the spacecookies robotics team blog: Season 2007-2008

Calendar of Events

It is great to see so many girls in the lab!

Here are the competitions that we are signed up for.  Please check your calendars and let me know tentatively which events you plan to attend.  Be sure to check when your school's prom (and other big events) takes place and consider if you are willing to miss it if there is a conflict.

March 13-15 (Thursday - Saturday).  Silicon Valley Regional (SVR) at San Jose State.  Everyone should plan to attend if at all possible.

March 20-22 (Thursday - Saturday).  Davis Regional at UC Davis.  We are signed up, but have not paid our entrance fee.  Fee is due next week so we need to decide right away if we want to participate.  Advantages include the fact that the competition won't be quite as intense as SVR so we have more chance of winning and it is nearby and we can go without spending a lot of money and without endless Girl Scout paperwork.  Team could decide to make this sort of a JV event and encourage younger team members plus any who can't attend Championships in April to take the lead.

April 17-19  (We would fly on 16th and 20th, so realistically Wednesday - Sunday).  We are signed up and our entrance fee is paid!  Hotel rooms are reserved.  We need a parent to arrange group flights -- please ask yours if they would be willing to do this.  Last month, Delta had cheap non-stop flights on Wednesday and on Sunday morning but we certainly were not in a position to purchase non-refundable tickets.  The Championship is an amazing experience and a chance to see lots of cool robots and thousands of kids having fun making them work -- it is well worth making the effort to get there.

Please look at your calendars and get back to me right away!

Thanks.

Diane

Vacuums allowed...

We checked the rules and rule # 87 specifically allows using a vacuum system.  It is poorly worded with a double negative, but vacuums are allowed as long as the motors are on the approved list. 

Does this mean we should use a vacuum?  NO, but it does mean we should not eliminate it on the basis of the rules. 

Personally, I think we should consider it for controlling the ball in some manner, if we can build a prototype that works consistently and easily.  We can build several crude prototypes for moving the balls around and see which one seems to be the best considering the nature of the game and the traffic (balls and other robots). 

We certainly need to look at Chief Delphi for ideas and pitfalls of all potential systems.  We need to listen to our interns.  We need to be sure that we are not too quickly rejecting any ideas from interns, girls, or mentors and we also need to be sure not to commit ourselves too thoroughly to one system while we are in the early stages of development.  Meanwhile, we need to get started since about half the team has finals next week and we need to make enough decisions so that those who can come to the lab have stuff to do.

6 weeks is not nearly enough time to design and build a robot, but we shall succeed!  I am very excited by this year's team!!!

Diane

Rules Rule - FRC Team Update #1

I will try to remember to send all general interest messages from FIRST to you all.  Sila has been particularly good about studying the rules -- it would help if we had another 1 or 2 experts.  You all need to be acquainted with the general rules, particularly with ways to score points.

 

In addition to searching www.usfirst.org, check out Chief Delphi site http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/portal.php for lots of information about the upcoming competition and about things that have been tried before.  Well worth your time.

 

Diane

 

-----Original Message-----
From: FRC Teams
Sent: Monday, January 07, 2008 2:50 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: **FIRST EMAIL**/Important – Team Update #1

Greetings Teams: <!--[endif]-->

When modifications are needed for the Competition Manual, the applicable section will be updated and the revision changed. In order to communicate when changes are made, as well as explanations as needed, we will publish a “Team Update” and post it on the FIRST website. The updates are authored by the Game Design Committee (GDC) and are the official word from FIRST.

Team Updates will be posted weekly on Tuesday and Friday throughout the 2008 FRC season, so be sure to check the page for news.

Note: Email blasts will not be sent each time a Team Update is published. Team are responsible for checking the site on the days indicated. 

There will be occasions when there are no changes to the Competition Manual or other information to convey, thus a Team Update will not be published.

Team Update #1 is now published and available at http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc/content.aspx?id=450

Go Teams!

-- 
FIRST Robotics Competition

Hmmm...to vacuum or not to vacuum...

Here's where reading the rules is crucial.  My understanding is that this years rules are written in such a fashion as to prohibit the use of a vacuum system. So, someone better start digging through the rules and make sure. Something about vacuum pumps or motors used to drive a vacuum system being prohibited.  Also, check Chief Delphi, let's not get so wrapped up in heading down one path, that we have the same challenge as last year.

Santa Clara University Engineering Education Days & Summer Program

Hello
Girls,  apply if you are interested and forward this to others who may be interested.
Shoba

In this email you will find information about two programs for Bay Area High School Students who would like to learn about engineering. Please feel free to share this information with family and friends.

The School of Engineering at Santa Clara University has the honor of announcing two exciting programs designed for high school students who are considering engineering as a possible major in college: the Spring Engineering Education Days and the Summer Engineering Seminar. Both programs are designed to encourage women and underrepresented minorities to the study of engineering, but all eligible students are welcome to apply. Additionally, they are offered at no cost to participants, with the exception of transportation to and from the university.

Spring Engineering Education Days (SEEDs)
http://scu.edu/engineering/undergraduate/seeds.cfm

During the four Saturdays in April, students from around the San Francisco Bay Area come to Santa Clara University and take both lecture and hands-on courses taught by engineering faculty members. Class sessions provide participants with the opportunity to explore engineering topics not normally available to high school students and focus on the actual use of engineering tools.  Application deadline is February 8th.

Summer Engineering Seminar (SES)
http://scu.edu/engineering/undergraduate/ses.cfm

The SES program is a special summer experience in which students take specially designed classes taught by engineering faculty.  Courses span the range of the field of engineering and provide students with the opportunity to work together creatively to solve problems. Participants also get a taste of university life by staying in residence halls, eating meals at campus and neighboring dining facilities, and taking part in fun afternoon and evening activities. Application deadline is April 2nd.

 

Jan 8th Notes

Meeting tomorrow at 6:30! Try to make it. :) If you can't, Lilian sent out the teleconference info a few e-mails ago. If there's someone that likes to pay attention to rules, please read and memorize all the rules here ( http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc/content.aspx?id=452). :) You should do this even if you're not interested in rules.

What was done today
1) Christina and I (with Marty's help) looked into how to get the steering wheel working. Conclusion? Tear it apart and put it back together.
2) Looked at the vacuum cleaner. Conclusion? It works well with the vacuum cleaner motors, but no idea about the robotics motors (and no idea if it is in compliance with the rules)
3) More discussion about robot designs. Conclusion? ... Let's leave that till tomorrow.

What will be done next
Mechanical (tomorrow): Decide on a final one to three designs to pursue. Final designs will be presented at the 6:30 meeting. (If you're interested in mechanics or have a good idea, you should be here for this!)
Mechanical (tomorrow): Stick the PVC prototypes (and whatever other prototypes there are) onto the 2007 robot with duct tape. (As a side note, this will actually be done by the non-mechanical portion of whoever shows up.)
Programming / Electronics (Thursday): Dissect the steering wheel and put it back together again (lots of soldering practice.)
Programming / Driving / Electronics (by end of 1/13): Drive the 2007 bot with the steering wheel
Mechanical / Pneumatics (by end of 1/13): Figure out if the pneumatics are strong enough to push the ball
Mechanical (by end of 1/13): Have a final direction for the robot
Mechanical (by end of 1/13): Have a CAD drawing (at least preliminary CAD)
Mechanical / Electrical (by end of 1/13): Build a "prototype" robot out of the KoP that we can program and drive. (This is the least important ... and if this doesn't happen, I won't cry... yet)

My thoughts on today: I'm still all for a small robot that has a primary goal is to zip around and a secondary goal of pushing a ball. Since I've now said this twice (with different words), I feel I need to add the disclaimer that this is propaganda. You should still think for yourself. (Of course, I won't mind if you leaning toward supporting my ideas. =P)

Also, to do anything electrical, we need wires! So, I think buying wires (tiny gauge wire for the steering wheel and 10/12 gauge for the robot) should be a priority.

-- Katherine

Jan 7th Notes - Post Kickoff

So ... I figured I'd start this daily ... journal of what's happened at the lab so that people who can't make it to the lab aren't feeling left out, and we don't have to catch everyone up the next day they come. (If you come in and ask what we've done ... I'll say, "Shame on you. Go read your e-mails.")

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GET DAILY EMAILS, please respond, and I'll put move your e-mail to a list that'll only be e-mailed once a week (probably Wednesday or Thursday nights). If enough of you say, stop ... I'll stop.

What was done today
1) Callie and I inventoried the Kit of Parts (KoP)
2) Christina and I discovered the 2007 default code does not work with the 2006 (or whatever RC it is) robot. :(
3) We decided where to head next
4) Thank you for the food! It was yummy. :)

What was done over the weekend
1) Watched the animation (here it is! http://robotics.nasa.gov/events/2008_frcwebcasts.php)
2) Brainstormed
3) Reprogrammed the 2007 bot to be a real two-joystick drive instead of ... 1-joystick-drive on 2 joysticks.
4) "Finalized" the color for our logo. There are ... two. (attached!)
5) Started prototyping!

What will be done next
Programming / Driving (tomorrow): Marty is coming in around 5pm, so we'll hopefully figure out the steering wheel and be able to drive around the 2007 bot with a steering wheel. If you're interested in programming or driving, this is something you should try to make.
Mechanical / Electrical (finish by the weekend): We'll build a "prototype" robot out of the KoP that we can program and drive. Bell's already letting their next driver practice, so we should too! :D
Mechanical (finish by the weekend): CAD up a final chassis so that we're not using KoP ... parts.
Mechanical (finish by the weekend): Those of you still interested in hurdling, present a CAD solution or a prototype (better yet ... BOTH!)
Mechanical / Electrical (finish by the weekend): Decide if we want to look into the vacuum thing. If we do, get Callie's father's permission to modify the vacuum or buy a new vacuum -- and play! (EJ's word on this: probably needs a cim motor to work. If it does, we won't do it ... because we need all the cim motors for our drive base.)

My thoughts on today: I'm more and more convinced that we should just focus on a somewhat small, really fast, super speedy, "zippy" robot. Think about it ... in the end alliances, they'll be two robots that can handle the balls well (probably) ... and that third robot? Well, it won't have a ball to hurdle, so chances are alliance-picking people will be looking for something that can score points well without handling balls -- that means super, zippy robots!

So ... if we get a really super awesome zippy robot, and the driver has lots and lots and lots of practice (or really spiffy buttons), I think we're good. Pushing balls and popping balls off the overpass could be a bonus. :)

REMEMBER, get in your paper work!  ... Or you might be turned away from the lab. :S

-- Katherine

Off to a good start...

Hey everyone!
It looks like the season's off with a good start. I'm so glad to see so many of you all at the kickoff today!!! Aren't you excited?

From now on, the lab will now be open practically every single day . Please come in whenever you can (but keep in mind that coming 7 days a week isn't expect, nor humanly possible as a regular high school student). You don't need to be there the whole time, nor do you need to show up right away. Just drop in whenever you can (the more, the better!). Here's when it's open, starting Monday:

Weekdays: 4pm - 8pm
Weekends: 12pm - 6pm

Dinners are served on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

Team meetings are on Wednesdays (around 6:30pm. Coming to these would be great for the team, but if you can't be there in person, you can join in via conference calls at 1-800-503-2899. The access code is 6663906.)

Just as a reminder, the lab is open tomorrow form 10am to 4pm (note: we open at 10am, not 12pm!). Come in as long as you'd like - you could come sometime in the afternoon or leave before lunchtime, or even stay the whole day. We'll create prototypes and try out different ideas with scrap pieces, so we can quickly decide on what to do on our robot, or we'll learn how to use SolidWorks (as a group we could do both simultaneously). It's time for some hands-on experience (yay)! There will be food (yes, even lunch).

Also please go out to OSH or any other hardware supply store and buy yourself a pair of safety goggles. After tomorrow, you'll need to have your own pair to bring to the lab if you ever want to work downstairs.

I sorry I didn't emphasize it in the previous e-mail (I feel bad that most of you stood out in the cold this morning), but please remember to request badges for NASA - particularly the "after hours" one.

See you at the lab! We're all counting on each other to be there!
-Lilian

Kickoff 2008 Season Tomorrow

Space Cookies:

 

Tomorrow is the real start of the FRC Robotics season.  The worldwide kickoff is at 7 AM our time and can be seen live on NASA TV.  Try the link below.  You may have to futz around a bit to get it to work on your computer.  There will be lots of speeches as well as the unveiling of the game for this year.  Our 3 leaders will be at San Jose State watching it live and they will pick up the kit of parts.  If you see yourself as a future team leader, you might consider watching it on NASA TV at 7.

 

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Breaking.html

 

We will have our own team kickoff starting at 10 AM in the conference room.  We will watch the video (skipping most of the speeches), brainstorm, and eat.  After lunch, we will probably move over to the lab and continue brainstorming.  Katherine, Lilian, and Gabriela will send more details about the schedule for the weekend as well as for the build season. 

 

Shoba is checking the paperwork so we can be sure everyone is legal -- starting Monday, you will be sent home if you do not have all of your paperwork in.  Please have your parents stop by when they drop you off tomorrow to see if there is anything they need to fill in and/or sign.

 

The photographer from the documentary company will be with us all day tomorrow.

 

We need a team picture for marketing.  Please wear your team shirt if you have one.  If you have any extras (from 2007 or 2008), put your name in the collar and bring so others can wear them.  I recommend a long sleeve shirt under your team shirt, rather than a sweatshirt over it -- then you will look like part of the team, but be dressed appropriately for winter.  Obviously, wear a sweatshirt and/or a jacket while outside.

 

If you have a laptop computer, consider bringing it to the lab this weekend.  We will want to do lots of internet research to determine the feasibility of your wonderful ideas.

 

The manual for the 2008 season is available to download now.  (See forwarded message below.)  Parts of it are encrypted and they will tell us the password at the end of the official kickoff.  The details are below.  You can also wait a few days and download it unencrypted -- this is just so not everyone in the world is trying to get to the same site at the same time tomorrow.  We will print one copy of key parts of the manual and it will be in a notebook at the lab for reference.  If you want your own copy, you will have to download it and print it, we cannot provide hard copies to everyone.

 

See you tomorrow!  If you can't come tomorrow, be sure to watch the kickoff (live on NASA TV at 7 AM or search www.usfirst.org later) and then try to come on Sunday.  This weekend is key to our success as a team.  Many of you have finals the week after next, so we need to accomplish a great deal in the first week.

 

If your driver does not have a badge, remember to contact Krystine and get your name on the "after hours list" at the gate so you will be able to get in.

 

Diane

 

-----Original Message-----
From: FRC Teams
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 2:28 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Competition Manual Encrypted Sections Now Available for Download!

Greetings Teams:

The 2008 Kickoff has finally arrived! FRC has been extremely busy preparing for this event and the entire 2008 season. We are very excited to welcome you to the season and introduce the 2008 game.

In order to prepare teams we want to inform you of a few items:

Encrypted Sections of Manual Now Available
The encrypted sections of the 2008 FRC Competition Manual (sections 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10) are now available for download at http://www.usfirst.org/frc/2008/manual
To download, right-click on the pdf file and select "Save Link/Target As...".
The password for accessing these documents will be available at the end of the Kickoff broadcast on Saturday, January 5th, 2008.

Prior to Saturday please make sure your computer has the proper software by following the instructions for the 2008 Decryption Test found here, http://www.usfirst.org/frc_documents

Consent and Release Forms
If you are attending the Manchester or a Local Kickoff please note that all team members (students and adult contacts) are required to have a signed Consent and Release form. These forms will be collected at the registration area prior to the Kickoff broadcast. You can download and print copies from http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc/content.aspx?id=960

KOP Dimensions
Please make sure you have enough space available in your vehicle to accommodate the Kit of Parts. Dimensions and weight are listed below:

2 plastic totes (grey and black)
27" x 17" x 12" each
About 65 - 70lbs each

2 cardboard boxes
36" x 4" x 9"
12" x 16"

Have an exciting and inspirational season!

Go Teams!

-- 
FIRST Robotics Competition

(p) 1-800-871-8326 x 0
(f) 603-666-3907