Transcript FIRST Mentor Workshop

For
Inspiration and
Recognition of
Science and
Technology
Mentors Workshop
General Topics
Mark McLeod
Team 358
Festo/Hauppauge H.S.
Objectives

FIRST Rules & Restrictions
 Official Suppliers
 Robot Basics
 Notes
 Keeping Students Busy
 Typical Schedule
FIRST Rules & Restrictions
Robot starting configuration must fit within 30”w
x 36”l x 60”h (2004)
 130 lbs maximum including all swappable parts
 All fabrication and assembly must occur during
official 6 week build, including spare parts
 Repairs, modifications, upgrades allowed at
events
 Limit on certain components and suppliers
(motors and electronics) must meet Additional
Parts and Materials Rules
 $3500 limit (2004) on all additional parts
 No tape other than for electrical insulation
 Inspection at events for size, weight, rules,
safety
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Official Suppliers
 FIRST
KOP
 Control System
 www.innovationfirst.com
 Pneumatics
 www.bimba.com/
 www.festo.com/
 www.clippard.com
Robot Basics
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Kit-of-Parts
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Inventory Kit-of-Parts when it arrives
One week from kick-off to notify FIRST of missing
components. This has been a problem in the past
Free FedEx shipping bills are mixed in with junk mail
$3500 total expense limit over the KOP (2005)
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Materials (+ labor if not done by team)
Robot frame
At each competition event, present a complete
materials list/spreadsheet that details the source and
cost of each additional component of the robot
Notes
Mentors role – Observe, listen, facilitate,
demonstrate, guide, do if necessary, keep them
on schedule. See the FIRST “Mentoring Guide.”
 Sources of help and information:
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FIRST – www.usfirst.org
IFI – www.innovationfirst.com/ -- control system
ChiefDelphi – www.chiefdelphi.com/ -- team technical
forum
FIRST organization - FIRST, IFI, senior mentors,
regional committees, team leaders, teams
(students, teachers, mentors, parents)
 FIRST rules (changes year-to-year)
 Safety Glasses required in pits and on field
 Lots of debugging occurs on the field
Keeping Students Busy
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Construction of:
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Practice field (can build just important elements)
Robot crate (under 400 lbs free FedEx)
Robot cart (w/robot must fix standard doorway)
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Game strategy, mock game play and prototyping
 Opponent/ally scouting
 CAD modeling of drivetrain, chassis,
manipulators
 Pit Chief
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Tool and spare parts organization
Inventory required for events
Battery charging – monitor, cycle batteries
Robot weight czar – weigh all KOP parts &
budget lbs
Typical General Schedule
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September thru December
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Develop basic skills
Team Building exercises
Prototype sub-system designs
January thru March
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Six week build period
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Practice field/robot crate/cart construction
Brainstorm/design/prototype
Order parts and materials
CAD modeling of drivetrain, chassis, manipulators +
Fabrication and assembly, program/sensor design
Integrate/test systems
Driver practice
Ship robot
Regional event – inspection, repair & modify