New Skill
 

Okay everyone, what's the craziest (but actually useful thing) you learned this year?

I'd have to say mine was learning to identify the size and thread size of a screw by touch alone. (It happens on the AutoDesk team when you're trying to catch up to the mechanical guys.)

Re: New Skill
 

Looking at a hole needing an alan key, blindly throwing my arm behind me, where the alan keys are, and knowing which one will fit by feeling it.

Re: New Skill
 

It didn't happen in FIRST, but it happened because of it: I learned how to CAD.

I realize that this doesn't sound crazy, but remember: I'm a business student. ;)

(Actually, I also learned pretty much everything that goes into building one of these drivetrains. I have a newly-rediscovered respect for the folks who can crank out these crazy ideas.)

Re: New Skill
 

The weirdest thing Ive learned this year? Our eyeballs rotate in their sockets.

If you close one eye and slowly tilt your head left or right, your eyeball actually rotates to keep the horizon level.

Dont believe me, look in a mirror or watch someone elses eye as they tilt their head sideways. Its freaky!

Its not a learned skill, its an inherent trait that we all have, (but it was news to me!)

Re: New Skill
 

Well developed multitasking abilities. I was able to turn three problems over in my head, help two on two projects, and eat pizza at the same time. :cool:

Re: New Skill
 

My programming mentor taught me how the computer digests all the code we put into it, from machine code to user level compiler code. Found that pretty darn cool.

That enabled me to figure out how to truly make my own code. :)

Not that I didn't know how to before, but as far as C is concerned, I had many questions floating around that in one day were answered. I owe a big thanks to my mentor on that one.

-Joe

Re: New Skill
 

Thoughts that you come up with late at night walking back in fourth in your room for hours on end can actually come true.

Re: New Skill
 

I learned how Hex works...about three times.
Most unfortunately, like log functions, I have forgotten how they work after nearly every single learning event :(

Then again, I learned how to use a lathe, how to more effectively (and safely!) use a drill press, and how to solder lots of Anderson connectors onto lots of battery chargers.

Perhaps most importantly, I learned to keep on working, even when we were behind schedule and having various problems.

Re: New Skill
 

if its a personal life skill, I learned that I put too much trust in some while not enough in others...

but for robotics, i'd say it was really fun creating a "hopper" for our robot and working with different materials like stretchable fabrics, shelf-liner, and netting as opposed to other commonly used materials like sheet metal. If anything, at least I know I can make a decent flagholder since I put the one that's on our robot :P

Re: New Skill
 

If anything, I learned why it's not good to write award submissions close to deadline...

Really though, I've gotten a bit more hands on experience when it comes to engineering and working with people to achieve financial goals, such as working with parents (and a lawyer) to start a non-profit booster club.

Re: New Skill
 

I learned that a FIRST team can continue even when the lead mentor leaves thanks to the generosity, and unwavering dedication of parents, and other mentors.

As for me personally, I'm currently learning MasterCAM software and hopefully will be able to apply it to a FIRST related project in the future.

Re: New Skill
 

I learned Adobe Illustrator after someone on my team was like, "Let's rip off the Porsche crest," and I was like, "Cool."

But then I also needed it when our t-shirt team fell through

Re: New Skill
 

I learned that I don't have a clone, there are only 24 hours in a day, and I can't do everything I want to do (even though I tried) and I learned that I have to say "no" once in a while. :ahh:

Re: New Skill
 

Then it's true: Heck has frozen over!

Oh - and I learned that running the field is almost as much fun as helping a team get a robot onto it. Just about as much work, too. The best parts are that a whole bunch of teams benefit from it, and I got to make a whole new set of friends!

Re: New Skill
 

I learned that I am constantly surprised and amused by robotics people.(I R proud, I did not say 'geeks')
I also learned that the most serious all-business don't mess with me I'm working here team member turned out to be the most serious all-business don't mess with me I'm joking here - practical jokester
What a hoot.
New Skill: staying open taken to a new level

Re: New Skill
 

How to climb without gear from the floor to 30 feet off the floor.

Ball got stuck in light fixture and I went up and got it.

Re: New Skill
 

I learned how to compleatly wire (external wiring only, not the box w/ victors and such) in under four hours

2nd skill: how to work on the robot while running to the que line

Not a skill, but a fact I learned:
FIRST would not exist without zip ties

Re: New Skill
 

The value of good scouting.

Re: New Skill
 

I re-learned sheet metal working when I helped build the mount for our camera. I hadn't done anything since 7th grade, so it was a good refresher. I can also now pop-rivet, :rolleyes: .

Re: New Skill
 

Haha... we found this one out last year with our robot.

As for a new skill? Uhh, probably when it came down to the last half-week.. I learned how to live off of Dr. Pepper, Pizza, Chinese, And Only a few hours of sleep... and still have energy to do the same the next day....

Also, I learned leaving the robotics crate infront of a door was a bad idea. We left it there over night.. and the teacher whos room we were using got there before the janitors opened the doors, so he went in through his back door and walked right into the crate... he wasn't very pleasant after that :)

Re: New Skill
 

I tought myself some 3DS max in about 5 hours...

Re: New Skill
 

I got the new skill of learning joy. I designed our drive train this year, and it has had ZERO mechanical issues the entire competition season! Out of our 3 competitions, I only thought about tightening the chains twice, and it didn't reall need it then.

So learning how to do things correctly, so next year we can do even better!

Re: New Skill
 

I learned to check what the materials instead of just using whatever we find.

(during one of matches, what we thought was lex-an broke because it actually was acrylic. It made a mess on the feild :( )

Re: New Skill
 

I learned the true meaning of measure twice and cut once the hard way

Re: New Skill
 

I learned that I have to make sacrifices in what I do and where i am, and that sometimes you have to disappoint some people to keep other people happy. Grade drop is a natural part of the FIRST process, our marketing/PR mentor Janice is awesomeness personified (mother of 3, small business owner, and still able to get us to nationals with barely a penny from our own pockets), and I need a clone of myself.

Re: New Skill
 

"Oh no! I cut the piece of aluminum three times and it's still too short!" :rolleyes:

This year I learned how to get by with only four hours of sleep a night for most of the build season.

Re: New Skill
 

931 learned how to fabricate omniwheels and apply them in a holonomic drive module.

For next year we hope to improve our understanding of when to build and use omniwheels.

Re: New Skill
 

fischer price motors make magic white smoke. oops.

Re: New Skill
 

i learned that when a team uses what they thought to be lexan but was acrylic, when u hit the side of thier shielding it blows all over the field...oops

Re: New Skill
 

I learned my left from my right

Re: New Skill
 

I learned (almost :) ) all things mechanical and how to have fun working on a robot with no sleep.(That wasn't so hard!) I've also become a Trekkie and aspiring geek, all because of First! This was my freshman year, and I can't wait for next year!

Re: New Skill
 

I taught myself Inventor and we also learned that rivets are a lot easier and much lighter than nuts and bolts.

Besides that, I also learned that my maximum capacity for most pizzas to eat at the same time in a pizza sandwich is 3 slices. :D

Re: New Skill
 

the ability to precisely measure stuff to be cut right on and how to triangulate where holes needed to be drilled. I used to eyeball it and it didnt work out. For an axle id be like "hm. . .that looks good" and then do the same on the other side

Re: New Skill
 

I learned this my freshman year but I've been perfecting it...
the art of tearing apart a motor (all the gears and what not) and putting it back together in less than 2.5 minutes...
It's actually quite fun! Good race