Getting ready for 2006
 

Whats everyone doing to prepare for the upcoming season? Here at team 549 headquarters in the snowy state of Massachusetts we're doing workshops in Auto Cad, Welding and getting our ambulance into shape.

Re: Getting ready for 2006
 

Team 1640 has been recruiting new members, raising funds, teaching newbies what they need to know and what they can learn from last year's robot, and organizing last year's part bins.

We are very excited about kickoff! (T-minus 25d 4h 6m)

Re: Getting ready for 2006
 

Were yelling over each other downhere! Seriously, I've been teachingthenewbies basic animation (very little), gear ratios/basic mechanics, and other random robot related stuff.

Re: Getting ready for 2006
 

We've begun our season preparations in earnest by building a practice drive base to hone our skills using our new AndyMark shift-on-the-fly transmissions. We've also gotten students certified to weld and are currently becoming certified to use a Plasma table (Prettiful robot here we come!). With a final Full Team (parents, students, mentors) meeting approaching we'll be ready to take on 2006. Yee Haw!

Re: Getting ready for 2006
 

1293's main task this off-season has been to clean out and organize our back room, toss out the stuff that was left in there when we got it, add in our stuff, and get it so we can be more productive during build.

Well, and the obligatory plotting and scheming.

Re: Getting ready for 2006
 

The TechnoKats are working on two experimental drive bases. We've also been working on our city's New Year's light ball.

Re: Getting ready for 2006
 

Recruiting members, having weekly meetings, trying to raise much needed funds, training our new members in the shop, building and testing prototypes I have in front of me at the moment :-), wonder what..., and just having fun.

Re: Getting ready for 2006
 

Team 555 is also doing the same thing.
Training freshman/newbies how not to kill themselves or other with power tools, and all the fun stuff you need to do to make a robot move.
Raising much needed money and thinking up of new ways for a crate and a cart.

Re: Getting ready for 2006
 

229 is doing the same in wintery Potsdam New York. Because you know what they say, the new year doesn't begin until Dean , Dave, and Woodie drop the big one. T-minus 25d 00h 51m until the real New year guys ;)

JT
229

Re: Getting ready for 2006
 

Lots of learning inventor, some learning programming, and some learning about gearing and torque and motor selection and whatnot. No real prototyping unfortunately.

Re: Getting ready for 2006
 

What the heck???

Re: Getting ready for 2006
 

I'm guessing it is a team vehicle used to transport members and/or tools and/or robot and it just so happens that it used to be an ambulance. At least that's my guess.

Re: Getting ready for 2006
 

we're having weekly info sessions on all possible aspects of FIRST, teaching CAD and Inventor to some of the newbies, figuring out a cool cart design with tools and a speaker system, and designing drive systems/new tee shirts. --and buttons!-- All in all, it's not too exciting.

Re: Getting ready for 2006
 

I'm getting ready to be amazed by all the diffrent things teams come up with. I wasn't prepared to hear the Tkats are working on another *2* experimental drive systems. Good thing it isn't 2006 yet.

Wetzel

Re: Getting ready for 2006
 

Facilitating NEMO workshops, attending local team fundraisers, attending an FLL tournament, spreading the word of FIRST, helping some rookie teams, meeting lots of other FIRSTers, organizing an unofficial kickoff event for CT teams, helping plan the 2006 robotics conference in Atlanta, and helping plan two (FRC and FVC) great regional competitions in Hartford! Let the fun begin! :D