For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Mentors Workshop General Topics Mark Mc. Leod 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

Official Suppliers ® FIRST KOP ® Control System ® www. innovationfirst. com ® Pneumatics ® www. bimba. com/ ® www. festo. com/ ® www. clippard. com

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 Fed. Ex 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 – www. usfirst. org ® IFI – www. innovationfirst. com/ -- control system ® Chief. Delphi – 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 ® Construction of: ® Practice field (can build just important elements) ® Robot crate (under 400 lbs free Fed. Ex) ® 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