FIRST Robot Design: a team- based process Andy Baker Mechanical Engineer, Delphi Corporation Co-Owner, AndyMark.biz Lead Engineer, team 45

Overview Foundation Know the Game Brainstorm Sub-Teams Presentations Team Decision Assignments Be Ready to Change Final Exam

Foundation …before Kickoff, Know your team –Fall team builders Assess your resources –Equipment, talent, $$, leadership Develop your skills –Training, design, fabrication, software, etc.

Team Development = Community Involvement

Know the Game Watch Kickoff as a team 1 st 3-4 days after kickoff: –Review the game before each meeting Go over the rules many times Don’t get left behind Saturday

Brainstorming 101 Brainstorm 1 st time w/ entire team All ideas are heard Each person has equal opinion Let ideas flow Don’t critique until complete Record and categorize ideas Saturday

The Sub-team Process BEFORE KICKOFF Divide the entire team into 3-4 equal sub-teams Name each team Pick adult and student leaders for teams AFTER KICKOFF Sub-teams meet after initial team brainstorming Get to know sub-team members Plan meeting times Encourage all for input

Sub-Team: Get Ideas BRAINSTORM Organize & categorize ideas –strategy –scoring methods –defensive methods –ways to grab object –etc. Focus on OVERALL GAME PLAY Saturday Sunday

Sub-team: Decide on Concept Critique and eliminate ideas Analyze ideas –Do the math –Construct prototypes –Play “mock matches” –Do CAD/Animation Decide which ideas are best Agree on overall design Monday Tuesday

Sub-Team: Presentations Sub-teams sell their concept to entire team –Use professional presentation materials –Show analysis –Demo prototypes –Explain match, walk through mock match –Display robot design –Review positives and negatives Students lead presentations, adults help as needed Present to team, sponsors, administrators, parents, media, etc. Wednesday

Team Decision Sleep on it –Make the decision the day after sub-team presentations.

Team Decision Review and critique, using GP Discuss common ideas Make a Decision Matrix –Assign values to qualities –Rate each team’s idea per each quality –Total each sub-team’s points –Highest point total wins Focus on concept with highest point total Add common features from other concepts Thursday

Decision Matrix These weights determine everything, and are dependent on the game.

Assign tasks Leaders commit to tasks –Drive base, Arm, Grabber, etc. Have overall robot design leader Leaders communicate –Daily standing meetings – discussions –Weekly design reviews during team meetings Don’t let a irresponsible leader drag you down

Celebrate mistakes Design mistakes found early are your friend Design mistakes found late (during a Regional) are your enemy

Be ready to tweak Start scouting early Regionals Know when to fold ‘em and hold ‘em –Teams who win Championships are often struggling early in the year Strategy dictates design

Thank you!