HELP! Rookie team up the creek w/o a paddle

[andy]

Hey I just got back from the first (unannounced) meeting w/ my team. I kinda have mixed feelings. well let me set the stage:

I got there at around noon and some kids had been there since 9
there were pieces of the kit EVERY WHERE !!! VERY BAD!!! We are missing all sorts of stuff.

Well we got some extras like we got 9 30 A breakers but no 40 A breakers among other things BUT we are missing HUGE amounts of our pnumatics and the sensors! don't even get me started... We were very paniced for a little while bec. we couldn't find one of the drill motors!! And than I got worse one of the freshman got there early and COMPLETELY dissassembled the drill motor transmission!!! There were gears every where!!! Scary.

Well I left the electrical guys (3) taking an inventory and I took the mechanical guys (3 myself included) to go on a treasure hunt for tools. We found two CNC lathes (small though/ one ran programs on a microcassete) And one monster wood? lathe. Three drill presses three bandsaws one CNC metal mill 4 grinders a buffer two sanders three jigsaws two bending brakes!!!
(that list was longer than I intended)
But it wosent like the tools were just there we actually had to drag the tools out of a VERY small room. These tools were all nearly twice my age old and probably hadn't been used for a very long time.

the best part was we found about $750 worth of Aluminum which we plan to sell or trade to a machine shop in exchange for their servicecs (welding aluminum keying shafts etc.)

So far so good.

our problem is we are a magnet school and most of the team lives far away from the school. We have about 40-50 interested members but only about 6 that can make it to the meetings. We haven't started on the design.

Though the worst part is probably several freshman have a SERIOUS ego problem ...

well what I am trying to say is we need team leadership and organisation and we need a way to get those members who live far away a way to go to practice. I am kinda frusterated right now (if you can't tell)

And don't even get me started on our funding issues!

Well I gotta go now but dont fret I have more to rant about that I will post later. I NEED YOUR HELP!!! Thanks though...

-Andy

[Johca_Gaorl]

Andy, you sound like you've got your head on straight, just kinda take charge, make sure you have some people backing you up too.

[Katie Reynolds]

Originally posted by andy
Hey I just got back from the first (unannounced) meeting w/ my team. I kinda have mixed feelings. well let me set the stage:

I got there at around noon and some kids had been there since 9
there were pieces of the kit EVERY WHERE !!! VERY BAD!!! We are missing all sorts of stuff.

Well we got some extras like we got 9 30 A breakers but no 40 A breakers among other things BUT we are missing HUGE amounts of our pneumatics and the sensors! don't even get me started... We were very paniced for a little while bec. we couldn't find one of the drill motors!! And than I got worse one of the freshman got there early and COMPLETELY dissassembled the drill motor transmission!!! There were gears every where!!! Scary.

Ok - no one got any 40 amp breakers, yet. FIRST ran into some deadline problem and couldn't' get them out to anyone in time. You will have them, don't worry! A lot of teams are missing pneumatics stuff. You can contact FIRST about these missing parts. You should have gotten the sensors in the mail, with the programs FIRST mailed. If you haven't gotten these things by now, wait a few days and then contact FIRST.

Well I left the electrical guys (3) taking an inventory and I took the mechanical guys (3 myself included) to go on a treasure hunt for tools. We found two CNC lathes (small though/ one ran programs on a microcassete) And one monster wood? lathe. Three drill presses three bandsaws one CNC metal mill 4 grinders a buffer two sanders three jigsaws two bending brakes!!!
(that list was longer than I intended)
But it wosent like the tools were just there we actually had to drag the tools out of a VERY small room. These tools were all nearly twice my age old and probably hadn't been used for a very long time.

If you're short on tools, go to area businesses and ask for donations! A lot of businesses will be willing to donate some spare tools or machines. If you are in need of "simple tools" (screwdrivers, hacksaws, wrenches, wire crimpers, wire strippers, etc.) ask team members to bring them to your meetings. It might not be the most convenient thing in the world, but at least you will have tools!

the best part was we found about $750 worth of Aluminum which we plan to sell or trade to a machine shop in exchange for their servicecs (welding aluminum keying shafts etc.)

So far so good.

Have you asked any machine shops if they would be willing to help you for free? Is there a tech school nearby? Maybe they would be willing to help!

our problem is we are a magnet school and most of the team lives far away from the school. We have about 40-50 interested members but only about 6 that can make it to the meetings. We haven't started on the design.

Our team consists of members from three area high school, pretty close together. The team's theory is - everyone gets to go to regionals. Twenty people will get to go to nationals. If you miss more than one consecutive week, you can still participate on the team but you will not be attending any competitions. Maybe that would give the students a little more motivation to come to the meetings!

Though the worst part is probably several freshman have a SERIOUS ego problem ...

well what I am trying to say is we need team leadership and organisation and we need a way to get those members who live far away a way to go to practice. I am kinda frusterated right now (if you can't tell)

For those members with an ego problem:

Nothing will get done, if people cannot compromise or see another team member's point of view. You are no better than anyone else on the team. The team is only as strong as it's weakest member. Instead of bashing others or thinking higher of them, is there a way you can help them learn? Rather than laugh at them when they make a mistake, teach them the right way to go. Help them understand. Only then can you become a stronger team.

And don't even get me started on our funding issues!

If you are in need of fundraising ideas, check out the Fundraising forum on Chief Delphi! It's full of great ideas!

If there is anything more I can do to help, please feel free to contact me.

- Katie

[mtaman02]

I agree with the others as far as parts are concerned. As an ex-captain of my team i will shed some leadership advice. Katie's right nothing will get done if everyone thinks there better then the other person. This type of thinking will not get the team very far. Just weed them out. The team can only work in one direction.
What u could do is have the meeting during school hours or after this way the interested members are there. or just hold the meetings on a weekend. Fund raising ideas are located in one of the threads on CD.


Positivity leads to Team Efficiency

[andy]

thank you every one for your help.
I started this team so that we could all have some fun and I am prety determined to make sure that we do. We definately have some leadership problems. Not that I think that we need a dictator however we need some one to tell the freshman that has decided to (fill in the blank) not to do it. Basically we need the teacher to designate a leader/s so that the kids follow them/ him/ her.

We are looking for sponsors and there is a GM plant nearby that probably will help. Really we need more people to help w/ the logistics. However everyone seems to be focused on the robot. (good, maybe? bad, maybe?) not on the logistics.

We are fortunate to have most of the basic tools drill press band saw etc. (mostly because thay weigh over 500 lbs each- not exactly portable) however we are lacking most of the basic hand tools. ie. we have no hand drills! or any socket sets! so we may be forced to bring our own tools to school. (posing the issues of theft and transportation many of us still ride the bus!) Now that I think of it we probably need to find portable tools that we can bring to the competition.

I feel alot better after reading your replies. THANK YOU! I was feeling a little distraught.

-Andy

[Pengiun Joe]

You definetly need to have some more organization and leadership. There needs to be a teacher, and some sort of a student team leader. Things need to be firm and people need to know they are part of a TEAM (That means everyone show up at the same time, and no one makes a decision like taking apart the kit without the team). This will be your biggest problem.
GM is an excellent way to get sponsorship, also you can sell advertisements. Some teams will go to area businesses and get, say, a $100 donation and then put the businesses logo on their robot, or their pit are, etc...
Hope that helps...

[asher]

Team 31s old teacher now lives in atlanta, she teaches at one of the public schools there. if your team needs a little kick start PM me, im sure she would be more than willing to give you guys a shove in the right direction.

asher

[evulish]

In the way of big tools, you probably have more than my team (84) has. We build our bot in a wood shop. We have 2 drill presses, 2 band saws, 2 scroll saws, and a disc sander. I think we have also acquired a mill.

From what I recall, handheld drills aren't all that expensive. If they are...some member's father must have one that he'd be willing to lend (or even donate).

If you are REALLY desperate for money...ask the members to donate $20. If you have 50 kids on your team that just donated $20 each, you now have a bit of money to buy tools.

We get our machining/welding done for free. If you search, you can probably find someone too. A good way to find someone is to write an article for your newspaper talking about your team and what you hope to accomplish but you lack some neccisities like a machinist.

Raising money doesn't take too many people. Get a group of 2 kids and 2 adults or something, create a pitch, and go around to local stores and factories. Also, apply for grants through the school.

To keep ego problems down, do what other people said and assign leaders. Create guidelines and rules. Even if it is just for fun, standards need to be set so things can get done. I can imagine the first year for a team must be hard...nobody has any experience so there is really no seniority. Maybe after a little while of research and ideas, you can get an idea who is "better." I don't like using the term better...but it's the easiest word to fit. To form cooperation, you could possibly do drills of some sort...things to keep your team close and be able to kinda depend on each other. Remember stupid games you used to play in gym class where you didn't really compete against each other? Try stupid stuff like that...it works.

Anyways, have fun...and hope to see you at a competition.

[evulish]

Originally posted by andy
Now that I think of it we probably need to find portable tools that we can bring to the competition.

FYI, you don't need to bring every tool imaginable to the competition. Nearly all teams will step up to the plate if you ask for help. I know have borrowed and lent tools...just keep track of them...sometimes teams accidently forget to return them. Some teams will give away spare parts if asked. If you ask nicely enough, you can sometimes get engineers from other teams to assist you Teams really live up to the words 'Gracious Professionalism' I can't really think of ANY sport where a team would help their possible opposition on purpose.

[157#1Driver]

You mentioned CNC miller and lathe. Those are REALLY helpful. If you know how to use them.

[Jeremy Roberts]

Hey Andy,

Wow, it looks like you have your hands full. Our group at Tech will try to help you guys out as much as possible. Our "extra" funding for schools has been spent so we cant help you in that arena right now, but if you IM myself or Anne we will see what we can do to get you on track with tooling and leadership. You should already have Anne's AIM name. Mine is bobfirst132. Dont' worry, we are going to try to make sure all the teams in GA get a solid team this year and most of all have fun.

[Lt. Smidgie]

As far as team organization and leadership goes, I think setting up a system of officers to oversee different aspects of the team would be helpful.

Almost everything on our team is done by the students. What we've done is set up a system of "co-executives/leaders" for different things. So there are two presidents, two treasurers/finance officers, two communications and transportation officers, two P.R. officers and two "Build Masters." This way the work for each of the officers is cut in half, and this way if one off the officers isn't at a meeting, their counterpart will most likely be there to do whatever they need to do. Another thing we do is have people join one of those groups, that way officers can have someone in their group do something like write a thank you letter to a company, write a rough draft press-release, check prices on tools, etc.

We didn't start this system until our second year (this is our third year). But so far it's been working. Instead of having our teacher, or our other two mentors be in charge of making sure that everything gets done, the officers make sure they get done and are who members go to with questions, suggestions, etc.

I think that if you just find a system of team leadership that suites your needs and situation well, you'll be fine. I just suggest that you try to make sure that your officers are not all seniors. This way there is always someone who can take over once your seniors leave.

[Nuts4FIRST]

Andy,

Take a look at this presentation for help. You should put the kit away in a safe place ASAP. Pick an adult take inventory and contact FIRST about missing parts. Missing parts seems to be a major problem. I'm sure they will discuss this in their first team update.

Organize the team to work on a strategy and robot concept first! How will you play the game and what you will need the robot to do. Break into small groups and brainstorm in these areas. Then break open the kit next week. See what you have to work with and decide how you are doing to put parts together to accomplish sub systems (mobile base, arms, etc) that will help play out your strategy.

http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/2003...enge_Mikus.ppt

If you need more help, you can contact me.

- Nuts

[Chris Fultz]

As an adult volunteer, engineer, parent and manager, I am totally impressed with the level of this discussion and the excellent advise and support offered to this team. You are all truly FIRST!

[Stu Bloom]

Hi Andy,

You are obviously very excited about the FIRST opportunity as am I. I am a mechanical engineer at Rolls-Royce in Indianapolis. I worked last year with CyberBlue (234) and I am working with a rookie team across town from them this year (Pike HS - RoboDevils - 1018). I have fallen in love with FIRST and I think my enthusiasm shows whenever I talk to anyone about it. The main teacher/advisor for our team and I spent a little time talking to the owner of a small tool store that recently opened up in our area - I think my excitement rubbed off because when we got done talking they were almost more excited than me - without ever seeing any of the competition or anything else about FIRST. Sunday after returning from Manchester I went to their store with the teacher and some video footage (the animation that I filmed off the big screen) and we walked out of there an hour later with OVER $1,000 WORTH OF HAND TOOLS!! We just asked them if they could possibly take care of our travel tool needs for working in the pits - we now have almost everything we need including power tools, hand tools, portable drill press, carts, dollys ... These guys were GREAT! (MANYY THANKS TO "Just TOOLS" in Indianapolis, IN).

Sorry for getting a bit out of control ... but my point is that if you take this to your local community I think you will be amazed at the response you will get ... This is a GREAT program to help students and that fact is easily realized by anyone who is exposed to it ...

Good luck with your first FIRST season - we'll be at the St. Louis and Chicago regionals ... hope to see your successful robot in competition!

Stu Bloom
Mechanical Engineer - Rolls-Royce Corporation
Pike High School RoboDevils - 1018