Kickoff day

[GeeTwo]

Here is our current draft of kickoff day events (we're in the U.S. central time zone). We're calling kickoff "Saturday 0". We're starting weeks on Sunday, so the next day is "Sunday 1".

Kickoff Day 2016 Schedule (9 Jan 2016, all times CST)
0830 - 0900: Continental Breakfast (Pastry/Donuts, Fruit, Coffee, Milk, Juice)
0900 - 0930: Gathering/Welcome/Organization

• Welcome, admin, & ground rules
• Review Agenda
• Collect e-mail addresses for “proceedings” mailing (esp. non-3946 members)
• If time remains, review game teaser, hints, standards, and such revealed so far.

0930 - 1030: Kickoff Video
1030 - 1130 Set up phase (Main bullets are simultaneous; sub bullets are sequential)

• Printing of Rules (~10 sets)
• Group of mentors begins getting parts and constructing field elements
• Main Group of students:
  • First Impressions
  • Initial list of Robot Tasks (pick up game piece, score game piece, climb, etc)
  • Brainstorm game strategies (one group or a few large groups)

1130 – 1200 Tweak list of rules sub-groups and assign members to these groups – initial list follows:

• Scoring: list/analyze all scoring, including penalties
• Field : e.g. obstructions, key dimensions, possible game flows
• Robot dimensions: e.g. Time varying? Relative to game pieces & field elements?
• Robot details: bumpers & “new” controls/construction rules
• Game Pieces & goals: how hard to pick up, throw, catch, score, whatever
• Non-game piece/auto/end game scoring activities
• Defense: defensive actions and limitations such as protective zones, time limits

1130 - 1230 CST: Lunch
1230 - 1400: Students break into groups, review assigned rules, prepare outbrief
1400 - 1500: Outbriefs from rule review groups (~5 minutes each group + questions)
1500 - 1600: Brainstorm additional strategies and top-level robot designs (one group or a few large groups)

We then plan to go home as a team. After a suitable break for dinner, key mentors and student leaders will meet to begin working on grand strategy (that is, tournament structure) and estimating the value of different functions based on scoring potential about 1800 or 1900 on Saturday 0.
On Monday 1, we shall accept additional robot concepts, then select a limited number of drive trains and robot concepts for further development. (Though anyone who really wants to promote a certain concept may volunteer at this point even if the team as a whole thinks it's not viable.) Tuesday 1's meeting shall be to do quick prototypes and for design groups to get together and develop their plans. At the Thursday 1 meeting, we will get down to one or two design concepts (by consensus, not vote). Preferably both of these concepts will have the same drive platform. Serious parts orders shall begin on Thursday 1 after the meeting. Saturday 1 shall be the first real "build" day, based on the two AM-14U2's and other parts we have on hand or can get from local hardware stores.