In 2007, we saw an opportunity to spread the word of FIRST in the Indianapolis area. We discovered that the Indianapolis Children’s Museum (ICM) was preparing a fall exhibit entitled “Robots+Us.” We contacted the ICM, explained our program, and offered assistance in the exhibit. Over the next several months, the ICM and Cyber Blue collaborated on a plan of action. We built four FTC robots and an obstacle course for children to navigate. We taught visiting children about FTC robots, how they work, and discussed the enjoyment of working with robots. We also taught children how to design and drive the robots. Students also trained museum personnel to operate the robots during our off-weeks so children could continue to learn and enjoy the robotics experience.

Cyber Blue is one of the co-leads for the Indiana Robotics Invitational which is the largest off season competition. 72 teams from 23 states competed last year, including California, Texas, Florida, and Massachusetts, as well as Canada and Israel. Some of our team members host students from the Pink Team in their homes for the competition. Our parent crew provided dinner for over 1300 people. This past year we even held a “Pre-rookie” Competition that took place during one of the lunch breaks.

One of the pre-rookie teams who took part in the competition at the IRI included a group of high school girls from a “Women in Engineering” camp sponsored by Rolls-Royce and IUPUI. Prior to the IRI, Cyber Blue spent several days with this group explaining FIRST robotics and the workings of our team. We also built a duplicate of our 2007 robot and donated it to them to practice and compete with at the IRI. We are proud that this all-girls group is now Team 2360, POWER Storm, and will be competing at the 2008 Boilermaker Regional.

At the end of each six week build season, Cyber Blue holds a community open house. It is usually held the day before ship date. We invite all of our parents, sponsors, and news stations in the area. At the open house we show off our VEX and LEGO® teams, past robots, website, Inventor, and, of course, the robot before we ship it away.

Cyber Blue is involved in our school. We have welded basketball goals, cafeteria chairs, and made other school repairs. We made a ramp for a handicapped student so she could be a news anchor on morning announcements. We also support the following charitable events that our school promotes: Make-a-Wish Foundation, March of Dimes, Schools-4-Schools, and holiday assistance for needy families. For the past four years, Cyber Blue has given the opportunity to foreign exchange students to become involved in FIRST. This year, Abir, from Tunisia, is a member. We hope she inspires others in her home country with the message of FIRST.

Pack-to-School began at Rolls-Royce. It is a program that collects book bags filled with school supplies to benefit low-income second graders at a school near Indianapolis. Cyber Blue first started helping Pack to School with a few of our team members creating back packs, but we have now made it a part of every team’s entry fee for the IRI.

During the third week of the build season, Cyber Blue creates care packages for new FRC teams to FIRST in Indiana. We include lots of snacks and a note of encouragement to help them make it through the build season.

Cyber Blue has held several demos in the past. Some of the demos include Allison Transmission, Rolls-Royce, Southport Christian Church, and a few at the Children’s Museum.