Team 1718 Presents: Michigan State Championship Seminar Series

Competition District Events
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Team 1718 Presents! is a seminar series being held at the Michigan State FIRST Robotics Championships. This seminar series was inspired by the presentations that are given at the World Championships. The intent is to make these information packed seminars available to all Michigan teams, rather than the few who advance to championships. There is limited seating for each seminar (50 people).

The FIRST Robotics Michigan State Championship Seminar Series
Thursday, April 11 2013
Eastern Michigan Convocation Center, in the Eagle’s Nest

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Knowing the A’s, B’s, and C++s: C++ programming for FIRST robotics – Omar Zrien, Team 3539
Learn how to use C++ effectively to create a competitive robot.

Omar has been programming mentor on FRC Team 217 (2006-2008) and is the chief software engineer at Cross The Road Electronics.

12:00PM -1:00 PM
Quality Function Deployment, QFD: Using a quality system to build success into your design after kickoff – Ron Weber, Team 3641
QFD will help your team ascertain critical design needs and wants in a measurable manner.

Ron Weber was a cutting tool design engineer for over fifteen years before becoming a high school educator and robotics coach for the Flying Toasters. QFD has been an integral in the success of Team 3641.

1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Know your opponent: Learn how scout FRC competitions – Jim Zondag and Isaac Rife, Team 33
This seminar will explain how to create metrics for scouting and scout effectively at competitions. Pick lists, weighting, and evaluating potential partners will all be included in this seminar.

Jim Zondag is an embedded systems engineer at Chrysler and has competed in the FIRST Robotics competition with the Killer Bees for over a decade.

2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
FIRST Design: Effective mechanical mechanisms for FIRST - Paul Copioli, Team 217
This session will cover the specific calculations and elements of the design process that lead to making appropriately sized mechanisms. Session will focus on real FRC design examples from common drive train, arm, and mechanisms.

Paul has been FRC Team 217 lead engineering mentor since 2000 and has been designing robots since 1997. Paul is currently the President of VEX Robotics.

3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
The Business of FIRST: Fundraising, Sponsorship, and the Chairman’s Award – Michael Graham, Team 1718
This presentation will cover different methods to raise funds, and ways to woo sponsors to invest in your team. In addition, we will cover the Chairman’s Award and how to maintain outreach programs.

Michael Graham is a graduate of Richmond High School, the Macomb Academy of Arts and Sciences (Armada, MI), and is currently studying to be an industrial engineer at Kettering University.

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
One Good Turn Deserves Another – Chris Hibner, Team 51
Learn about the dynamics of turning and how to make sure you have a drivetrain that handles smoothly.

Good Luck at the Michigan State Championship. We hope to see you there!
Team 1718 – The Fighting Pi

2

Tom,

Awesome idea!

Do we need to sign up for them or are they walk-in first come first serve?

Thanks.

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Is there chance these seminars will get recorded for those of us who will be unable to attend? :rolleyes:

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Yes, we plan on recording them.

Adam, I really have no idea how many people will attend this since it’s the first time we’re trying it. So we’re letting people register in advance to guarantee themselves a seat (you can ask for more than one seat).

If you want to guarantee yourself a seat, email how many and which seminar to: tline1 at ford.com

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Great idea!! Thanks for doing this, it is a lot of work to coordinate and for those that are presenting.

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I need 2 characters!

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The Business of FIRST seminar timing has been moved due to a scheduling conflict. The new time is from 11:00 AM to 12:00 pm.

11:00 AM to 12:00 pM
The Business of FIRST: Fundraising, Sponsorship, and the Chairman’s Award – Michael Graham, Team 1718
This presentation will cover different methods to raise funds, and ways to woo sponsors to invest in your team. In addition, we will cover the Chairman’s Award and how to maintain outreach programs.

Michael Graham is a graduate of Richmond High School, the Macomb Academy of Arts and Sciences (Armada, MI), and is currently studying to be an industrial engineer at Kettering University.

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Tom,

Were you able to get the presentations recorded and posted somewhere?

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I am working on editing them and I will start posting the videos sometime this evening

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Got them, thanks!!!

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Tom,

Can you share where the videos are posted?

Thanks,

Norman

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You can view them here.

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I believe this link will lead you there:

Videos and Powerpoints

Unfortunately, my filter at work will no longer allow me to browse our own website because we have twitter and facebook feeds on the front page. Take note future IT folks. There’s a smart way and a not-so-smart way to do web security.

On another note, we will definitely be doing the seminars again this year. We’re in the process of putting together the guest list right now.