Good question got asked today about robot wires at the track meet events.  A lot of the events require the robot to start between a front and back line.  Since the wires are part of the robot then they would be included in the definition of having to be inside the robot boundaries.

Can you use elastics to bind them up? You could definitely use LEGO elastics, which come with a lot of the kits.  But I'm going to go one step farther.  IF the wires are NON-FUNCTIONAL, then you can use non-LEGO elastics to keep them out of the way.

NON-FUNCTIONAL means they add NO benefit what-so-ever to the robot.  They aren't being used to attach the strongest cart to your robot; they aren't hitting (on accident or purpose) any of the cans on the Table Clearing event; etc.  If the wires are FUNCTIONAL, they really need to be inside the space and bound up with LEGO elastics (if needed).  If the wires are NON-FUNCTIONAL, they can be tied up with regular classroom elastics and may even stick out over the borders/boundaries...  Good luck and keep those batteries charged.

Well the early registration for the Maine Robot Track Meets is going great!  We've already had 33 teams with 268 team members sign up for this year's events.  With over a month to our first track meet, we think we'll be setting a new record for the number of teams and children participating!
So Thank You! and keep spreading the word.  And we'll see you in May.
http://trackmeets.mainerobotics.org

Thanks to the help of some alert coaches, we were made aware of an issue with the online payment for the Maine Robotic Track Meets. We had incorrectly set up the online payment page so that no matter which track meet you selected what arrived in your cart was the South Portland track meet. While teams planning to go to the South Portland track meet did not have any problems with this, other teams were not as happy. We have fixed the online order page and teams can select the track meet of their choice.

The robotic track meets are coming up! 
We have a little under two months until the first one in South Portland and it is time to get in gear so to speak. Early registration ends March 22, 2013 ! After that the price goes up by $5 a student, so please get your team's registrations in. It will save you money and it will save us a lot of planning headaches. 

It's not too late for new teams to form up, don't put it off! Great for teams of one or twenty!

You can register online HERE or print out the form found HERE and mail it to:
Maine Robotics
167 Bennoch Rd
Orono, ME 04473

Payment can be done online HERE or you may mail us a check/purchase order.
The track meets will be at the following locations and dates 

• April 27, South Portland, at the Memorial Middle School
• May 4, Ellsworth, at the Ellsworth Elementary Middle School
• May 11, Oakland, at the Messalonskee Middle School

Portsmouth has been canceled for this year do to scheduling conflicts. For more information on our robotic track meets please visit our Track Meet Webpage.  

The 2013 Track Meet season is now officially open!  We have the official description posted on the track meet website along with online options for payment and registration this year.  We are also working with a group in Portsmouth, NH to bring the track meet to New Hampshire this year, but that hasn't been confirmed yet, be back soon!

We have added a new event this year, the Walking Robot Race!  Can you build a robot that can walk across three feet faster than anyone else?  And we have modified the Steeplechase to make it harder this year.  Check it all out at the "Official Description"

Track Meets are scheduled for South Portland on April 27th, Ellsworth on May 4th, and Oakland on May 11th.  This is a great way to keep those robot builders busy during the winter and spring!