Quote:
Originally Posted by dcarr
This sounds a lot like what the Robodox (599) do at the Los Angeles regional (perhaps San Diego too). Maybe ping them to learn how they run their operations. A huge help to teams.
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This year was actually the Robodox FIRST Aid Station's(RFAS) tenth anniversary! As I do not work too much with the RFAS, take my comments on it with a grain of salt because I don't know if any of my teammates are active on the forums.
We try to run the RFAS at every event we attend, and informally run it when we are not able to formally run it. The RFAS has two major aspects to it: the "table" and the runners. At the "table" we have one or two people with a computer and printer. Teams are directed to the "table" when they are seeking a part or require any kind of assistance. From the table, we log their request and send a runner to our own pit to look for the tool or part. If we do not have it, the runner goes to a well stocked pit to ask around. If the part still isn't found, the runner will go pit to pit until they find the part. The transaction is logged in the computer once the part is found and handed off to the team. They return the part or tool to the "table" when they are finished where it is marked for return and returned to our team or another team as soon as possible. For basic operation, 4 team members are required, 2 for the "table" and 2 to act as runners. However, when a team requests someone with a specific skillset e.g. programmer, electronic technician, and so forth, we grab someone from the pit to go help the team (I've personally programmed around 8 robots, including one in labview and one in java, both of which I have no experience in). If our pit doesn't have the skillset (java or labview programmer, for instance), we go to another pit that we know has a person of that skill.
However, our biggest influence is often found on the practice day. LA and SD have become saturated with new and newish teams over the past couple years (good thing) who often require a bit of help passing inspection. Team members go to other pits all day long to help and make sure that the other teams pass inspection. In addition to seeing a 'Dox in many pits throughout the day, we usually have a few members and our coach stay late (around 9 at night) to help the final few pass inspection and get on the field.
For our team, it really helps that people start to learn outside of their subsystem and have more than one skillset. Personally, I have found it necessary to learn electronics and pneumatics in addition to programming just so that I can help wherever I can when the time comes.
For the future, we are planning to "franchise" the RFAS in a way so that it can be present at every Southern California regional, and later every California regional because it is extremely helpful to teams. Also, the RFAS has happened to contribute to our award winning streak and contribute to us having the most GP awards in FIRST (I'm unsure if this is still true).
If you want any further clarification, feel free to PM me and I can get you in contact with someone more closely associated with the RFAS.