Mentors Workshop General Topics Mark McLeod Team 358 Festo/Hauppauge H.S. F For I Inspiration and R Recognition of S Science and T Technology

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

Official Suppliers  FIRST KOP  Control System   Pneumatics   

Robot Basics  Kit-of-Parts  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)  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:  FIRST –  IFI – -- control systemwww.innovationfirst.com/  ChiefDelphi – -- team technical forumwww.chiefdelphi.com/  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  Construction of:  Practice field (can build just important elements)  Robot crate (under 400 lbs free FedEx)  Robot cart (w/robot must fix standard doorway)  Game strategy, mock game play and prototyping  Opponent/ally scouting  CAD modeling of drivetrain, chassis, manipulators  Pit Chief  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  September thru December  Develop basic skills  Team Building exercises  Prototype sub-system designs  January thru March  Six week build period  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