What are you guys doing so far to practice.

[fs_2002]

This is just our second year <GO 804!> and i was wondering what all the experiance teams were doing so far to get ready. When we started last year, we had no idea what were doing. I can't say it got much better, but at least our robot moved under its own power <most of the time>. We have a bunch of knobs and only like 3 of us who were on the team last year <woo hoo! go techies!> so, yeah. What do you peeps suggest for us to do to get the newbies ready to go?

[Elgin Clock]

The best thing for newbies is to take them to a post/pre season comp. This year we are going to Bash at The Beach and we try to get newbies to experience a little bit excitement before we push them during the six weeks.

I think that is the best thing for newbies, as much background as to what is going to happen in the next year's competition.

Some thing change from year to year in FIRST, but the excitement and the stress don't! Prepare them for Both!

[Aaron Lussier]

What our team does is provide preseason training in all types of groups ex. Mech, Electrical, Drafting and so forth to get them ready to see what they are intrested in

[Sachiel7]

This year, our team will be hosting our own competition using the prototyping kit we receive this fall. We get to come up with the game and stage it like a miniature competiiton...
Were also holding workshops all this fall to make sure all the new botbuilders know what they're doing...

[evulish]

Our team (84) does a few things to help the newbies. For teamwork, we have team building. I don't really know how to explain it. There are people who help groups work as a team by doing things together. It's kinda an expanded 'fall into somebody's arms' dealy. It helps newbies get to know each other and that stuff. It also helps a bit with sore feelings towards others.

We also go to post-season competitions. This helps get team spirit going, teach newbies how stuff works, and just let the older kids kinda relax (ha).

This year, the engineers tell us that we're going to be working on mock-up drivetrains. We're working on a better transmission... This should help the newbies get the idea of what goes on.

We also take the bot to demo's at local crap. We normally let the Freshman from the past year drive the robot. Drivers in training

[mtaman02]

First I'd like to say Team 522, this is their 3rd year in FIRST all by themselves (not teamed up with another school) and 4th year all together in FIRST. Just a quick run down of the Staten Island HS's involvment in FIRST. 371 debuted as a McKee HS and Curtis HS alliance and after the first rookie year together they decided to split and go on their own. 371 has been in FIRST for a total of 4 years. 1st year with McKee. and the next 3 all by themselves. so Congradualtions guys for making it this far. Second Team 522 this is its 4th year in FIRST 1st year with Curtis HS and the other 3 also by themselves Congrads to u to. 375 this is their 3rd year. Congradulations to all the staten island teams that made it much further then expected.


Team 522 everyyear since the Membership rate goe down every June. We always look forward to September when all the fresh blood arrives. The earlier we catch the students the more years they will be involved. After the new recruitment in the first few months of school. Designs are brougth up for next years game. These designs are made up months in advance to Sept. but we try to get a jump start after Natl's and get designs going let alone new sponsorship / team recruitment. This year we got off to a bit of a slow start. Recruitment is going well but currently we have not spoken to last years sponsors. so basically. all we're doing is getting a team put together. shortly after that when the prototype of the robot design hits the floor we began testing drivers. we test them according to school grades / their ability to handle stress in intense situations / their ability to coordinate with one another let alone the coach / and their ability to folow rules. after the drivers are selected we then wait till jan. to see the new game. after thats unveiled we make modifications if any to the robot prototype we have built (if their even is a prototype). after the robots 100% built and working we then test the drivers again with a real time 2 minute practice session on a fully laid out field in our shop. if they do not meet the requirements that is needed to be in the booth they will be asked to give their spot up to someone else.


What are we doing now?? Currently ?? designing a tranny and building up our team.

[MacZealot]

#%#%#%#% I don't even have a team yet.


Soon, soon, soon. Either I'll create it or join one.

Any teams in the las vegas area need a well skilled person?

[ColleenShaver]

We're heading into our 6th post-season competition in a couple weeks (yay bash at the beach!). we offer students practice time when possible and get them to the competitions and excited about working on the robot (and driving it too). On Wednesday we'll start our weekly practices that will go right through til our first competition in early march. Everyone's welcome to come for a couple hours each week and practice with old robots and find their technique..

We also do 50+ demos per year which is a great chance for new drivers to get behind the sticks and drive the robot.

To prep the team, after we're back from break we'll start up our 'mini-FIRST' competition, hopefully using the same game as the Frontiers FIRST summer camp this year.

Usually we'll also start throwing around design ideas and improving on systems from previous years that we may think we'll want to use this year.

[DaBruteForceGuy]

Well we are going the cart approach to the learning stages. I m setting up with all the freshman an enviroment identical (or close to) the building of the robot in Jan.. We are pushing the engineering stages a little a=harder on the freshman cause we want them to know that having a good design and plan will benifit immensly in the long-run and make for a better outcome. For the buissness section i believ they are doing many fundraisers and scouting out as many sponsors and companies as possible. We are really trying to make the freshies understand the meaning of FIRST and how important it is to have the community involved and "inspire" people.
We are also thoroughly going over last-years game and how the competitions worked last year.

Another great idea for everybody. CLUB DUES, collect them right away, before the newbies that aren't interested stop coming (*wink wink*)

[JVN]

Our team is restructuring from last year, so we are still working on the organizational aspects. With 2 HS and a University the inter-team dynamics are being tweaked...

We are also doing a Fall seminar series in which we teach the new members (and remind the veterans) of a lot of the practical skills they will need when we get to the real season.

We have a mock-FIRSTlike game we are desiging a robot for. We first started this competition as a 2-day lego comp, which then turned into a full size game. This competition is a good way for veterans to brush up on their skills, leaders to grow into their new positions (since we're a college team engineers/leaders are constantly in flux), and it gives newbies a chance to learn what the competiton is all about, while deciding what they are interested in doing. It also provides a good method for team building.

Some of us have also begun developing basic ideas for next semester, when it actually matters...

We're fixing up the old bots too...

All in all we're pretty busy for October...

~JVN
Team Leader
Clarkson University
FIRST Robotics - Team 229

(maybe I'll see some of you at bash later this month)

[RBrandy]

As being the co-leader of the CAD system of the team we are just drawing random things. but now we are starting to actully do some stuff with design and such and hopefully learn how to do things with the machining team like make those parts. as for other stuff i have no clue

[Dave_222]

222 is going on 6 years now used to be teamed with 84. We drive the old robots every monday night and we go to all of the off seson comps that we can. We also have team training in the tech areas Electrical, Mechanical, and Drafting and so on we run the newbs in as many off season comps as possible and we do community stuff. This year we are remote-controling a Jazzy wheel chair for the props of a local Balet group.