary and high schools.
In these presentations, team members showed our robot, described the components
that made it work, and played videos of us during Peachtree
and the 2009 Championships.
This season, the Flying Platypi is happy to be mentoring one new
rookie FRC team, #3394, the CCCMC Knights.
