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Simbotics in the FIRST Hall of Fame

Simbotics shortly after winning the Chairman's Award

Team 1114: Simbotics is truly honoured to be recognized with the Chairman’s Award this past weekend. The Chairman’s Award is given to the team that best demonstrates the greatest commitment to spreading passion about science and technology to other people around the world. After five consecutive regional Chairman’s Awards, Simbotics has joined the FIRST Hall of Fame. Simbotics is the first Canadian team and first 4-digit number team to win the Chairman’s Award.

In the past decade, we have won 19 regionals, 1 world championship, and 6 Regional Chairman’s Awards. These accomplishments stem from some of the dedicated leaders on our team, demonstrated by our 3 Woodie Flowers Finalists, 9 Volunteer of the Year Awards, and 4 Dean’s List Finalists. Simbotics has started 12 FRC teams, including 2 new ones this year, 46 VEX teams, and 47 FLL teams, for a total of 105 robotics teams.

Through our continual founding of FIRST teams, development of the SimPhone app, the integration and creation of the robotics curriculum, the Ontario Science Centre exhibit, the "Kitbot on Steroids", and the Professionally Speaking magazine article, Team 1114 has been able to impact society through the power of science, technology and enthusiasm. All of these accomplishments demonstrate Team 1114's continuous pursuit of excellence while working to fulfill the mission of FIRST. Over the past decade, Simbotics has worked relentlessly to help other teams around the world, engaging over 6.7 million people in 65 countries.

This weekend we were also honoured to be presented the GM Team of the Year Award for the second time, being the only team to ever receive this award twice. The award is presented to teams who help spread the message of FIRST are strong role models to other teams.

We would like to thank our dedicated students, alumni, mentors, sponsors and countless teams around the world for their continued support for making this possible.

Simbotics was very excited to begin competing in St. Louis. We played through 9 qualifying rounds in the Archimedes Division. After being plagued with electrical issues throughout these qualification matches, we finished with a record of 4-4-1, a Qualification Score of 17 and a rank of 66 in a field of 100 teams.

In alliance selection, team 2056, OP Robotics invited us to join the second alliance. Team 4334, Alberta Tech Alliance was then invited to join what would become the alliance from the “Great White North”. In the stands, cheers for Canada fueled us for the difficult elimination matches to come. In the Archimedes finals, we fought our toughest matches of the season versus team 2826, Wave Robotics; team 67, The HOT team; and team 4143, MARS/WARS. Our quick triple balancing helped secure our victory and we proceeded to Einstein, proudly representing Canada.

The severe weather in the area provided a perfect metaphor for the events that transpired on Einstein. During every Einstein match, our entire alliance felt a myriad of communication problems. This was evident during our semi-final matches with all alliance robots becoming immobile for the majority of the matches. Emotions ran high as we were inevitably defeated, unable to attempt the triple balance we practiced throughout the season and executed swiftly during Archimedes eliminations. We would like to congratulate the winning alliance, team 180, S.P.A.M. Robotics; team 25, Raider Robotix; and team 16, Bomb Squad, for their unbelievable strategy, and offensive and defensive play, leading them to become the 2012 World Champions.

Team 1114: Simbotics would once again like to thank everyone who has made this team and organization possible, and extend our gratitude for all the support we have been given. 

Archimedes Triple Balence

2012 Chairman's Video: "I Remember"

Simbots as their Chairman's video plays

FIRST Team 1114, Simbotics, is proud to present our 2012 Chairman’s Video, “I Remember”. Simbotics is celebrating our 10th season in FIRST and our submission looks back on all that we’ve accomplished on our team, within our community and throughout the world. We're proud to showcase to the FIRST community a side to our team that may not always be seen, but is crucial to our success on and off the field. Our students and mentors share a special relationship through our Big Simbot, Little Simbot program and we’re humbled to be able to share that with the FIRST community.

For more information about our team and our 2012 Chairman’s Award submission, drop by our pits in St Louis.

View video

2012 Championship Scouting Database Released

2012 scouting database

Divisions for 2012 FRC World Championships have been announced. Team 1114 finds themselves in Archimedes this year. This season, Archimedes has the second most event wins (50), the second highest percentage of teams making eliminations (82%), the second highest number of 1st overall picks (15) and the second highest max OPR (67 and MSC, 41.99). Team 1114 is once again excited to be in division with such great competitors.

Our division also features:

  • The top three teams from the Pre-Championship Poll of FRCTop25.com (67, 2056, 1114)
  • One team with four event wins (67 had three district wins and a State Championship)
  • One team with three regional victories (2056)
  • Five teams with two regional victories (359, 1114, 1218, 1592, 2590)
  • Two Mexican teams (4403, 3158), five Ontario teams (781, 1114, 2056, 2809, 4001), one Alberta team (4334) and ninety-one from USA
  • Four Hall of Fame teams: 67 (2005), 144 (1996), 236 (2009), 359 (2011)

More detailed information can be found in our annual scouting database.

Good luck at Championships, see you in St. Louis!

For family and friends who are unable to attend, please see below for helpful links to follow us next week Thursday April 26th to Saturday April 28th:

2012 Greater Toronto West Regional

1114, 3161, 2634 triple balancing

Simbotics, Team 1114 entered Greater Toronto West Regional as our final regional for the 2012 season. After two regional wins, Simbotics were hoping to claim a third. Simbot Jordan had a successful Friday filled with eventful matches, coming out with a record of 6-1 and 10 co-opertition Points. Our team was also awarded with our third website award of the season. Congratulations to our website team for this tremendous achievement!

It came down to Simbotics’ final qualification match and despite the victory, we were unable to get any co-opertition points and were passed in the rankings by Team 3161. During alliance selections, Team 3161, Tronic Titans, selected Team 1114, as well as Team 2634, The Gryphons. After some challenging quarterfinals and semifinals, which saw our first successful triple balances of the season, our alliance entered the finals undefeated.

Our opponents in the finals were our friends from Team 2056 as well as Team 2200 and Team 4001. Simbotics lost an intense first match, with a score of 102-89 that came down to triple balancing. 2056, 2200, and 4001 emerged victorious after a second match, winning 97-54. Congratulations to the winning alliance, it was a pleasure competing against you! The event finished with Simbotics being recognized with the General Motors Industrial Design Award, our second of the season.

Simbotics is looking forward to competing at St. Louis with many other great teams as well as having the opportunity to submit for  the Chairman’s Award, the Dean’s List Award, the Woodie Flowers Award and the Website Award. Good luck to all teams, see you in St. Louis!

2012 Waterloo Regional

1114 drive team

Team 1114, Simbotics. entered the 2012 Waterloo Regional with our robot Simbot Jordan looking to build on the success found at the Greater Toronto East Regional. After Friday’s matches, we were in second place with a 7-2 record and a 26 Qualification Score. On Friday we were also recognized by winning our second Website award of the season.

We began Saturday in a difficult position behind 3161, but luckily after two matches each we finished seeding number one, with a record of 9-2. We ended up picking with an alliance consisting of Team  2056, OP Robotics; and 4372, PRDG. After a successful run through the elimination rounds, we ended up Regional Champions. Thanks to team 2056 and 4372 for being such great alliance partners!

We finished off the day by earning the Industrial Design award, recognizing our robot design. Thanks to all the friends and parents who came to Waterloo to show their support! We look forward to competing at our next competition, the Greater Toronto East regional.

Congratulations to 2056 for their first ever, well deserved, Regional Chairman’s Award. Congratulations goes to our two practice field friends, 2852 and 1503 who had an incredible run and finished the regional as finalists.

2012 Greater Toronto East Regional

1114 and 2056 coopertating

Team 1114 began our 2012 season at the Greater Toronto East Regional, where Simbot Jordan was unveiled. Simbotics had a very successful first day, going 6-1 in Friday’s qualifying matches, and ending the day with the regional Website award.

After another successful day, Simbotics finished as the first seed with a record of 9-1-0, and then selected Team 2056, OP Robotics, along with Team 1219, Iron Eagles. After some tough elimination matches, Simbotics emerged victorious. Thanks to Team 2056 and Team 1219 for being such great alliance partners, we could not have done it without you!

Along with the regional win, Team 1114 won the Regional Chairman’s Award for the sixth time in the past seven years, and will go on to compete at the world championship event. Congratulations to our own Craig and Taylor, who won the Dean’s List Finalist Award, becoming the third and fourth Simbots to receive this prestigious honour! Thank you to everyone who supported us this event, and stood behind our team.