Who does the programming for your team?

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Originally Posted by AtalanteStar25

That has always been one of my major concerns with having a large group programming. There is only so much to do and, while you can delegate tasks, sometimes there just isn't enough to go around.

This year, we had around 5 or 6 kids sign up for programming. We have been teaching them some basic stuff and we're hoping that we'll have a few good kids to help us out this year. For now, the other programmer (Calhounian) and I are going to probably be the only ones dealing with the CMU Cam and delegating the other things, such as autonomous and encoders and such to the new guys (with our help and guidance, of course).

We're hoping it works out.

Why limit to the RC?

Build a co-processor. Create a linux distribution for robotics. Write a dashboard. Write a driver for an LCD screen. Make a new driver feedback system. Use an inertial navigation system. Start a CVS. Make your robot talk to you. Play pac-man.

[Scott Shaw 237]

Originally Posted by Mike

237 had one self-taught programmer (me) in 2005 and 2006.

2007 we have me again and another self-taught freshman.

Actually to be 100% correct 237 has had a mentor since 2002 who has been helping with the code. While he let the kids do it themselves, he still over looked it and helped debug it and made sure it was done on time.

[Robo_Coyote]

I was fortunate enough to have a freshman last year sign on that had self taught himself C++ so we are all student programed baby!!!

[Qbranch]

Our robots are totally programmed by students.

For our team, last season we had just myself and one other student, then a couple mentors... but they werent there much.

I have lots of software and hardware programming experience from my job, my partner has taken programming classes, so it works out.

This year we have 4 new people on programming team... none of which know programming...

guess i've got my work cut out for me

-Q

[LightWaves1636]

Originally Posted by EHaskins

I'm curios about other teams programming team.

1. How many teams have students do the programming?
2. What level of programming education do the student have?
3. What level of programming education do the mentors have(if you have programming mentors)

My team has only one student programmer(ME) and no mentors.

Rookie year, our team had two programmers and both were self taught basically. Last season we had five programmers but one attempted, two did actual work, one went into building, and one went into operating our CNC Laser. This year, offically as of now, there are two programmers, one amature(me) and one who believes anything's possible with a laptop. We had two mentors every year who helped us with programming. Except this season, we will only have one mentor because our two mentors have new lives, only the new mentor we're recieving doesn't program in any type of code so, it's just up to Jonathan this year pretty much. Stole him off of team 604, lol, okay, he moved from California to Colorado and was in search of a new FIRST team and we invited him to come join ours.

[Bongle]

1141, 2003 - Just me (as student)
1141, 2004 - Me teaching 1 student - almost entirely student
1281, 2006 - Most drive code done by 3 students, and any touchups at a competition done by me.

[Branden Ghena]

I was unanimously voted head-programmer at a meeting I did not attend, and therefore had no choice in the matter. Besides me, there are two other students (both new at C)trying to learn up on it before the season starts.

[ScottWalls]

I'm curios about other teams programming team.

1. How many teams have students do the programming?
Our team is always purely student programmed.
2. What level of programming education do the student have?
The students usually have whatever training they can muster in the 4 years of being on the team.
3. What level of programming education do the mentors have(if you have programming mentors)
We also have no programming mentors.

My team has only one student programmer(ME) and no mentors.

[EricS-Team180]

On SPAM, we lump together controls hardware and software + the layout and construction of the OI into one sub-team. Programming is one part of that. My goal is to let as many students, as possible, be a part of Software and Controls. I typically have 6-8 students that are interested and 1 or 2 that have had the chance to learn any programming language. I'm an Aerospace Engineer by training with FORTRAN,C and C++ thrown in the mix over the years. I always tell the students, that all they need is a willingness to try. The rest will come with persistence and practice. Last year, I had the luxury of working with a senior (Josh G.) who completely took over the programming and configuration management of the software. It allowed me more time to work with the students that had no experience. Now this year I'm counting on them.

[DotCom]

1. How many teams have students do the programming?
There's just me and another girl who's new to C. We used to have one more, but she left the school near the end of build season last year. =(

2. What level of programming education do the student have?
Err...just enough to get by.

3. What level of programming education do the mentors have(if you have programming mentors)
We have one programming mentor. He knows more than us, but he's not exactly a C guru...though, rumor has it that we may get some new mentors with the sudden influx of new members joining this year. Yay!