2012 Regional Competition Video:

Match 1:

Match 2:

Match 3:

Match 4:

Match 5:

Match 6:

Video Courtesy of Conor L.

2012 Prototype Testing:

Shooter:

Ramp Navigator:

Robot Testing 2010

2009 Robot in action

First FIRST video for 2202, 2007

What’s FIRST?

For students aged 6-18, it’s the hardest fun you’ll ever have. For team mentors, coaches, and volunteers, it’s the most rewarding adventure you’ll ever undertake. For sponsors, it’s the most enlightened investment you could ever make. FIRST is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization devoted to helping young people discover and develop a passion for science, engineering, technology, and math. Founded over 20 years ago by inventor Dean Kamen, the 2009-2010 FIRST season attracted more than 210,000 youth and more than 90,000 mentors, coaches, and volunteers from 56 countries. The annual programs culminate in an international robotics competition and celebration where teams win recognition, gain self confidence, develop people and life skills, make new friends, and perhaps discover an unforeseen career path.

Dubbed a “varsity sport for the mind,” FRC combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams of 25 students or more are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program a robot to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. It’s as close to “real world” engineering that a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team.

Grades 9-12 (ages 14-18) get to:

• Learn from professional engineers.
• Build and compete with a robot of their own design.
• Learn and use sophisticated hardware and software.
• Be exposed to design, project management, programming, teamwork, strategic thinking and Coopertition™.
• Earn a place in the Championship.
• Qualify for nearly $15 million in college scholarships.

Find out more here

Sponsoring Our Team 

In order for us to sustain this valuable program and keep it available to all students, we need the help of our community. We hope you will consider contributing to our team in any way possible.

By supporting our team you are making in an investment in the future of the students, our community, and your company. FIRST Robotics offers many great experiences to prepare  students for college and careers, but it requires significant funding to keep it running.

To enter a regional competition and purchase a kit of parts, it costs about $5,000. To enter the national competition, it costs an additional $5,000 plus the costs of transporting the team and shipping the robot. Our team’s annual operating budget is about $20,000.

This year we anticipate competing in two regional competitions and the national competition – if we make it that far!. There are many ways to help keep our team in operation. The different levels of sponsorship are listed below:

• Platinum $3,000+
• Gold $1000+
• Silver $500+
• Bronze $100-$499
• In kind donations of tools and materials are also gladly accepted

All sponsors will be prominently displayed on our web site, t shirts, banners and publications.  All contributions are tax deductible and greatly appreciated.  For more information about our team, please visit our website at www.beastrobotics.com.  For more information about FIRST robotics, please visit www.usfirst.org

If you have any questions, are interested in sponsoring our team, or would like to arrange a meeting with our team representatives, please contact Mr. Richard Oakes at info@beastrobotics.com

To make a donation, please submit funds to:

Brookfield East High School
Attention: Paula Gaieck, School Accountant
3305 Lilly Road
Brookfield, Wisconsin 53005

B’East alumni have gone on to success at universities and companies all over the United States. Such as…

View Team 2202 Alumni in a larger map

What are some of Team 2202′s Alumni doing in 2012?

Dan M.:   I’m currently a senior at the University of Wisconsin Madison pursuing a double major in Astronautics and Physics. Last summer I interned with The Boeing Company at Marshall Space Flight Center working on Robotic Weld Development for what is now NASA’s ‘Space Launch Systems’ project.
I have been involved with Wisconsin Robotics since my freshman year (UW Madison’s Robotics Team) and led the team my past two years of school; I led the design of a new vehicle that implemented a fully autonomous drivetrain and vision system. Currently the vehicle (Singularity) competes in the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition and has earned 6th place overall in the IGVC’s design competition in it’s rookie appearance.
I also work at a lab on campus (Wisconsin Space Physics) that researches the interstellar medium with an experiment called the ‘X-Ray Calorimeter’ (XQC). My responsibilities include setting up and running various tests on XQC as well as preparing the experiment for flight readiness.

My advice for the team: Do what you like, not what might seem easiest or that will make you the most money. You’ll always be happier in the end.

Chris T: I’m currently a 1st semester senior at Purdue University studying Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering. I have had an internship with Gulfstream and will be having my second one with Boeing. At Purdue, I am Vice President of Aero/Astro Engineering Student Advisory Council, the Social Chairperson of Sigma Gamma Tau, and the Freshmen Tutoring Chairperson of Tau Beta Pi.
I would like to encourage potential members to join because it opens up so many doors and you can stay involved at the college level. It helped when trying to find a college and an internship.

Nick S: I’m in the navy. My job is a mechanical operator of the nuclear plants on the ship. Just got orders to the USS Carl Vinson out of San Diego.

Brandan S:I attend Waukesha County Technical College for Automotive Technician. I’ve always been one to work with my hands, and I’ve always loved working in my garage in the off season on my cars, so I got into the repair business. In my free time, I’ve been restoring a 1979 ford ltd (literally a barn find) and fixing up my 1990 s10. I’ve also been restoring antique outboards I’ve come across. I have a model railroad in construction in my basement, and I railfan on most weekends.

I really loved the whole robotics experience, and I feel it has really prepared me for life after high school more than high school ever did. I can relate heavily with my job (long hours, occasional arguments about how to solve something, doughnuts on Saturday mornings) and I really enjoyed how everybody got their say in the general meetings. I was never great in school, but robotics was always something I could look forward to Wednesday nights.
Plan to spend a lot of time with robotics. Try not to miss any meetings, because it really throws off the whole team, and then you have to play catch-up with what you’ve missed. Really commit yourselves to the program.

Goutham: I am currently at UW-Milwaukee majoring in Computer Engineering. Robotics was a blast for the 3 years I did it. I learned a lot about team work and how to code in C++. My advice to new members is not be scared of trying it out. It is a lot of fun and I didn’t know much when I joined either. Try it out for a year and I bet you will come back the following year.

Sydney: I’m currently a sophomore at Johns Hopkins University studying Biomedical Engineering (specializing in Systems Biology) with a Mathematics minor. I also do research through Hopkins Hospital in their orthopedics department. On campus, I’m an engineering ambassador, as well as one of the representatives for admissions (check out my blog here: http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/sydney/). I’m really glad I was a part of robotics because it gave me a glimpse as to what engineering really is. I highly recommend joining!

Lane: Currently a Junior at Purdue University studying Industrial Engineering with a Management minor. Last summer I had an internship with GE Healthcare implementing Lean concepts into one of their X-Ray manufacturing lines. Interesting fact is that one of my FIRST Robotics advisers, Eleanor, ended up being my interviewer for the position. That was awesome! Next summer, I will be returning to work for GE Healthcare and I will be applying to work there full-time after graduation.

To current and future students: Learn as much as you can and ask for people to show you how to work different machines or aspects of the robot. I knew nothing about mechanics or industrial machines going into the season, but I learned so much in one season.

Austin C:I’m currently a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay going for a BS in Environmental Science and Biology. I’m also working with engineering professors in using a total system to map out the topography of the Mahon Tree plot on campus.
I loved working with the Robotics team even though I am one of the few members that did not go into engineering or computer programming. I am glad that I had the opportunity to participate in FIRST robotics.

Erik L: I’m currently at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, IN. I’m a sophomore going for a BS in Computer Engineering, a certificate in Robotics, and a minor in Spanish. I work with the school’s Intelligent Ground Vehicle team, where we design a robot that navigates an obstacle-ridden course without our assistance, using LIDARs and such.
To current and future students: FIRST is what solidified my confidence that I was going to go into the field of engineering. Keep with it. Also, be sure to check your college for FIRST scholarships; you may be surprised with what you may find.

What is FIRST?

FIRST stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and
Technology.” FIRST, founded by Dean Kamen, is commited to spreading
interest in science and technology, especially for the younger generations.
FIRST also promotes the values of gracious professionalism, teamwork, critical
thinking, and hard work. For more information on the message of FIRST, visit http://www.usfirst.org/.

Is this “Battle Bots?”

No. FIRST robotics is about cooperation, friendly competition, and gracious
professionalism. We are here to promote technological interest while having
fun. If your intent is to witness some “Transformers” kind of thing,
your skills will be best committed elsewhere.

What will this year’s challenge be?

Every year, the challenge for the season will be announced on the first Saturday of
January during the FIRST Robotics kickoff. Prior to that date, no team will
know the challenge. The next kickoff will be on January 7, 2012.

How often do you meet?

Before the kickoff, we meet once a week to train, prepare, organize, and perform other
important pre-season tasks. Once build season begins, we meet 4 days a week or
more for several hours at a time, so being on the team is a significant
commitment.

When/Where is the competition?

Over past years, BEAST robotics has competed in the Wisconsin Regional at the US
Cellular Arena in Milwaukee. This year’s competition will run from March 22 to
March 24, 2012.

How does the robot get there?

At the end of the build season, the robot is packed into a specially constructed
crate. It is shipped via FedEx to a warehouse, and then it is sent to the
competition site.

When do you finish?

The robot ships on February 21, 2012. Every robot has to be shipped before a certain
date and time to make sure that no team gets more time to design and construct
their robot. From there it is sent to the competition, which, for the upcoming
season, will start on March 22, 2012.

How do you get to Nationals?

In the qualifying rounds, the robots are teamed up randomly for each game. Each
team will have three robots competing in the arena for that game. After the
qualifying rounds, the 8 best teams will choose from the other robots to form
their 3-team alliance. In the elimination rounds, the robots will play off, and
the winning alliance of the elimination rounds go to the national competition.
Another way to get to nationals is to win the Chairman’s Award, given to the
team that best represents the goals of FIRST.

What will I do? What jobs are available?

There is always something that needs to be done. The mechanical sub-team is
responsible for creating a design plan, developing prototypes, testing ideas,
and constructing the robot. The electrical sub-team wires the motors, switches,
computers, and other devices on the robot. The programming team creates code
(C++) for the robot. Other jobs include promoting the team, finding sponsors,
updating the website, keeping records, taking pictures, etc.

I don’t want to build, are there other jobs I can do?

Yes. Besides design and construction, other jobs include programming, marketing,
photography, documenting, promotion, and website improvement. Regardless of
your interests, BEAST Robotics is likely to have a job for you.

Who can I talk to for more information on BEAST Robotics?

For information on who to contact, visit the “Contact Us” page. You can
contact Mr. Oakes, any of the other mentors, or any of the team members to
learn more about FIRST and the BEAST Robotics team.