Get The Newbies on the Line

[BornaE]

Hello,

Team 39 is developing a curriculum, with the purpose of teaching and preparing new students for the build season.

This curriculum, which includes 16(about) modules, will be available in a binder format, for the teams that want to get them.

There is a high chance, that we will record the lessons from our mentors on a DVD and he DVD will be also available to other teams.

If our mentors decide, there will be a KOP that goes with the DVD and the Lesson plan. the KOP will be used to demonstrate many different aspects of hands-on experience for the new students.

The cost is still to be decided on but 99% it would be a give away to any team that asks for it(there might be a small reproducing and material cost)

I will send a link for the official information and sign up form as they become available.

We hope that this system would help increase the rate of learning for new students, and also it can help the returning team members, and mentors, as it include some advanced engineering methods.

We will be having educational demos and lessons for the teams in arizona (waiting for more info)
Please comment on what information you'd like to see on the curriculum so we can add to it, if needed.

This system would be a great start for the rookie teams

We hope that by doing this we can take a part in inspiring bright young students to engineering majors.

Thank You

[Bomberofdoom]

Not meaning to be rude or something, just as side note,
Team 2230 has something similar to that idea of yours, of the building session, that is about to be done in the team, just with a KOP of cards that simulate parts, that any team can create by themselves, no big cost. We're gonna' test it on the next 3-4 following weeks and try to hand all the details of the sessions, the KOP and all of the other stuff as soon as possible after we're done.

[JesseK]

This idea has fantastic scalability! Regardless of "who thunk it first" if teams could submit what they teach their incoming students to a location available for everyone, then eventually perhaps we could have something resembling the lectures and demonstrations given each year in Atlanta available any time on the web and in video format.

As an example, even though I'm a mentor, there are still many aspects of mechanical design that I lack experience in since I'm an EE and there aren't many EE applications for the robot. So I could submit modules for (e.g.) custom circuit design, but might want lessons on say, advanced rotary motion or CNC milling.

This could open up an entirely new aspect for teams -- Flash design for simple demonstrations on the web, web video production, and a new way to integrate 3D animation into the scheme of things rather than a 3D design competition.

I know 1885 plans to do modules for programming and simple CAD for incoming students this Fall, but we hadn't even conceived to make it broad/simple/modular enough for the public eye. Perhaps we can work on it a bit if there is time. I know for our Fall scrimmage 'bot we wanted something on pneumatics, and aside from sifting through CD posts and papers, the best teacher was ultimately someone who had successfully implemented pneumatics before who could answer our questions and help us clarify what our questions were. With videos, I think it could play out the same.

Keep us updated on progress!

[MrForbes]

Sounds good!

some topics.....off the top of my head.....

The Tortoise and the Hare: Speed and Torque (and traction)

No Smoking: Wire sizes, insulation, current, fuses, safe wiring practices

Tipping: Center of Gravity and how to make a robot stay upright

Screw it: Choosing the right fasteners and using them properly

Draw it: How to get your ideas across so others can understand them

It bent!: how to figure out what material to use, which shape, and size

Mind over Matter: Programming

Strength training: Manipulators and arms, gearmotor selection

Poof: Pneumatics systems, plumbing, and control


Probably there are a few more, as I was only thinking about the actual robot.

Please keep us up to date on your progress!

[kramarczyk]

If you're not already aware there are a number of excellent 'wheels' that may not require reinvention located:
http://first.wpi.edu/FRC/
http://first.wpi.edu/Workshops/index.html
http://www.firstroboticscanada.org/site/node/95
http://www.team229.org/resources/15/

Oh, yeah, on CD whitepapers too.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/

[JesseK]

While there is information in those links that I had not previously known about, and the WPI/Workshops one even has .mp3's with them, none of them surpass what someone might get out of a video.

[kramarczyk]

For the record this post was meant as a foundation to build from, not as a wall to stall progress. If you're not already aware there are a number of excellent 'wheels' that may not require reinvention located:
http://first.wpi.edu/FRC/
http://first.wpi.edu/Workshops/index.html
http://www.firstroboticscanada.org/site/node/95
http://www.team229.org/resources/15/

Oh, yeah, on CD whitepapers too.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/

[Bomberofdoom]

Ok guys,
Just an update on our mini-project:

Due to the fact that we have 6-7 computers in our lab and in an attempt to consume as less resources(boxes,cards etc.) as possible, we siwtched our project to a more "technological expirence".

The project missions and details(game, arena, rules, requirements etc.) will be given to each team on their computers, which they will work on.
The min-project will include missions in the form of mechanical, programming, penumatics, electronics and strategy subjects. I.E - drawing a drivetrain design, motor assembly (showing how they connected between a certain motor, gearbox and gear tooth to the chain which is connected to the FIRST 6" wheel, or an omni wheel etc.) or a programming flow chart explaining the way the robot's program will work etc.
Of course, along the work, the teams will be encouraged to find information tips and others in the internet. Teams having difficulties understanding what to do will be given a couple of helpful tip in some areas.
With the teams working on their missions, there will be a "Sponsers" zone, where representetives of each team can come to answer a few question and our team, the project and others in order to receive either a special component, a few extra components from the KOP or a few tips on how to complete a mission succesfuly.

The info that will be given to the students is in the following link:
NOTE: Link will come soon!
Some of the info are in hebrew and some are in english, so the team can work on translation (of rules). I'll give in a fully english white paper of the project.

After they completed their missions of the robot (with limited worktime), they'll give in their "robot", the missions will be reviewed and will decide how well the robot do in it's certain action/function in the game of Rack n' Roll that team 1577 - Steampunks, from Ra'anana Israel, did (with a few modifications).
http://www.avivrobotics.net/videos/STEAMPUNK_STRATEGY_FILM.wmv

[rogerlsmith]

I like the idea of creating videos to help new students in FIRST. If you come up with video clips, especially if you think it is something that might help get students into FIRST that are not already, please stop by FIRST Objective and post them. You can post videos to my server, or link them from YouTube (preferred).

FIRST Objective is a website I'm starting that is bringing together FIRST veterans and schools that do not have teams, in hopes of getting more teams started. Stop by and watch a few videos, browse the blogs and forums and see what you think.

http://www.firstobjective.org

Thanks,
Roger

[vivek16]

I think that this would be a great idea for rookie teams! I know that we definitely would have done better if we had some sort of videos to watch for pre season.

thanks, vivek

[neoshaakti]

we started a team but 90% of the people on the team have no idea about how to build a robot...what gearboxes are...etc
we really don;t have any1 to teach us, so we refered to the white papers
the white papers gave us a lot of information, but we still need to figure out a lot about how to build a robot
any suggestions?

0705920, when you're done with the curriculum, can u send it to our team? Thanks

[EricH]

we started a team but 90% of the people on the team have no idea about how to build a robot...what gearboxes are...etc
we really don;t have any1 to teach us, so we refered to the white papers
the white papers gave us a lot of information, but we still need to figure out a lot about how to build a robot
any suggestions?
Find your senior mentor, who can help you find a mentor team to help you through your first year's build season. This is one of the best things you can do in your first year.
You could also ask specific questions in the appropriate forum on CD (e.g. "We want a pushing robot with a speed of about xy feet/second. What gearbox/drivetrain would be best to use?" in the transmissions forum). Be careful with this method though, you could spark a war of information and learn more than you ever wanted to know.