This is kind of a free-topic thread. Why do you do what you do on your robotics team?? What motivates you to do what you do - whether it be building the robot, Animation, CAD work, Public Relations, whatever - why do you do that?
I’ll start off by saying that I do Animation. Why do I do animation… hmm… I think it’s a few things. I’m not the greatest with tools and such. Computers, art, anime, anything technological… I’ve been fascinated with all of them since I was little, and I still am.
I don’t think I have ever been able to just do one thing. I need to take portions from everything we can do, and find things that are above and beyond to do. I usually do the things I do, because I can… if I don’t know something (Like Inventor) I spend a few hours looking into it, until I can do everything I need.
I’m the kinda person who does (wants to do) everything, but can never get anything done.
I’m kinda like AJ. I try to do part of everything. I mainly work with all the robot-oriented tasks, like mechanical, electrical, and programming. I do some of our welding, and I’m pretty much the lead guy for electrical, and I’m officially lead programmer, though my “assistant” Neal is really better than me. Of late, I’ve been getting into some things like Inventor and the Chairman’s Award. So, you could say I do a little bit of everything.
I have never been asked why i do what i do. I am the team welder, i took a class at the local community college. It is just where i fit into the team for the season. But now four other team mates are going to take the class and i am going to take it with them so i can guide them a long. That way so next year i won’t be so busy with welding i can learn other stuff about the robot. I am now also the Redondo team captain. (We have two schools combined and i represent Redondo Union High School) I do this stuff because…well first inspired me to become me. I now understand who i am better and what i want to do do. I know that sounds cheesy but it is the truth. I also contribute to the team by doing expeditions, getting Lego leagues, and doing fundraising events. I do all of this because my robotics team has become like a family to me, and we all do our part to contribute to the mission of FIRST.
electronics: I do this because out of the entire team, I know how to wire up the power distribution and control system better than anyone else, even the advisors
programming: only person who actually knows PBASIC
captain: Only member of the team who has done official competition, most dedicatd member of team (robotics = life)
I do everything and anything besides programming, animation, and chairmans. Whether it’s design, machining, assebly, electrical, driving, website, fundraising, you name it, some of it gets done by me. This is mostly because there are few other people willing to step up and do stuff. It’s much easier for me to just do things myself than take the time to get someone else interested and show them how.
I do everything and anything besides programming, animation, and chairmans. Whether it’s design, machining, assebly, electrical, driving, website, fundraising, you name it, some of it gets done by me. This is mostly because there are few other people willing to step up and do stuff. It’s much easier for me to just do things myself than take the time to get someone else interested and show them how.
Well, I entered robotic with absolutly no engineering knowledge whatsoever and I feel it is the job of those who know how to teach those who don’t. After I was taught programming, I immediatly asked if anyone else wanted to learn and passed on my knowledge. To me, that is what FIRST is all about, learning what you like, then teaching it to others.
*Originally posted by nerdcool64 *
**Well, I entered robotic with absolutly no engineering knowledge whatsoever and I feel it is the job of those who know how to teach those who don’t. After I was taught programming, I immediatly asked if anyone else wanted to learn and passed on my knowledge. To me, that is what FIRST is all about, learning what you like, then teaching it to others. **
Oh, you can rest assured that the rookies who work with me have learned a lot too. After all, they will be in my place next year so they have to learn a lot. They all wanted to help so much that my hands often were empty and my eyes in a proud stare. However, during the six weeks the only objective is to get the thing done. All the instructional type learning comes before and after the build. There are some new students that really get into it and make it a priority for themselves to get in there and learn something and there are others who wander around aimlessly looking for things to do. I really wish I could change that but I can’t. The relationship between what you put into the program and what you get out of the program is directly proportional.
I started doing animation because that is how i was introduced into FIRST by my friend. I continue because i love it! I’m the most experianced member on my animation team (only member with 3+ years of experiance), and this year half the animation ended up being only my work. I feel like I owe my team to share the knowledge that I have accumulated, especially since we dont have regular animation mentors. Its also something completely different than im used to. I’ve always been math and science oriented, and animation is something completely different that i can do.
I’m branching out though. I’m most likely doing programming next year because we need programmer, and i know the basics of programing through my programing class (although i don’t know PBasic yet)
I joined the animation team because it fulfilled a lifelong dream of working on an animated movie and the experiencecould be used towards a possible future career.
Well, I tend to focus on drivetrain, and strategy (coaching, planning, etc.)
Drivetrain- because I think its cool! I enjoyed learning about DC Motors, gears, etc… and now I enjoy teaching other members on my team about these things. I keep designing new gearboxes for our team, and hopefully we’ll have something spectacular eventually. This sort of stuff is why I love engineering so much in the first place.
Strategy - because there is nothing more fulfilling than going out to a match, and beating a superior robot with nothing but your wits. For me, coaching is the most fun part of this competition (more so than driving). I didn’t get to do it this year because of my leadership responsibilities, but maybe sometime in the future I’ll be back in the booth.
I also love mentoring, teaching the students on my team what I’ve learned so far (and what I’m learning). It is a great feeling to give back to this wonderful program, which has given me so much.
I do anything that’s available. Mainly because I feel obligated to be productive with such a small team. But I would do as much even if we had a team of 40…I just love doing anything that has to do with robotics. So…
I help build the robot, I know a tiny bit about programming, and I keep the work place clean and work-at-able because I’m part of the team.
I’m not sure what I do mainly. I’m a little bit of everything, I guess.
I scout, organize stuff, look around for sponsors, take care of relations with sister teams, act as webmaster for our team’s site… heh…basically whatever isn’t being taken care of.
but…I REALLY want to pick up on programming for 2004 (I’ve been working at it for some time already…), get a LEGO league team started, pull in a few more major sponsors, and find ways to get our team name and number out there. Woohoo! I’ve got my work cut out for me
Na, because I love this program. It has been probaly the best 4 years in my life! From the great feeling of winning, to the agony of defeat. It gives your head a huge rush. I don’t think you can compare it to anything else out there.
I’ll do anything, in any manner, that FIRST asks me to do. When they want it done. FIRST is probaly the best thing to do while in school!!
I love playing with power tools, and getting my hands dirty… I have and will forever. It is the best feeling when you’re watching a match and look down on the field and can say ‘I helped build that. That robot is the fruit of my 6 weeks of labor, and I’m proud of it whether it wins or loses.’ It has become a part of me… a part that I would never give up even if I were offered all the riches in the world…
anyway… thats what motivates me, knowing what it has the potential to be, and that I helped make it such
Why we do what we do? Well isn’t it obvious. Because there is so much when we return. When i go to robotics i have a blast of just fun and energy. You learn and discover the inner person you can be. By joining you learn that there is something down the road worth running for. There is a future. On the way you make friends on the team and across the world. You make relationships that never could have existed. You learn that you are not alone and that there are others who are similar to you. You know that you will over come that star athlete and rise above him. Reasons i always go to robotics is:
Returning to the fun and excitment
Teaching the next generation
Meeting new friends
releaseing the inner thoughts
Releaseing your ideas
learning new ideas
Meeting up with old friends
Come back for the challenge
Learn new ways to look at the world
Meeting your inspirations
Meeting the dead line
Getting respect
Showing adults that kids are smarter
Showing the world that kids are the future.
We are here to stay, and I believe that one day our generation will run this world better than it is run now. We are the future and we must insure that there will be a future.
