Organizational Groups

Team Structure

 

Functional Structure  

 

 

Student Policies –Organization, Responsibilities and Other Pertinent Information

Student Membership Eligibility

All applicants will be provisionally accepted to the team.  All team members are expected to participate and be able to meet the responsibilities listed below. Failure to maintain the standards expected of team members can result in loss of team privileges, up to and including dismissal from the team.

Application & Consent Form

Each student is required to fill out an application and sign a consent form (Parents are also required to sign the consent form). The data on the forms will be used to identify skills and interest as applies to the sub team, provide emergency contact information, list any medical restrictions / allergies and provide contact information.  See Appendix C.

Benefits:

Scholarships:  There are MANY other scholarships available for FIRST Team members. Check out www.usfirst.org/Scholarships/.

 

Experience - You will be working in close-knit groups doing real world work under real world deadlines. The skills learned and sense of genuine accomplishment in completing your tasks will stay with you for a lifetime.

 

Exposure - You will meet students and mentors from schools and corporations from the United States and all over the world.

 

Preparation - Many corporations across the nation are participating in FIRST and want to hire

FIRST students. Being on a FIRST team exposes students to these corporations and the work they do while you learn the skills that these companies desire.

 

Active Team Member Responsibilities

Student Participation - All team members are encouraged to participate in a broad array of team activities. Design and Build and Fundraising are two activities that require broad participation by team members over specific time periods.  Design and Build meets five to six days a week, generally for three hours at time from early January to late February.  Fundraising is anchored by Snack Cart sales that are conducted at the end of each school day and accounts for two-thirds of student fundraising hours and dollars.  Communications/Marketing activities do not require as many hours from students and have more flexible scheduling.  Students that get involved on a regular basis make themselves indispensible members of the team and broaden their talent base.  Last but not least, participation at competitions is fun and it is where the team’s efforts culminate.

 

Maintain required GPA - Each student must maintain a 2.3 or above average in EACH of their courses in order for that student to be eligible to attend competitions. This GPA requirement is strict. Students should put their grades before any team needs.

 

Complete all assigned tasks - Students are expected to step up to the activities needed to run a robotics team and that the students manage and complete all activities in the time scheduled. There are no specific minimum and active levels for this area, but the FIRST competitions and activities have strict deadlines; if you are late in doing your part the entire team can be impacted!

 

Team Lead Role - Student accepting team lead roles are responsible for delivering the tasks assigned to the team. Conducting sub team meetings and scheduling key activities are part of the overall role. Mentors provide knowledge and guidance. Leads take responsibility for getting the job done. Leads are expected to maintain Active level commitment in other areas and 100% within their sub-team.

 

Note: each sub-team should create and maintain a handbook of best-known methods for conducting their activities.  It is the responsibility of the team leader to ensure this task done.  This information (some) is required documentation for competition submission but that which is not required is very helpful for new team members

 

 

Functional Areas / Team Leads

 

Robot Design & Build

Playing Field Construction

Responsible for building practice field elements, and set up a practice field/area as soon as game is announced.

 

Design

Once the program requirements are announced there will be sessions on how to design the robot.  The entire team is welcome to participate; it is expected that every build team member will participate. 

• Brainstorming the design aspects of the robot, 
• Prototyping ideas to see which have merit, 
• Develop design solutions based on game strategy
• Convert sketches to solid models and assembly /working drawings – CAD

 

 

Mechanical Build

Students wishing to be on the Mechanical team need to learn how to safely operate tools prior to the build season.  Experienced students are expected to train underclassmen, and encourage their participation. Students are also expected to leave build area in neat, clean and safe condition at the end of every build session.  Expect to spend an average of 2-3 hours a week pre-season, However, during the 6 week build season students will meet 3-4 hours daily, and during 'fix-it' periods between competitions.

• Machining parts
• Wiring the circuitry for the robot
• Designing and mounting the pneumatics components
• Assembling the Robot, testing and troubleshooting.
• Determining shipping create requirements

 

 

Safety Team

The robots we build are not toys. They weigh approximately 120 pounds, move fast, and have powerful moving parts. Safety during build, in the pits, and on the field is a vital, and FIRST mandated, priority. The safety team creates and enforces rules that keep everyone alert and focused when building and operating our robot. The Safety Team Lead is also the Pit Safety Officer.

 

Programming Team

Students wishing to be on the programming sub-team need to be prepared to learn programming during the fall, spending 2-3 hours a week for instruction and projects. They will require access to a computer on which they can install programming tools. Close coordination between programmers is required so only the top 3 or 4 completing fall instruction will be able to program during build season. The team will spend considerable time during the build season working with the mechanical build team to interact with the robot and fine tune functions.

• Develop software for robot control and human interface
• Assist in the assembly and troubleshooting of robot controls
• Programming will be in Java and National Instruments Labview (r).

 

Competition Planning and Execution

Pit Crew

Design and develop pit management.  Responsible for keeping robot in perfect working order and for making engineering upgrades made during competition.  Monitor Game schedule and communicate with Scouting & Spirit  Consists of Safety officer, Field Crew, and Mechanical Electrical & Programming.

 

Drive Team

Chassis Driver, Mechanism Operator, Coach & Human Player, and a back-up team

The drive team and coach are expected to interact with other teams (alliances) and the scouting sub-team to develop game strategy.  The positions shall be determined pre-season.  Drivers & Operators shall be prepared to practice on a regular schedule pre-season, during build, and before competitions.

 

Scouting

Responsible for providing competitive information for the competition team prior to and during competition.  Develop and implement scouting system and software.  Pre-competition - Develop game strategy and team playbook

 

Spirit

Select and purchase team promotional items, Mascot, Cheering.  This team is also responsible for the “look of the team” (uniform, jerseys, dyed hair, bandanas, etc), team giveaways

 

Students are assisted by adult professionals.  Students are encouraged to assume leadership positions and represent the team during interactions with media and other teams at the competitions.

 

 

Communications / Marketing

Responsible for marketing the I.H.S. Robotics team by increasing our exposure in the school, parish, local community and FIRST community

 

Plans outreach activities, press releases, team public events, presentations, newsletter updates

 

Presentations

Students create and present both formal and informal settings. Many team awards require submitting an application that present our team's accomplishments in a persuasive way. There is also a formal FIRST award (the Autodesk Visualization Award) for creating an animation.

 

Newsletter / Press Releases

This team will submit press releases and articles to the local news on a monthly basis. They will take and archive photos of the events of the season.

 

The team must follow the school procedures for all press releases.

 

 

Web Site

WEB Site http://www.coldfusion1279.com/

This team updates and maintains all the information on the team site.  The objective of the web site is to enhance recruiting, recognize individual contribution and achievement, facilitate sponsorship, and recognize current sponsors   The site includes team history, schedule, photographs of progress, journal of activities, results of competitions, and the “cool” look of the website.

 

 Fundraising

Responsible for bolstering our team resources by obtaining funding and donations (food, supplies, services) for use by the team. 

 

All students are required to participate in all team fundraising activities. The funds raised are typically used for entrance fees and additional build materials.

 

Student Activities

 

Snack Cart - Students are responsible for the management of the snack cart.  Activities include:

• Daily sales management
• Inventory control and ordering
• Cash receipt and recording
• Coke bottle cap entry and redemption

 

Barnes & Nobles Book Sale - Yearly event which all team members should participate in. 10 -15% of sales are directly deposited for the team. Student activities include:

• Scheduling / Sign up management
• Voucher sales / marketing
• Record keeping

           

Flower Sale - Yearly event in which all team members should participate.  Profits from the sale are directly deposited to the teams account. Student activities include:

• Presale flyer creation and distribution
• Presales
• Scheduling / Sign up management
• Day before support for setting up area
• Day of sale support

 

White Elephant Sale – Yearly event held during the I.H.S. Holliday Extravaganza

 

 

Corporate Solicitation

           

Mentors – Teacher, Students, Adult Professionals

There are many levels of mentors on a robotics team.  Some are more formal positions than others.  The Faculty Advisor is a key role for the team providing a liaison to the FIRST activities as well as to the I.H.S. administration. For those teams with full corporate engagement the team will have one or more “Corporate” mentors participating with various sub teams.  Adult professionals interested in assisting with various sub teams are crucial for each of the team’s success.  And there are the students – upper classman with experience should share their knowledge with the newer team members.  Some teams have the added benefit of past robotics members still in the area being able to participate and share past knowledge.

Parents

There are many useful and much needed activities that parents can contribute to.  Below are some ideas but this is not an all-inclusive list.

• Mentor a committee / Participate on a sub team – Fundraising, Communications, Robot Design and Build, etc. Look at the student application for areas and see if you can help.
• Help with travel plans - organize paperwork – check that each team member has supplied all needed forms - school permission slips (with medical insurance information), emergency info, and release forms.
• Provide snacks and meals for the team during the build cycle.
• Chaperone during the build season
• Shop for snack cart supplies during the school year.
• Investigate and solicit donations your company programs.   Solicit in-kind donations. Know any companies that would donate food or supplies?
• Write a grant proposal / Assist with student scholarship applications
• Take photos/videos for publicity during the build and at competitions. Help with the engineering, design, build of the robot
• Carpool students
• Help recruit new team members
• Develop a team budget and approve expenditures; track donations, build purchases and payments
• Coordinate event logistics including transportation and lodging for students as well as Robot shipping and management
• Team and robot documentation

Team Travel Policy

Only active team members, who have maintained the required GPA are allowed to travel with the team and participate in the competition. Family members are encouraged to attend competitions with the team. They can either plan their own travel arrangements, or work through team travel arrangements. If they are using team travel arrangements they need to realize that they must abide by the specifics of the team travel coordinator.

Whenever possible funds raised will subsidize student and mentor travel. However it is dependent on the fundraising and number of competitions the team wants to attend as to how much can be allotted.

All overnight competitions will required a deposit. The deposit is for all team members traveling with the team - students, parents, mentors, and siblings.

While traveling overnight with the team, students will stay at hotels. They will stay in rooms with up to 4 students in one room, sharing 2 double or queen beds. Students need to communicate their special needs with regard to travel to team mentors and the team travel coordinator.

Chaperones are needed for any students not traveling with a parent.

All (Student, parents, mentors) will be provided all travel details - itinerary with mode of transportation (bus, airline, carpooling), event site, hotel information, rooming arrangements and contact numbers.

Mandatory team meetings with all parents/guardians will be held in advance of travel.  Rules and expectations will be shared.