High School Summer Robotics Workshops Learn the fun of being on a competitive robotics team!
About FIRST FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a non-profit organization founded by Dean Kamen (inventor of segway, and he holds more than 400 patents) and Woodie Flowers (professor of mechanical engineering at MIT) in 1989. The goal of the organization is to inspire students with science and technology. With a progression of robotics programs for ages 6 to 18, FIRST encourages students to display coopertition and gracious professionalisms (words they coined to describe treating fellow engineers with respect). In the past 2 decades, FIRST has grown from 20 teams to more than 38,000 thousand robotics teams, reaching more than 400,000 thousands students of all ages around the world. Dean Kamen Woodie Flowers 2
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Grades 9-12 High school students have only 6 weeks to design, build, and test a large-scale competitive robot that can accomplish a real-world task. Working alongside professional engineers, students get hands-on experience with sophisticated hardware and software, while also gaining skills in teamwork and leadership. Students must also encourage science and technology in the community, through outreach events and volunteering. FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Grades 7-12 High school and middle school students get the opportunity to build small-scale but highly capable competitive robots that compete in friendly competition. Working with professional engineers, students are introduced to the world of engineering and get the opportunity to apply math and science skills towards real-life problem solving. FTC also emphasizes inspiring the community with science and technology. 3
FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Grades 4-8 Elementary and middle school students learn critical thinking and problem-solving techniques used in engineering. Not only do they get to design, test, and build a robot using LEGO Mindstorm technology, they must also find an innovative solution for a real-life research challenge. FLL students experience the joy of friendly competitions and fun applications of science and technology. Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr. FLL) Grades K-3 Young elementary students can use their imaginations to create an innovative LEGO model related to a real-world challenge. While learning about math and science, they develop teamwork and presentation skills. Jr. FLL students are given the opportunity to explore challenges faced by today s scientists. Learn more by visiting http://www.usfirst.org/ 4
About Team ASAP Team ASAP is an FRC team consisting of 15 students from high schools across the Des Moines Metro Area. Alongside their mentors, this student-driven team has been designing, building, and testing their highly competitive robots for the past 3 years. Students gain valuable technical and leadership skills they can use in their futures. As a small team, each student must be hardworking and dedicated in order for the team to be successful. Team ASAP has competed in St. Louis, Kansas City, Peoria and Milwaukee, as well at the FIRST World Championships. They have made it to quarter-finals and semifinals, and were twice ranked 9th out of more than 50 teams at their competitions. In their short existence, they have had 2 rookie awards, 2 students as Dean s List Finalists, and won the Gracious Professionalism Award. 5
About our Workshops Our summer workshops are taught by students, under the guidance of our mentors. Students use the skills they have developed over the season to give presentations and hands-on activities to workshop attendees. These workshops are intended to give a general understanding and appreciation of the given subject. These workshops are open to the public, and any high school student who has an interest in science, technology, media or presentation is encouraged to attend. Attendees of this workshop will learn the many technical and public speaking skills required for FRC and FTC teams. If a high school student is interested in joining our team, we highly suggest that he or she attends as many workshops as possible over the summer. Even if the topic doesn t seem immediately appealing, we strongly suggest that prospective students attend a wide variety of workshops, to learn which area they would be interested in specializing in on our team. Our workshops are free because we believe that all students deserve equal opportunity to learn the skills our students are teaching. Team ASAP s students and mentors are volunteering their time towards planning and executing these workshops because of their passion for robotics and their desire to inspire other students. 6
How to Register Registration is easy! Simply send an email to info@team4646.org with the student s name, the grade they will be going into this fall, and the workshop(s) they would like to attend. The registration deadline is two days before the date of the workshop. We will send you a confirmation email and let you know if the workshop is full. 7
Workshop Schedule Location: DMACC Ankeny Campus Building 20 (Descriptions of Workshops in following pages) PLEASE NO LOOSE CLOTHING OR OPEN TOED SHOES AT THE WORKSHOPS 8
Be ASAP: As Safe As Possible Safetyneering and Organization It s engineering - but without the risk of grievous bodily harm. Learn how to stay safe as you carry out your plans for world domination! June 6 1PM to 3PM Talk Nerdy and Rule the World Inter-team Communication and Leadership Discover what it takes to be a great leader. It s a known fact that geeks and nerds are going to run the world, as many already do. But in order to rule the world, you need to be a strong, capable leader, which exactly what this workshop teaches you to be. June 6 3PM to 5PM Get it in Writing Intro to Documentation Think documenting is boring? Think again. Documentation covers everything from initial designs to ordering parts and expenses. If you didn t write it, it didn t happen. June 13 1PM to 3PM How to Win Game Theory Who doesn t like winning? Sometimes the easiest way to win isn t obvious at first, but some numbercrunching and creative thinking will teach you how to find winning strategies and loopholes. June 13 3PM to 5PM 9
Design A Winning Bot Strategy and Design Use your imagination and creative-thinking skills to design the most robust, functional, and eye-catching robot that will bring home the winner s blue banner! June 20 1PM to 3PM This Better Work Prototyping Bring your designs to life! After you ve finally come up with a design, test it to see if it will work. This is funnest part of the design process! Create and play with your ideas to create the basis of your growing robot. June 20 3PM to 5PM 10
Make it Move Motors and Gearing Learn all about what makes your robot move. Your math skills finally have a fun, applicable purpose as you learn about gear ratios, motor speeds, and motor theory. June 27 1PM to 3PM The Robot s Got the Power Electronics, Pneumatics, and Stored Energy Learn about the platform of all activity: power. Discover how to manage, store and conserve energy to have a successful robot. Unleash the power! June 27 3PM to 5PM Fix it in CAD Concept Evaluation and CAD Dig out your robots flaws and take them back to the drawing board. Learn the importance of using CAD (computer-aided design) to modify the robot design and bring it to (near) perfection. July 11 1PM to 3PM The THING The Engineering Notebook Do you ever make something and then forget how you made it? The Engineering Notebook (also known as the THING ) prevents this problem. Learn the importance of documenting the design process, and how it comes in handy after you break the robot. July 11 3PM to 5PM 11
Build it. Test it. Break it. Repeat. (Reading Drawings and Fabrication Fundamentals) Never used a wrench or a screwdriver before? Intimidated by a bandsaw or drill press? Not to worry! We ll teach you the basics of using tools and machinery to bring design drawings to life. July 18 1PM to 5PM All About the Money (Prof. Communication, Sponsors, Fundraising, and Budgeting) Building amazing, powerful robots isn t cheap. Until we can finally figure out how to build sentient robots that can handle our finances for us, learn how managing our money properly lets us build our robots and compete at competitions. July 25 1PM to 5PM 12
More than Robots Team Imagery, Presentation, and Outreach Our team strives to build more than robots; We want to build a reputation in the community as science and technology leaders. Discover how outreach events inspire young minds, and how our impact on the community is appreciated by the most prestigious award at competition: the Chairman s Award. August 1 1PM to 3PM Connect with the World Media Contrary to popular belief, us robot-lovers don t shy away from social media. We use our website and social media to showcase our progress, our accomplishments, and our events in the community. Learn how taking selfies, using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Vine can help you engage with other robot-lovers! August 1 3PM to 5PM 13
The Forgotten Parts Design Review, Bill of Materials, and Ordering Parts We will show you how the overlooked parts of the team are the most important. Learn how design review prevents fabrication failures, how the bill of materials prevents financial disaster, and how ordering parts isn t as easy as it seems. August 8 1PM to 5PM Fix it in Software Software and Sensors Making your robot move - with style! Learn everything from the basics to using sensors to improve the functionality of your robot. August 15 1PM to 5PM Talk to the Bot Human Interface Amaze your friends and family with your skills in communicating to your robot of your own design. Discover how the human interface is the link between robots and humans. August 22 1PM to 3PM How to NOT to Drive the Bot into a Wall Driving Still don't have your license? Driving a robot is much more interesting (and fun). Students taking this workshop will learn how to maneuver a competition robot and score maximum points. August 22 3PM to 5PM 14
What to Expect at Competitions Competitions After six labor-intensive weeks, all your hard work is rewarded at a competition that rivals that of sports championships. The energy, enthusiasm, and gracious professionalism displayed at competitions are an experience you will never forget. Learn how attending a FIRST competition can forever change your perspective of science and technology. August 29 1PM to 3PM Finding Winning Alliance Partners Scouting Winning a competition takes more than having a good robot. You need to be able to find robots that work well with your strategy. Discover how a wellorganized scouting system can help you find hidden gems and develop strong relations with powerhouse teams. August 29 3PM to 5PM 15
FIRST Robotics Competition is The Varsity Sport of the Mind TM Experience the hardest fun you ll ever have! 16