Plans are progressing for the creation of a 2014 FIRST Design book. While still preliminary, I wanted to share the news that progress is being made on this project such that teams that desire to be profiled can begin to collect images of the design process. More explicit details on the book and the associated team submission process will be shared as they develop, but this note provides a starting point for teams to begin archiving information for possible publication submission.
It is proposed that 30 teams be profiled in the 2014 book (in a manner similar to the previous books). While the previous book centered on FIRST award winners (in the design categories), this year’s book is projected to profile 5 teams in each of the following categories:
1. Computer aided design, simulation and analysis
2. Innovative design using traditional manufacturing methods
3. 3-D printing applications
4. CNC controlled machining (mills and lathes)
5. CNC cutting systems (water jet, laser cutters, plasma cutters, …)
6. Sensors, monitoring and control applications
In addition, the chapters will be separated by vignettes that show the impact of FIRST on its members and supporters.
At this point, teams are urged to collect images of their design, fabrication and testing process, as well as notes on their work. The images (which can include hand sketches, CAD models, machining processes, fabricated parts, installed assemblies and the completed robot) should be taken mindful of their publication use. For example, a part should be photographed against a white background. The same part, ideally in the same orientation, could be photographed while being machined and portrayed as a CAD drawing. Finally, the part as installed on the robot can be photographed while mindful of focusing on the part and avoiding background clutter. Some examples of high quality images that would work well in the book are
presented for reference.
Teams want to collect clear, high quality images (and the associated text record of their work) to tell a story of their design. One example of an overall design-story was created as a video three years ago. The
section of this video that details the design of Team 111’s arm was created from content (text and images) submitted for the 2007 FIRST Robots Rack and Roll book.
Hopefully this update provides insight into the project and identifies the types of materials that teams can be thinking about collecting. More will follow as the publication plans firm up over the next two weeks.