Brand New Team
 

Hello Everyone now i know your probably are reading this going great another newbie post something already post well i would like to say your wrong. i post on threads frequently so yes i did my research before posting.

I made this thread so that any one willing to help us does. My school James J. Ferris H.S, New Jersey has just started a new robotics team 2569, all thanks to our awesome Physics teacher Mr. Chiarllo whom got all the grants and sponsorships he also organized every thing to make the team official. And so were a brand new newbie team we have like ten people on it with no current knowledge of making robotics but were all relay technological and hands on. No one's been assigned on jobs because were waiting for the Kick OFF :D ( I Can't Wait) we will be there for anyone to meet us. our team helping us already is Paskak Valley team 1676 there real great help but we could use all the help we get. They gave us an old bot of theres to help us get used to and trash around :D . plus they told us about this site.

Anyways i made this thread so that i could post questions not already posted and hopefully get answers. So every time we have a(ny) question(s) i will post them up. any answer will be appreciated.

Questions:confused:

1. How, or Where doe we go to start our site? - i am helping my teacher design a good preview site so we can give to potential sponsors and etc. we have all design and stuff just. How do we get it on to the web, What did you guys use? And do you have any tips or tricks?

2. Were can we get cool custom shirts made, and possibly cheap? i also am helping to design the shirt and am almost done just now we need some place to get them made FYI the shirt will be full screen well partial actually but it will have allot of designs on it.

P.S
I am a senior and also have Co-op so i got to go to school and work and robotics team but ill make it work. but more importantly i wanna help get our team totally started so that next year when i leave i know our team is prepared. SO ANY ONE THAT HELPS ME I THANK YOU.

bye

Re: Brand New Team
 

Welcome to the community.



For a website, you could try talking to your school administrator and try and get the school to host it. or you could use googlepages.com

It's not great, but it's useful to people like me who are not programmers.

tvrobotics.googlepages.com is ours. Not that great, but it gets the job done.

2. for shirts, we just found a small local shirt shop. We told them about our situation and school and stuff, and they gave us a nice discount.

3.

Sites that will come in handy:

ifirobotics.com
http://first.wpi.edu/Workshops/2007CON.html
http://robotics.nasa.gov/events/2008_kickoff.php
http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc...nt.aspx?id=482

Re: Brand New Team
 

Welcome to FIRST and to Chief Delphi. One of the foundations of FIRST is that we help each other. You've joined a great community. CD's webmaster Brandon Martus has started a thread of Rookie Resources. Check it out if you haven't already. Even though you haven't assigned roles on the team yet, one thing that should be assigned ASAP is a person to monitor the Q&As (http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc...nt.aspx?id=456) and Game Manual and Rules Updates. This is a lot of work and is a critical role on a team to keep up with any changes that may be made as the season progresses. Rules Updates are usually sent out twice a week by FIRST - I suggest having several copies of the Manual made and put into 3 ring binders and then append them during the 6 weeks. Having a copy near your build area, near your programming area, etc. will come in handy, but they HAVE TO BE KEPT UPDATED! Usually there is one person on the team that is anal like I am about rules - it's a perfect job for that person! Another imporant role is the Safety Captain - making sure your are is kept clean and free of safety hazards and that all team members are trained on equipment use and are using safety glasses, etc. Usually it's a thankless job.

A web site needs to be placed on a server somewhere before it can be seen "by the world" - as stated previously, your school would be the place I'd check with first to see if they will give your server space. If not, there are several places where you can upload your web pages files for free - Yahoo! offers free space, MySpace, etc. Do not focus on your design, focus on your content first. Read the manual (Sect. 5.28) for the website award criteria - even if you don't submit for the award this year, you should still use these as guidelines for what should be on your site. And don't forget to include your team's address and contact info in case a potential sponsor wants to get in touch with you! CD has a forum on Websites that might help also.

Does your school have a graphics art class? They may be able to help out and it will also spread the message of FIRST to people who may not otherwise be interested in a "robotics team". Some teams have used cafe press (www.cafepress.com). See this article on team clothing written by the Techbricks (JFLL, FLL and FTC teams) from Maryland.

If you are attending a kickoff event which includes workshops, I encourage you to attend them. You'll be learning things from your peer teams that will be invaluable to you as you launch your team. Good luck!

Re: Brand New Team
 

We got your back.

I think you have enough info on web sites, but I want to echo Kathie's comments to not worry so much about design, focus on content. Look at other team web sites, see what you like and what is useful, and build your content. If you got a computer guy at the school ask him or her for advice.

As for the shirts: Focus on the design, but remember that really fine lines and some halftones do not reproduce well in silkscreen. Also, more colors cost more, so try to stick to a team color for the shirt and a contrasting ink for the screen design. The Pioneers use 2 ink colors: Black shirts with white printing, and a touch of yellow in the logo.

Then look in the yellow pages for places near by that do silkscreen, there are plenty of them. Go with an adult and talk to them, maybe they can help you out on the price in exchange for becoming a sponsor. Remember that these places are always being asked that, so don't get disappointed, but definitely ask (the worst they can say is no). Also, you ahve some funding, sometimes you have to spend the money. Get extra shirts (we get 2 for each regional so we don't have to wear a dirty shirt or do laundry - Thursday we wear any old shirt) because you'll want to give a few away to sponsors, school administrators, parents and other important supporters.

Regarding the Co-Op: Your first priority is and always should be school. Keep your grades up! Even if you have to do homework instead of cutting aluminum.... Second priority is the co-op, while you are at work. Work yur hardeat, do your best work, but once you leave for the day you can think about other stuff (like homework or robots). The LAST priority is robots. And don't forget food, family, and some fun too.

We'll talk again at the kickoff. Meanwhile, drive the robot, study it to see where the wires go and why, change the programming to see what effect is has... This is your practice bot, use it!

Finally: For your rookie year, resist the temptation to do it all. Focus on a few things and be great at them, instead of doing everything, but poorly. Think about your robot base, about your wheels, about your drivetrain. When you are putting it together after kickoff, think about how you're going to get it apart again when it breaks.

After kickoff, first figure out what it will take to win the game, then figure out what kind of robot can do that. 2 years ago, what won the game was the ability to shoot a few baskets or herd a few balls or play defense, and then to climb that ramp.

Oh yeah: Keep Asking Questions!

Don

Re: Brand New Team
 

First things FIRST, (yes, that is a pun):)

Welcome to the forums and more importantly, welcome to the hardest fun you will ever have. This is the beginning of something that will change your lives!!

I wish we were closer, but sadly, we are on the West Coast. Regardless, if there is anything we can do to help, please feel free to ask.

Re: Brand New Team
 

Welcome to FIRST and the CD Community!


I've posted a couple times about how our team used design-it.com a couple years ago and were quite pleased with the result. Here is a link that I posted on the design and prices of the shirts.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ht=1604+tshirt

Re: Brand New Team
 

Hi,
I have experience in hardware selection, setup, installation, domain name registration, DNS record management, website hosting, basic ASP.net & MSSQL, and Windows 2003 feel free to pm, or email me with any questions.

Good luck with your new team.
:D

Re: Brand New Team
 

Well as a 4 year member and a senior now i found that the best way to leave a team is to be sure that your team is able to work in the community and is able to raise whatever money you need easily. make sure you can do the same and more things every year to help your team. If you have questions just ask.

Thanx 4 the Support
 

First off let me start off by saying,I kept hearing how this sport had allot to do with Gracious professionalism but i never knew you guys lived by that rule. i mean wow one day and so many views and responses awesome i was informed by Pasacack that this site had much information and that the people here were very nice and helpful so i just wanted to say thanx to every one who posted.

I work down at the Board of Education so i got the number for the guy who is in charge of the school site and stuff and gave it two my teacher who is in charge of our team he is gonna call and see if we can but the guys out of work till after Christmas Plus i get the week off!
as for t-shirts did you use the school's t-shirt making company because we have school uniforms and think i could ask the principal to give their number so we could ask. but first we to get the design done first.


Thanks for all the links, and for suggestion on server space but could u give a link to the manual on who to set-up team websites. and as for my shirt design i checked cafe express it seems cool. But just curious can you do color bleed t-shirts like have an all black t-shirt and in the front have an image throughout the entire front? because i searched the site of cafe express and downloaded the template it was just 10inchx10inch. my school doesn't have graphics art class (yet one of the art teachers is like a photo shop expert and teaches it in classes in college and is trying to organize a class in school for it) but my art teacher does know student who are good in it. and besides i do allot in photo shop like my avatar i made just its supposed to be 3d and move but it won't

Thanks I know you got my back and yes i am very focused in school work to i have English AP (Which i have like 4 essays and a novel to read over break:ahh: ) but I'm doing awesome. and once again thanks you guys for having our backs!

Thank you. and we will seek for help if we need it. bummer you guys are to far away. thanks again for your willingness to help us!:D

Yea i check out design-it.com but it's closed for the weekend i will make sure to check it out again so far its the cheapest i have seen compared to this site i found http://www.customink.com/indexb.html it's cool but too expensive. But does design-it let me do color bleeds on the t-shirt?:confused:

Will do Thank you for your help!

raising money may bee a problem because we can't sell candy or any kind of fating food and that's what was our biggest sellers. but i am an extremely well rounded student and on my schools fund raising committee and do fund raising for my senior class and for DECA so i am good at fund raising and plus the only assigned members with jobs in our team are the fund raisers they are meeting this week end with Goldman Sacks a possible sponsor for us the are meeting with the fund raisers in our team in one of the board meeting rooms to give them tips tricks and ideas on how to fund raise. So yes i will make sure to leave this year with the team functioning properly.

_________________________________________________

Happy Holidays to every one may you all have an amazing time and enjoy every moment of the day!!! = ) =]

Re: Thanx 4 the Support
 

It's a FIRST thing. You gots to understand.

Re: Thanx 4 the Support
 

What a way to end the day! Awesome!

Re: Thanx 4 the Support
 

Well are you not able to sell candy in school or in the community? We do all of our fundraisers in the community because our school doesent give us money. but we try and sell not just candy but we do alot of demos outside of the town Wal-mart or it is to cold now but a car wash at the fire station. I know it sounds strange but we make some cash standing out there. so Try and set something like that up because like i said those work really well.:D :D

Re: Brand New Team
 

Welcome to FIRST and Chiefdelphi!!!

As far as fundraising goes....we have found we make (as much and sometimes more) money standing in front of grocery stores with the robot than we do with car washes. The Hexbug Fundraiser sells itself...although I'm not sure how they will do after christmas. (and they arent fattening!)

As far as t-shirts....thats what I do to for a living (and to support my robotics addiction)...just PM me and I will see what I can do.

Good luck, always ask for help when you need it...and give it when you can...Hope to see you at Championships!

Fundraising trouble
 

Guys most of all the fund raisers at school are usually holiday orientated and by most i mean just about all. I just wanted to know if you guys have some unique fund raiser ideas that you use for January? Thanks for the help guys!:D

____________________________________________
I was informed that i shouldn't write in text lingo so if your gonna post on how i shouldn't, no need i got the memo.xD
And sorry for writing text lingo before?

Re: Fundraising trouble
 

I would strongly recommend you take a look at this thread and this thread. Both of them discuss the Hexbug fundraiser offer available to teams. It has been a very successful program for us - we sold over $6000 worth in under two weeks, with almost no effort.

-dave

Re: Brand New Team
 

Welcome to FIRST.

I'll say this:

I'm alright at designing and building robots (my team, as a whole, built a strong, meaty robot last year that was good, although not without it's issues) and I'll be willing to help you out if you want. Shoot me a PM or an email (preferably an email as I don't check CD all that often) if you want some of my help regarding chassis-s or drivetrains.

Cheers,
Mike Baker

Re: Brand New Team
 

Hi Welcome to FIRST:)
I guarantee that you will have a great time:)

Some Help Guys
 

whats up guys sorry have been busy! so i was posting.

I went to the kick-off and wow overdrive seems real hard (mostly because it my first year) but guys so you should expect this i have some questions?

1. First of all is that guys if we made a robot which could hold one ball and still move one around would that be cool? what i mean is like say were a blue bot and we grab and capture a red ball on top of our bot then we keeping moving and push a blue one would that be against the rules because from what i saw it isn't so if you know could you please tell me! SO BASICALLY- is there a rule or how many track balls your robot can hold or move at once?

2.is there any rule for how many arms a robot can have?

3.Is there a rule for how many balls you can move at once?

4.What kind of wheels or wheel drive will give top speed and control? and what kind of control is best to use with it?

________________________

I post pics up latter by guys!:D

Re: Some Help Guys
 

1. Read the game rules, it's outlined pretty well.

2. Not that I know of. Just size & weight limitations.

3. Read the game rules.

4. Depends, really. Roughtop tread is good for traction, but you also need to keep in mind gear ratios. 8:1 through 4:1 is ideal for Overdrive. You don't need a lot of pushing power. so something relatively smooth with rounded corners will work well, methinks.

Re: Brand New Team
 

Welcome to FIRST!

Assuming that your team will participate at the Garden State Regional, I look forward to meeting you and your team there! Give us a shout if you need any help in the next 6 weeks - or during the regional itself! We would be more than happy to help!

Good Luck!

Re: Brand New Team
 

Good to hear from a rookie team, you've come to the right spot for help. :]

If you still need help designing/setting up your website, I may be able to help. I designed and maintain AdamBots.com. Just send me a PM, I may also be able to help you with hosting your website. :rolleyes:

thanx for all the replies 900+ views!!!
 

sorry was so busy forgot to read the manual half way through started at like 3 a.m thank you. but do you know what the average pushing power of the robots from the KOP are??

:cool: cool thank you hope to see there to.

Thank you so much the site you made looks awesome look forward to some help. :D (not that i ain't getting allot already just thank you to)

Re: Brand New Team
 

Read the rules. Then read them again. All of them, from the game to the robot to the tournament. Knowing the rules inside and out is hugely important. Trust me on this.

Wetzel

Re: Brand New Team
 

Like it's been said, read the manual. All of it. Make several copies and put them into binders so that your team has access to them. Read the updates, which are released throughout the week and posted to the FIRST website. Update your manual binders with the Updates. Read the Q&A forums. If you want official answers, post the questions to the Q&A (AFTER reading through them to see if someone else has already asked), not here on CD. Our answers may be great, but they are unofficial.

Re: Some Help Guys
 

This creates 2 penalties. I'm sure you can find them when you read the rules.

Depends on how you move them. Might be 1, might be 4.

How hard do they hit!
 

SO yeah i check the rules your bot should at all times only and only be influencing one track ball.


My team has come up with an idea but we are still starting our chaise [*sighs man we are way behind schedule] but we came up with a perfect design and the only problem is that the mechanism that we we taught of to put on top of the robot to pick up the track balls is slightly breakable. and i just wanted to know how nasty do these competitions get i mean like to the robot get really dinged up or do they like just some what mess up.

Basically i just wanted to know how nasty do the competitions get and will there bee a really good chance that my mechanism might break when i play the game? is there a good chance we might tip over? do teams play dirty? if so which ones?

Thank you for all the helps guys.:D

Re: Brand New Team
 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_grammar
Trust me mate, this will help you more than anything else.

Re: How hard do they hit!
 

I'm not sure where you thought you saw that rule. You might look again.

Well, if I can decipher your prose, I would suggest you avoid "slightly breakable" anything. Go for robustness! Look for some videos of previous years - The Blue Alliance site probably has some. There's lots of bumping and banging out there.

Re: Brand New Team
 

The short answer is that I have never seen a team play dirty, ever.

On the other hand, if it's likely to break, it probably will. If you can't make it more durable (especially keeping it all under weight), then just be prepared to repair it. And, if it does break and you need help repairing it, you need to know that (literally) every team at the competition will be willing and able to help you do that, if you ask. Sounds crazy, I know, but it's the fact.

Now that we're at the start of week 3, make sure you have a rolling platform that your drivers can practice with, and at the very worst you can go on to the field with. That means you have 4 weeks to build the rest, work hard but don't sweat (yet).

Make sure someone's building a crate!

Don

Re: How hard do they hit!
 

The teams are trained, by far and large, to play with Gracious Professionalism. That means that they are strong competitors on the field, and within their alliance, they will work hard to defeat the opposing alliance. It also means that off the field if any team needs help or assistance, they will help, lending tools, parts, assistance/suggestions from engineers, and sometimes even drivers. Everyone works together to make the competition as tough and fun as it can be.

If your robot breaks due to lack of robustness, it will be a learning curve for your team. You will not leave the 2008 season the same team as you entered it. Learn the rules, understand the rules, implement the rules. Referees will be there during all of the matches with a head referee as well. There will be a coaches/drivers meeting before the competitions start, making sure everyone has the opportunity to be on the same page and clear on the expectations and rules regarding the game.

Build tough and come to play.

Re: Brand New Team
 

ACTUALLY WERE TEAM 2596 NOT 69

Re: How hard do they hit!
 

Hmmm ... how nasty does things get. There are 2 answers to that.

1st on the field: The teams will use all of the abilities they have built into their robot to win, to do less would show dishonor to your opponent. That means that your partners will work with your robot to maximize the alliances score ... so will your opponents. No one will purposely break your robot, but the compitition can get a bit rough, so build things robust.

2nd off the field: All teams, and I do mean all teams, will help you if something breaks. The veteran teams will be looking to help fix broken and less apt robots perform better. If you need help, don't hesitate to ask ... we're all there for you. Outside the field of competition, we are all 1 team.

Good luck and have fun at the regional.

Re: Brand New Team
 

LOL HES RIGHT GO ON ENGLISH GRAMMAR