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What makes a "Powerhouse"?
"A prize fight is like a war; the real part is won or lost somewhere far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights." Mohammad Ali
This is a quote from Ali, and it is relevant to just about every activity we can take part in. The point Ali was trying to make was that it is the preparation that determines who comes out on top, that he did not win in the ring, he won in the days and weeks and months leading up to the fight. FIRST Teams are the same way. There are many threads about the good teams, great teams, "powerhouse teams", and most of it centers on what they do during a 2 minute and 15 second match. I believe their performance is really driven by how they work during the build season, during the weeks of competition, and during the 8 months of the "off-season". There are also threads about "haves" and "have-nots". But if you look at the list below, you will see that many of these defining activities don't take a lot of money, they don't take a huge corporate sponsor or a fancy machine shop. But they do take time and commitment and dedication in the weeks and months leading up to March. And they do this year after year after year. From watching and learning, both in FIRST and in "real life", here are some things that I believe the top teams do and things that any team can implement to help them improve - Off-Season (This is a time to learn from the previous season, to learn new skills, to design something unique, to recruit, to get sponsors, to work in the community.) * Learn to use a CAD program - Inventor is included free to all teams and there are loads of tutorials. * Practice driving an obstacle course * Design and make something that might be of use in the next season (a pick up arm, a new style drive) * Learn a new manufacturing skill - welding, mill, lathe * Go to an off season event and compete (Many are under $250) * Go to an off season event and volunteer * Do some community out-reach * Play with VEX or LEGO parts and make a prototype of something that could be used later * Do a "lessons learned" on the previous season and write down what you did well, what could be better, and what you did not do. * Shadow a "top" team and see how they work * Celebrate, have fun, relax and become a team. * Find new sponsors * Talk to mentors of who you consider to be a “top” team. Most, if not all, of them will treat you like you were their own student and help you with what you ask. * Go back and study the physics of your robot. This will help you learn what’s important for next year. Build-Season (Don't build anything on the robot the first week. Focus on the game, how to play, ideas, prototypes, models, etc.) * Brainstorm ideas * Understand the keys to the game, challenge each other * Don't assume anything. Read the rules. Understand the rules. Ask Q+A. * Prototype, sketch, make computer models, play with ideas * Make a priority list of the critical components and work on them first * Talk to others, read CD, continue to get ideas and be willing to adapt * Practice, Practice, Practice - get something that the drivers can play with on a simulated field * Focus on the details – it can be small, simple things that make the difference on the field, in the pits and in the stands. * Don't worry about something being "mentor-done" or "student-done", focus on it being "team-done" Competition-Season (Continuous improvement and refinement of the robot, the strategy, the team) * Continue to watch others and learn * Continuous Improvement - adjust, modify, adapt, replace (If the robot you have in June looks identical to the one you put in the crate on ship day in February, either you are brilliant, or you ignore the concept of continuous improvement) * Review every match, every day, every competition - what could be better, what was great * Make a plan / Assign roles * Expect everyone to contribute and do their best to support the team in whatever their role is * Celebrate every success NOTE: I thnk these principles can apply to every aspect of a team. |
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Awesome,
Just one question, what is an off season? :yikes: Been doing this for four years now. I thought I was getting into a season that lasted a couple of months. Now Irealize that it is a 12 month job that I love. We do many of the things you suggest but you have taught me more. Thanks |
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I agree greatly with this this thread, and in an attempt to make it better, I pose this:
I'm going to say that most teams that call themselves the "have nots" lack the drive, will and spirit to actually do something about their situation. What brings many teams to their feet and possible disbandment is the complete disregard for what you posted above, especially on the point of finding new sponsors. But like I said, it's not a problem of "can you do it", it's a problem of "Do you want to do it" and you will find that many teams just don't want to do it. What then is the cure? You can spend all day talking about how important these things are but it's not going to change anyone's mind, or will change their mind and in a few weeks they'll forget it. And trying to point out the teams who have everything and how they got to their "powerhouse" status is only going to make them even less inclined. But what's more interesting is when you find out that there are plenty of teams that don't do well each year, that don't have nearly enough resources, but still find a way to show up each season ready to go. I found those teams to be the teams more interested in FIRST as a whole and extracurricular activity rather then for the 1st place trophy. It is all mentality and how students think about FIRST and what it stands for. Good news is, this can be taught (I am said example) but it can only be taught to those who are willing. A team can be built of no one but those who don't want to listen and it will fail. Do we even want that kind of team in FIRST and should we be thankful they can't exist? So what is the cure to empower teams the right way? |
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Thanks, Chris.
One of the really great things about FIRST is how the "Powerhouse" teams inspire excellence through all of FIRST. Those teams are so successful because they set the bar very high and still continue to look for improvements. Those teams want others to reach new levels of success as well. Instead of despising those teams, they should be looked as examples of how to do things better. Very few teams can match all of the capabilities or resources of the top tier of FRC teams, but there are plenty of things in Chris' list that can dramatically improve even the most constrained teams. BTW, if you've never been to IRI, your missing a terrific opportunity to observe and learn from some of the best teams in FIRST at the top of their game. That event has been a source of inspiration for our team for years. |
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I feel like you forgot one of the important things that everyone one seems to forget.
HAVE FUN: Knowing when to relax and walk away/take a break to prevent burn out and overly stressing your team members is very important. I think you'll find a lot of top teams have a game night, play dodge ball, and have team dinners or other non-working get togethers to keep everyone fresh and reuvenated and remind them of the other important part of the program. At the end of build we always take a week off and do no robot related things for a week as a cool down. Also the mentors usually have what we call the widows and orphans breakfast where our spouses, signifcant others, and children all go out to breakfast with us at the end of build. |
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This is something that many teams forget to do, especially at the Championships. Teams have to plan for fun, just like they are planning to be excellent. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!" Andy |
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Quality, depth, and continuity on the mentor bench - both technically and administratively.
If you want a successful program: - You can't start over from scratch every season. - You can't have zero funds on hand when registration opens. - You can't expect an administrator to lead the design/build process. - You can't expect the chief engineer to schedule all the snacks, reserve hotel rooms, coordinate drivers, make buttons/peer gifts, manage the budget, etc. (there is more to this program than just building a robot!) - You can't expect one or two technical mentors to keep a large group of students productive, engaged, and learning during build. - You can't burn people out - You must train new people (students and mentors). - You must learn from your mistakes and build on your successes. A perennial powerhouse makes sure every member of the team (student and mentor) is doing well at what they do best. There will always be a lot of personnel turnover. The key is making sure that there is always a critical mass in place to integrate new blood into the organization. Oh, yeah. And if people are not having fun, they won't be back next year. |
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Greatest thread of 2010?
Yes, I think so. Thank you Chris. |
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Love the thread, its a great idea. I have worked with a few teams over the years and I have a couple points that I always try to abide by:
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Because we lost our workspace the day before kickoff, the first pieces of competition robot were not fabricated until the start of week 3. Thank goodness for the 65 lb allowance -we used 90% of that for the Arizona Regional. |
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In 2005 team 330 did not start cutting metal until week 4. This year we started earlier, but that was because we had lots of welding, which can be a bottleneck. It is much easier to build a robot when you know what is going to look like before you start.
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I. LOVE. THIS. THREAD!!!!!!
ive been looking for something like this for a couple of hours now. the funny part is ive been skiming past this thread for a couple af days now and i the title didnt catch my attention. glad i finally decided to take a look though :D |
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I agree, this thread is an awesome resource. We've already started working on a few of the activities mentioned in the original post.
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The offseason is also a great time to work on things such as chairmans outreach or an offseason project. Just like it was stated earlier, the offseason is a perfect time for your team to get together. We are all involved with robotics because it's something that we enjoy, so enjoy it but spend some time with your team that doesn't include standing them up for the robot. The best teams are the ones that work as a team and have fun.
Studying the game and waiting before you start build is a good thing, but be very careful of how long you wait. Build season flies by and things are going to happen that cause you to lose time. It is very easy to get much further behind than you had planned so just remember to plan and work efficiently. |
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I can't claim to be from a powerhouse team (but we were very lucky this year), but we're working on it. How? Well, not with fancy CNC machinery and gobs of cash. More like hard work and stick-to-it-iveness. ANY team can be a powerhouse. It is not the budget or facility that defines this, it is the ingenuity and drive of the team. Sometimes we hear members of other teams say things like "sure, if we had xxxx we could build a good robot too" - but that's not true. A poor design, perfectly executed, is still junk. A great design, built with hacksaws and hand drills, will always perform well. |
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What makes a 'powerhouse' team you ask? Strong relationships. From professional relationships with teams and businesses, mentors and students, and teams with teams, to endless friendships made amongst the students, FIRST is unique in the sincere and fierce relationships it allows everyone to make throughout the season. Our team won Granite State Regional this year, but it wasn't just about the robot. Everyone there had an excellent robot, what made us win was the three teams (thank you 1519 and 1058, you were both wonderful picks for us!) became friends so the drive teams just simply worked so well together! Nothing was fake at all, we're all still friends and picked each other at every off-season we went to, even in the mentor matches. Keep your friends close really applies, especially with how FIRST has instilled in us all the ethics of 'Gracious Professionalism'. I'll never forget this year not because of the multiple wins or awards or amazing robot we had, but rather because of the FUN and friends I've made throughout the year. So, you want a 'powerhouse', successful team? Build strong relationships with sponsors, your community, within your team, and with other teams!!!
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An excellent guide. It doesn't just focus on the mechancial aspect of things, but on the importance of team unity, design and planning, and knowledge of the rules and of your own robot. Covers everything I could possibly think of and more.
If there were more than 5 starts I could give this thread, I would. Thank you for posting this! I will most definately be sharing this with my team. |
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The most famous of these is IRI which is an invitational held in Indianapolis in July and is actually an exception to the rule for most off seasons as it is larger than any regional. This year it had 78 teams and would have had 81 teams if it weren't for some teams dropping out. Most off seasons usually have around 24 to 36 teams in them and they are not quite as intense as an official FIRST event (again IRI being an exception). |
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powerhouse teams seem to have the robot complete between 1 and 2 weeks early, to allow room for programing, autonomous mode, and driver training. This is attributed to dedication and planning but I think that it is important to note that some teams do not build until the last minute.
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Besides, the powerhouse teams have awesome programmers. They only need a day of programming. Two is being generous... :p |
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This is an amazing thread. Such brilliance and true understanding is shown here that other people fail to see.
Chris, you have opened my eyes (and I am sure many others) to the wonder and brilliance of the, "Powerhouse," teams. I have personally talked to many of these teams, and the main difference between them and us is the exercises they do during the less important time of the season. They are constantly prototyping, learning, and doing things that make their team better each and every year. Thank you very much for creating this thread. It is because of things like this that makes you the perfect person to win the Woody Flowers award. :) |
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Don't be in a rush to build a robot until you know what robot it is you need to build. EDIT - My error in reading the post - I missed the "early". |
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Awesome read Chris. May I also have a sticky to give inspiration to the teams here in Pittsburgh?
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Still, the other points made in this thread are valid - don't build until you know what you are building. |
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Plenty of powerhouses aren't done early. Numerous perennial Einstein competitors have traditionally had slow first goings (71, 233, and 177 have had their share), but they never cease improving.
I also want to underscore that while it is important not to start cutting metal until you know what you want to build, there comes a time when (as JVN puts it) you have to shoot the engineer and just build the thing. (Hopefully nobody takes that literally ::safety:: ). In my experience, it is important to be realistic about when this must occur for your team's manufacturing situation. Remember when you read JVN's build journal that 148 has an amazing resource in IFI's sheet metal shop - they can have precision-made parts available the day after drawing them. Most teams do not share this luxury. Necessarily, there might be times where you really must start building even if you don't know *exactly* what manipulator X is going to look like. Just build what you know won't change, leave room for the things that might change, and KEEP PROTOTYPING (in parallel to build) until you arrive at the solution that meets your specifications. |
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I would also add to Jared's wisdom, that sometimes when you build "exactly" what you want, it does not work exactly like the prototype, so have an alternative idea. Always have a robust "Plan B", in case things don't work out and never give up. (Building a 'push-bot" is not a sufficient alternative plan)
Now all we have to do is start taking our own advice in 2011. ;) |
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(Hopefully nobody takes that literally ).
Shooting the engineer, is too good, we prefer slow and excruciating torture. Take away his laptop. hehe |
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So I thought about being a jokester and look up the definition for Powerhouse, but I actually REALLY like the definition I got from Dictionary.com
a person, group, team, or the like, having great energy, strength, or potential for success. The best part is that it says 'potential for success', rather then 'is successful'. Powerhouse doesn't necessarly mean you are going to win - it's more about the potential to be successful. |
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What is success? Is success a state of being? Is success the antithesis of failure? Is success a destination? Can one ever be successful; can anyone reach success? Is success perfection? One can always perform better; humans can't reach perfection. Success is a journey, not a destination. A successful team is not always the champion. There is something called a head fake, which I learned from Randy Pausch's lecture. When one participates in this competition he does not only learn how to build a robot. He learns how to work as a team, how to manage time wisely and reach deadlines, and how to apply what has been learned in the classroom into real life. I believe that the successful teams are the ones who are able to apply those skills later in life. This part of life is just a small leg of the journey.
Edit: A powerhouse team is a team with passion. I have noticed from previous experiences that the team who wants it more gets it. We were undefeated in our league last year, lost to a team that we should have beaten and did not get the championship. This past season, we beat a team we were unfavored to win against. They had 16 straight wins, undefeated, and we obliterated them 35 to 14. It is attitude that is the difference between A+ and a F. |
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how many members do you need to become powerhouse ? i think it depnds on sponsors, and on number of members and mentor. we have 4 students, and 1 mentor. and
build season is during exam. i think powerhouse is more like efficiency for FIRST. just my two cents.. |
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I agree. My team hasn't had over 7 active members in the last three years. We start the off-season will almost thirty, but somehow they loose interest and we end up with a tiny but efficient team.
Any specific suggestions for keeping them hooked till build-season? |
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Number of students involved does not make a powerhouse. I don't think 330 has had more than about 10 since 2003, and more than 15 since 2002.
In that timespan, we've won a lot of events, including 2 IRIs, 2 Championship Divisions (and one Championship), and a number of regionals. Not to mention being finalists/in the eliminations as a high pick (or picker) quite a bit. A "powerhouse" is a team that is expected to do well, or has the capacity to do well on a moments' notice. A team that can take advantage of an opponent's mistake and score a lot of points. A team that is always performing at a high level, regardless of number of members and budget. A team that is never satisfied with what they're doing and always looking to improve. That is what makes a powerhouse team. Not budget. Not number of members. Not availability of sponsors and materials. It's the attitude and drive of a team that make them a powerhouse. |
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You can always try this: You have 30 students to start a season. Start with an offseason project. I don't think you guys have a T-shirt shooter yet, so that might be a good start. It'll get some interest, and teach newer members the basics of building a robot. It'll also weed out the team members that don't want to do that sort of thing--they can try other aspects (fundraising, for example). My personal guess is that you'll probably end up with about 15 "robot" students and 5 "non-robot" students who still have some idea of what's going on. Then transition to the main robot with whoever's still around. Oh, and the food at meetings should work, too. |
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Hmmmm. Both the off-season FRC events and the off-season project sound like excellent ideas.
Do inner-team robotic competitions work out well? The FRC team is split into 2-4 smaller teams. Each team then has to build a robot to compete in a mock challenge against the others. |
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Shaker didn't do offseason events this fall and we didn't have nearly the level of engaged students everyone was used to.
Get them to competition early and they'll be hooked. |
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Powerhouses, in general, are teams that have students that are committed to spending countless hours on something until it is where they want it. These students never give up on themselves and they are always trying to learn something new. Also, students, like myself, that are so passionate and show leadership have a great influence around them. They bring up everyone to a level that surpasses what any lone individual could attain themselves.
In no way is my team a powerhouse but we're striving to compete among the top competitors and in my opinion that's a start. |
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As long as your work ethic towards betterment is there, I believe any team can become a powerhouse. Teams who I have watched within the last 3 years do these things: 973, 1323, 816, 2791, 1771 just to name a few have been constantly improving themselves. It is also why I love Adam Heard's slogan "Outwork Us" Its very inspiring when you see a team never quit and keep increasing their inputs and outputs. |
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To add to that Stogi, I have heard a similar quote from my coaches and life coaches in football and it should add to the same premise here. Here's my spin on it.
Ordinary people rarely make a difference when it comes down to something. It's the people who strive to do something unordinary and never settle with the fact that something is perfect until it is. |
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Team 11 did this over the summer. http://www.pumpkinsling.com/ And it has had a very obvious impact on their 2011 craftsmanship, design abilities, and teamwork from what I have seen so far from the design team. |
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