Difference between revisions of ":2009-09-16 Parent Introduction to Downingtown Robotics"

Revision as of 12:32, 8 September 2009

Parent Night 2009 Agenda

Overview of Robotics at Downingtown
Team history
- Started in 2004 by Paul Sabatino - First Robtotics Challenge Team 1640
- Vex team started in 2007 as First Vex Challenge team 3155
- Vex team grows to teams 81,82 in 2008 and to teams 81,82,89,1640 in 2009
Introduction to First Robotics Challenge
Introduction to VEX Robotics Challenge
- Standard set of components - like Erector Set
- Limited metal (cutting and bending, no welding)
- Robots limited to 18" cube, 10 motors and one battery
Introduction to First Lego League
Standard code of conduct/responsibility for roboteers

Schedule for the upcoming year
- FRC
  - FRC Fall Meetings
  - FRC Fall Events
    - Duel on the Delaware
    - Ramp Riot
  - FRC Build Season
  - FRC Regional Competitions
    - Travel event (ie Fingerlakes)
    - Local event (Drexel)
- VEX
  - VEX Build Season
  - Local Competitions
    - Penn State Abington - December 5, 2009
    - Christopher Dock High School (Lansdale) - January 23, 2010
    - Eastern Pennsylvania Regionals (Downingtown) - March 13 2010
      - We host this competition as a fund rasing event
  - Travel event
    - Mid Atlantic Championships - 26,27 February
      - Held in Westminster Maryland
      - Drive down Friday morning, return late Saturday night
      - Parents must attend with their roboteer
- FLL
  - FLL Build Season
  - FLL Events
Fundraising / Sponsors
- Money to sponsor the team comes from donations from sponsors and from Muffin sales.
Mentors
- VEX mentor training - can tell "left" from "right" and can button a shirt - we teach the rest
- Adult mentor training Tuesday nights 6:30-8:30

VEX Robotics Competition Goals
- Inspire roboteers
- Have fun
- Learn
- Everything done safely
Overview of VEX robot system
- Mechanical parts (nuts/bolts/plates)
- Motion (motor/servo/gears/chain/bearing blocks/axle)
- Chassis (wheels, legs, tank tread) and drives (2,4 wheel; omni, etc)
- Grippers (claw, protobot grip)
- Microcontroller
- Transmitter
- Battery
- Sensors (light, switches, sonar, rotation)
- See [1] for more details
Clean Sweep game details
- Two teams (red and blue) two robots per team
  - Three roboteers per team (driver, operator, coach)
  - Team rotates per match
- Move balls from one side of a 12*6 field to the other
- Limited physical contact with other robots
- 20 second autonomous period
- 2 minute driver period
Process
- First 5 weeks robot skills training
- Next 3 weeks game design and build
  - Mentor directed and focused - ideas and suggestions from the roboteers
- Rest of the season - design an build
  - Roboteer directed - suggestions from the mentor
  - After week 8 the mentors do not work on the robot
    - Oven mitt rule!

@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 == Individual Groups - FRC ==
 * FRC tour, tools, etc
-== Indvidual Groups - VEX ==
+== Individual Groups - VEX ==
-* Overview of VEX mechanical parts
+* VEX Robotics Competition Goals
+** Inspire roboteers
+** Have fun
+** Learn
+** Everything done safely
+* Overview of VEX robot system
+** Mechanical parts (nuts/bolts/plates)
+** Motion (motor/servo/gears/chain/bearing blocks/axle)
+** Chassis (wheels, legs, tank tread) and drives (2,4 wheel; omni, etc)
+** Grippers (claw, protobot grip)
+** Microcontroller
+** Transmitter
+** Battery
+** Sensors (light, switches, sonar, rotation)
+** See [http://www.vexrobotics.com/product-accessories.shtml] for more details
 * Clean Sweep game details
+** Two teams (red and blue) two robots per team
+***Three roboteers per team (driver, operator, coach)
+***Team rotates per match
+** Move balls from one side of a 12*6 field to the other
+** Limited physical contact with other robots
+** 20 second autonomous period
+** 2 minute driver period
+*Process
+** First 5 weeks robot skills training
+** Next 3 weeks game design and build
+*** Mentor directed and focused - ideas and suggestions from the roboteers
+** Rest of the season - design an build
+*** Roboteer directed - suggestions from the mentor
+*** After week 8 the mentors do not work on the robot
+**** Oven mitt rule!
 * Parents drive the robots
 == Indvidual Group - FLL ==