Tag Archives: first

[first] robot in three days

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Robot in 3 days (Ri3d)

For other posts about the 2014 FIRST conference, see the index page.  (written on my iPad; please excuse typos)

General

  • Goal was to mentor many teams without it taking 6 weeks or more
  • Handle most important parts of game
  • “house rules” –  Modify rules to allow for a mostly FIRST legal robot and substitute parts, skip bumpers, etc
  • Last year, one group in Florida. Expanded this year to have more groups
  • Spend a lot of time preparing so can use 3 days well .- have parts organized, order stock of sheet metal, wood, etc
  • Do electronics mockup so not waiting until end
  • Good debate on chiefdelphi about whether giving away too much or inspiring teams to do more. Goal is to inspire less strong teams.
  • Design within your resources. Working in parallel

What’s next

  •  try to expand network of teams involved
  • advise teams not to release CAD of entire robot
  • prototypes not just full robot
  • might release videos later in the week so can edit

Showed video of failures. (Good to show happens to the experienced)

My impressions:

Very entertaining. Andy baker had good interjections as did the guy next to him (don’t remember name). Good mediause. Slides, video, comments. Clearly Andy hadn’t seen the deck in advance, but that was entertaining.

[first] keeping FIRST kids safe (the new youth protection program)

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Keeping FIRST kids safe (largely about the new screening process)

This session was a short video followed by mostly Q&A.

For other posts about the 2014 FIRST conference, see the index page.  (written on my iPad; please excuse typos)

The video

  • about how to protect students from physical, mental and emotional abuse. It also covered physical safety and teamwork.
  • Good – reinforce coopertition and go
  • For small issues, Talk about a problem, redirect to something more appropriate, be specific, document (for yourself, in case a pattern
  • If bigger problem, email safety@usfirst.org

Youth Protection Program

  • Will be training materials online- not yet
  • Two key coaches must register

Screening

  • Free.  (FIRST covers the cost of)
  • Give full legal name, address, optional last 4 of social security number
  • They look at:  Sex offender registry, criminal records db
  • Takes 1.5 business days unless problem

Who is screened

  • If screened in past 2 years, don’t have to do it again.  Expires every 3 years
  • “All” coaches and event volunteers
  • Up to lead coaches whether need other mentors require youth protection clearance
  • Anyone who volunteers for events in VIMS will be screened.
  • Walk on volunteers will still be accepted and paired with someone who has been screened

My impressions:

I had heard about the youth protection program, but hadn’t read what it was. Since I was here, I figured I would hear it live.

maker faire and rain plans

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mf3

Last year, I blogged about co-organizing a booth at World Maker Faire and that we won a blue ribbon.  This year we won a red educators choice ribbon.  Which was also very cool.  Plus this year, my friend and I ran a whole tent.

It was a lot of fun and we got to see some from robots that the kids made.  Of course we had all the FIRST robots (FIRST Lego League, FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotic Challenge) that the students build.  But we also had a heat/motion sensitive hand sanitizer dispenser.  Especially helpful since we were next to the port-a-potties!

mf2

Speaking of rain, our rain plans get better every year!  Let me tell you what happened this year.

Saturday 9:30am

Norm and I gave the morning briefing to the teams.  Which covered what to do if it rains.

  • move everything into the middle of the tent
  • cover everything electronic with tarp or painters plastic
  • leave a couple team members with the stuff and have everyone else go into the Hall of Science (you can only fit so many people in a tent)

Saturday 9:40am

It starts drizzling.  Luckily everyone was listening and was able to execute the rain plan.  And also luckily, the rain didn’t last long.  While we were waiting under the tent, Bronx Science added an umbrella to their robot. mf8

Saturday about 11am

More rain.  Again, everyone dealt with the electronics quickly and the rain didn’t last long.

Saturday 7pm

The prediction was for rain 8pm-midnight and downpours (.5 to 1 inch per hour) from midnight-6am.  Clearly we needed to protect the booth well.  We moved everything to the center, flipped tables over and covered the FTC field with:

  • painters plastic
  • a table cloth
  • a garbage bag
  • chairs to hold everything down

mf7

Sunday 7:30am

I was first to the booth and was thrilled to see that our plan worked.  I had some students help me lift the plastic from the corners in.  Someone said it looked like a goldfish bowl – there was so much water inside.  But the tops of the foam mats were mostly dry.

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Sunday 6pm

While we protected the top of the field, we didn’t for the bottom.  It was fine, but I hadn’t realized how wet it was down there until we picked up the field!

mf1

Improvement

The tablecloths worked better than I’d have ever imagined.  The painter’s plastic also worked really well.  And for FRC teams – “bag and tag” bags work wonders for rain protection – great idea Xavier!

What is the lesson?

Have good plans.  Communicate them.  Make them better year after year.