FIRST Robotics Competition Blog

 

 

…for the FIRST Robotics Competition Kit of Parts (KOP) team!

We know y’all look forward to Kickoff and then competing, but for the KOP team and those that help us, shipping Kickoff Kits is our adrenaline rush. We spend the year working with companies (thank you Suppliers!) to source material, tracking bulk shipments, working with our kitter to get Kickoff Kits packed and staged, and then we breathe a deep sigh of relief once FedEx starts picking them up and taking them to you (very generous in-kind support from FedEx)!

We’re pumped to report that Kickoff Kits started shipping yesterday. They’re not going all at once, and throughput is expected to be a few hundred Kickoff Kits out the door each (business) day. Once your Kickoff Kit has shipped Lead Mentors 1 and 2 can find the FedEx tracking number in the dashboard (reference images below).

Kickoff Kits are shipping to teams that have registered to participate, supplied an address, and secured payment with FIRST. If your team hasn’t completed these tasks, don’t worry, once they’re all set, your Kickoff Kit will be added to the queue.

Sizing & Contents

Kickoff Kits for rookie teams are comparable to past Rookie Kickoff Kits. Meanwhile, Kickoff Kits for returning teams consist of a more modest set of items due to the pandemic (mostly because of reduced budgets for FIRST and donors and the expectation that most returning teams will be working with already existing robots).  Each 2021 Kickoff Kit Checklist is linked accordingly below.  

Every team gets the “Everyone Box.” It’s 18 in. x 12 in. x 12 in. and weighs 25 lbs. (Oops. There was an error in V0 of the Everyone Box checklist and it's been updated to V1 - the FLL Challenge Set is 29 packets, not 9, and a new image was added. Apologies for any inconvenience!)

Rookie teams also receive the following:

• Black Tote: 27 in. x 17 in. x 12 in. and 33 lbs.
• Gray Tote: 27 in. x 17 in. x 12 in. and 49 lbs.
• Drive Base Kit: 33½ in. x 6½ in. x 7 in. and 29lbs.
• Aluminum Extrusion: 48 in. x 2 in. x 4 in. and 6lbs.

One set of items that may seem like they’re in the wrong program’s kit is the contents of the FIRST Lego League (FLL) Into Orbit Challenge set. Our colleagues in FLL offered us their leftover inventory and we immediately snatched them up; we think they’re a great tool for ideation, initial modeling, and outreach. Thanks to our FLL friends for thinking of us!

Missing or Damaged Items?

What happens if you get your Kickoff Kit and it’s missing parts or parts are damaged? Let us know!

One of the first things you do when you receive your Kickoff Kit is to check its contents against the Checklists linked above. If anything is missing or damaged 1) we’re so sorry! and 2) you need to let us know and we’ll make it right.

The process we use to get information from you is built into the registration system and available starting today. Please know and understand that we will not process requests that don’t use this system.

Kits are shipped on a rolling basis this year, so it’s not appropriate to issue a single due date for missing/damaged parts reports. Instead, the due date is specific to your team and is five business days from your Kickoff Kit delivery date (e.g. FedEx tracking says your kit was delivered on December 15, your report must be submitted on or before December 22).

To report anything missing or damaged:

1. Your Lead Coach/Mentor 1 or 2 logs in to your team’s account.
2. Click on the “Payments and Product” drop down menu and select “Order Replacement Parts”

3. Enter the shipping information for where you’d like the replacement parts sent.
4. Use the “Subkit Container” filter to navigate to the parts you need to report.
5. Click the “Add” button for the item that’s missing/damaged.
6. Specify the quantity missing/damaged, include an explanation, and click “Save.”  The list will auto save when you add an item, so you can come back to it later.
7. Once your list is complete, hit “Submit Request.” You can only submit once, and you must Submit within five business days of receiving your Kickoff Kit.

Remember the Rest of the Kit of Parts

In addition to Kickoff Kits, teams also have access to FIRST Choice and the Virtual Kit. Many Virtual Kit items are live now, and FIRST Choice opens on Kickoff Day, January 9, 2021.

Consider bookmarking the KOP webpage for quick reference and easy access to important KOP dates.

Good luck this season, dig in, have fun, and stay safe!