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City of Austin and our need for a Robotics & STEM Park

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Agenda

• Robotics and STEM correlation

• Austin Robotics Growth

• Robotics Park/STEM Center Needs & Vision

• Katy, TX’s STEM Center – an example

• Robotics Park/STEM Center Estimate

• Next Steps

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FIRST Robotics Alumni Are More Likely to Attend College and Study Engineering or Science

Source: 2005 independent study by Brandeis University, funded by the Ford Foundation of FRC alumni who graduated 1999 - 2003

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FIRST Robotics Accelerates and Promotes STEM Workforce Growth

Source: 2005 independent study by Brandeis University, funded by the Ford Foundation of FRC alumni who graduated 1999 - 2003

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Central Texas Continues to Robotics Team Growth

180+ FLL Teams

50+ FTC Teams

10 FRC Teams

3 Austin FRC Teams competed at the

2014 World Championships in St. Louis

418: LASA Robotics2158: AusTIN CANS

2468: Chaps Robotics

Numbers to be confirmed by

Central TX FIRST

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Why a Robotics and STEM Park for Austin

• Space for STEM

• Bridge between students, citizens, mentors and businesses

• Non-sports activity for youth to find like minded peers and mentors

• Encourage excitement, passion and pursuit for excellence in STEM

• Inspire, stimulate and challenge students

• Share and collaborate ideas for inquisitive minds

• Solve problems and engineer solutions

• Join citizens, mentors and students in STEM pursuits

Proposal Overview

• Robotics and STEM park

• Celebrate, Learn, demo, apply STEM with peers and mentor guided activities

• Support Robotics programs including FIRST, BEST & VEX

• Shop space, storage space, classroom space and retail/gathering space

The Need The Vision

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Others are Already doing thisKaty ISD’s STEM Center with target completion Jan’15

•$6.2M•26K Square Feet•Shop space for 8 FRC teams + expansion•High ceiling space for Robotics field

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Robotics and STEM Park Draft EstimatesSpace -Shop space 9K

-Team Storage Space 4K-Flexible Robotics/Field space 9K-Administrative/Class/other 7K-Loading dock 1K-Parking

$7-9M

Equipment fit up -Machinery $54K-Hand Power Tools $1K-Hand Tools $2K-Electronics tools $1K-Tool Attachments $20K-Misc $3K-Maintenance $4K-STEM equipment 50K

$135K

Robotics Field Infrastructure

FRC field $130KBEST/VEX field $5KBleachers $15K

$150K

Staff Director Administrator Shop floor staff, other

$250K/ year

Operational costs - Electric/maintenance, Janitorial, IT. Marketing etc $200K/year

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Next Steps

• Obtain funding to pursue Interior concepts, mockups, renderings• Obtain funding to work with grant strategist• Work to refine estimate• Work with Skillpoint Alliance, to recruit/present concept to Austin

Area companies and local government (City/County/State) to gain support & additional funding

• Lobby new incoming city council about importance of and support for STEM

• Inform and persuade Austin citizens for support using social media, print, etc

• Get public input for requirements/goals of this space• Work for private/public partnership to make this a reality

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Backup

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LASA Robotics Team

• 15 year Robotics team from Austin, TX

• Based at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy HS

• FIRST Robotics teams FRC 418, FTC 4290 & 5998

• Coach Anthony Bertucci and Mentors from NI, IBM, etc

• ¼ of team qualifies for free and reduced lunches

• Student led team

• Team comprised of 1/3 girls

• Over 3,000 hours in community service/outreach

• FIRST Awards include Chairman’s and Regional Championships

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Grants FundRaisers Other

Upcoming Season Team Budget

Robot BuildCompetition RegistrationTravel SubsidyOperationsScholarships

Income Expense

2014-2015 for $45,750

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Team Fundraisers & Sponsors

• SMART Camps

• FLL Table Build

• ASK

• Amazon Smile

• Jewelry Making

• iPhone cases

• FLL Scrimmage

• FLL Concessions

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Business Plan SWOTStrengths

ThreatsOpportunities

Weaknesses

•Commitment from coach & mentors•Student body propensity for STEM•Educated & engaged parents•Strong and long term Sponsor relationships•Strong FLL robotics program in feeder schools•Student lead team•Fully equipped wood and metal shop

•Need more industry mentors (technical & marketing)•Experienced Coach is within retirement age•School and AISD provide limited support•No space for FRC Robotics practice•Sponsor funding variable year to year

•Economic uncertainties threaten industry sponsorships•Increasing expenses in the FRC Program

•FIRST is gaining momentum•Industry Sponsors commitment to STEM education•City and State moving to a “Knowledge Economy”•Increasing grants geared towards STEM