04-06-2010 12:02 AM

JVN

Re: paper: JVN's 2010 Build Journal

Hi Everyone,
This year I tried something new...
Every day during the season (from kickoff until ship day) I put some entry about the day on my Facebook wall. Many of these entries were somewhat vague so as not to give away what 148 was working on. However, these daily "touch-stones" helped me later create a detailed log of our build season.

I wasn't sure exactly what I would do with this. After seeing the interest in "the 148 process" I figured this would be an interesting way to showcase the way we went about building Armadillo.

Enjoy,
John

04-06-2010 12:22 AM

Chuck Glick

Re: paper: JVN's 2010 Build Journal

John,

Thank you for posting this in-depth look into the way a true FIRST powerhouse runs. Hands down the best white-paper I have read in a while and will truly change the way I will think and go about all my design work for years to come. A true inspiration and deserves the biggest of thank yous. Congrats to both 148 and 217 on a great collaboration and showing the FIRST world what is possible when engineers and students work together. This is what FIRST is all about.

-Chuck

04-06-2010 12:32 AM

commodoredl

Re: paper: JVN's 2010 Build Journal

John- thank you for this incredible resource. This is like the Holy Grail of build season insight, and I will use this as a guide for my own teams' build seasons for years to come.
How long was your kickoff meeting this year? My team didn't seem to fit nearly as much in on the first day as 148 did.

04-06-2010 12:49 AM

s_forbes

Re: paper: JVN's 2010 Build Journal

Fantastic glimpse at the amount of time and effort goes into your bots. It's truly mind-boggling how much you guys manage to accomplish in six weeks!

This paper was a great read that I'll probably be checking out plenty of times in the future. You know, if you didn't spend so much time making amazing robots you could write a book about the amazing robots you build.

04-06-2010 12:51 AM

JVN

Re: paper: JVN's 2010 Build Journal

8:30AM until 5PM.

This might be our longest "scheduled" meeting of the season.
(We work late some nights in the build, but they are scheduled to end much earlier.)

04-06-2010 01:22 AM

Dillon Carey

Re: paper: JVN's 2010 Build Journal

Thanks for the insight on how your team runs and makes decisions. How much you get done in the amount of time you meet is incredible, I wish our team could was productive enough to have two full robots. Especially while being able to have some days off.

04-06-2010 08:29 AM

thefro526

Re: paper: JVN's 2010 Build Journal

Wow, that's an awesome read.

Thank you so much for posting this up. I'm sure it'll help a lot of teams in the future.

04-06-2010 11:07 AM

RMS11

Re: paper: JVN's 2010 Build Journal

Probably the most useful and helpful thing I have read on CD in a long time. I only wish I had this before last build season. I will definitely be going back to it next year around kickoff. Thanks so much, hopefully I will be able to come by your presentation at championships.

04-06-2010 03:53 PM

JesseK

Re: paper: JVN's 2010 Build Journal

I read this paper today and am finally relieved that I wasn't the only build lead who went through the internal struggles of having to repeatedly prove the same design, waffling in week 4/5, or wondering if we made the right decision to abandon hanging in week 1.

Thanks so much John for showing us how a successful team does it their own way in detail. Very few teams will be able to adopt your team's specific process (2-day turnaround??) but every team in FRC stands to gain insight and improvement on one level or another. Congrats on such a successful season 148/217!

04-06-2010 04:54 PM

Jacob Paikoff

Re: paper: JVN's 2010 Build Journal

John,

Great Journal, it was nice to compare the design process of a team that I consider one of the best in FIRST with my own teams process. On top of that it gives me a great place to start as become a mentor next year.

04-06-2010 04:58 PM

Starke

Re: paper: JVN's 2010 Build Journal

John,

Thank you for your build journal! It is an honor to see how your team operates for an entire build season. I will be using these ideas as I transition (hopefully) into being a Technology Teacher full time in the fall. Thanks again!

04-06-2010 05:12 PM

Chris is me

Re: paper: JVN's 2010 Build Journal

Thanks! I learned a lot reading this about how your team operates. I hope to do my best to adapt and emulate it.

I need to remember to keep one of these next year... I've been meaning to since I started FRC.

04-06-2010 05:24 PM

Aren_Hill

Re: paper: JVN's 2010 Build Journal

No days off

04-06-2010 05:54 PM

Jeffy

Re: paper: JVN's 2010 Build Journal

This is really nice! Thanks alot.
Imediately I notice the "WHAT not HOW". I love that, I've been preaching this to our team for two years now.

04-08-2010 08:46 AM

ajlapp

Re: paper: JVN's 2010 Build Journal

Great read!

It's interesting to see exactly how other teams walk the path of robot design.

I can now rest at night knowing that there is no magic or sorcery involved in the 148 design process, just plain old engineering prowess and ingenuity.

04-08-2010 12:35 PM

Akash Rastogi

Re: paper: JVN's 2010 Build Journal

Just finished reading this word for word.

I had to take a second to pick my jaw up from my desk while ogling the CAD work that your and 217's design team did. Amazing stuff there. I can see how these kids are getting the most out of the FIRST experience working with mentors like you and Copioli.

Thank you for sharing, now I finally understand some of those frantic and panicked sounding facebook status updates, haha.

01-05-2011 10:44 PM

Sciwizrd

Re: paper: JVN's 2010 Build Journal

John,

Thank you for sharing your Build Journal. I just finished it. What an amazing read & process.

Robin