Animation

The animation team is responsible for creating an animation for the challenge as provided by Autodesk. The animation will then be submitted to the Autodesk® FIRSTbase site and will be judged at the regional competition. This subteam is required to create a storyboard for the entire animation on which they will then base their animation.

CAD

The CAD team is responsible for drawing the current year’s robot design in Inventor. The CAD team must work closely with all other robot-related teams to ensure that the robot is being drawn to the correct technical specifications. In addition, this team is responsible for drawing blueprints for the other subteams in order to manufacture and construct robot parts. Once the robot drawing has been created, it will then be uploaded to Autodesk FIRSTbase. After doing so, the drawing will be printed for display in the pit during competitions. They are also responsible for keeping track of the expenses and bill of parts as needed for competition.

Chairman’s Award

The Chairman’s Award subteam works on collecting and preparing all relevant information for the Chairman’s Award submission. This team will also write the Chairman’s Award essay, as well as the Executive Summary questions for the Chairman’s Award application. It should be noted that this award is considered as prestigious as winning the actual competition. This team also prepares a presentation for the judges at the regional. After getting everything ready, they upload the Chairman’s Award essay and executive questions to the FIRST awards website.

Chassis

The chassis subteam is responsible for manufacturing the chassis using the design that the team agreed upon for the robot. The robot chassis is typically built from extruded aluminum and/or c-channel aluminum. This team also makes necessary modifications to the chassis if agreed upon by the other subteams.

CNC

The CNC subteam creates parts on a CNC machine. They will take an Inventor file from the computer, put it into the machine, and the machine will create a part out of metal on the machine. This subteam definitely helps out with making parts.

Crate and Robot Shipping

This subteam deals with the shipping of the robot. They have to make sure the robot gets to competition unharmed, and as efficiently and inexpensively as possible.

Electrical/ Controls

This subteam deals with the wiring of the robot. They work hand-in-hand with the programming and the mechanical subteam to help take the code from the computer to the robot.

Graphic Design

The graphic design team is responsible for creating any artistic work for the robot, pit, or promotional materials. This will include items such as signs for the pit and decals for the robot. This team is also responsible for the packets and brochures given to both the sponsors and judges.

Marketing

The marketing subteam is responsible for procuring sponsors to assist our team through monetary contributions as well as through time and talents. This team maintains a folder of information to distribute to local businesses. This will assist in raising awareness of our team and helping to procure financial support. They apply for grants to help procure further monetary donations for the team.

Mechanical/Drivetrain/Manipulator

Drivetrain

The drivetrain subteam is responsible for designing and creating the drivetrain for the robot. After the drive train is done, every time the drive train is used, it must be checked for things that have broken and subsequently need repair. This team must work with different gear ratios to find a sufficient balance between acceleration and torque.

Manipulator

This subteam is responsible for creating any form of mechanical manipulator as required by the current year’s challenge. They work closely with the controls and programming teams to ensure that provisions are made to allow for the device. In previous years, this subteam has been responsible for creating a scissor lift mechanism, staged lift system, and ball collection and shooting device. This year, we are designing a ball shooter with a conveyor belt system.

Media

The media subteam documents all of the team’s activities, competitions, and the build season. The subteam does interviews with team members for videos, takes photos, and films meetings and building activities. At the end of the season, this team creates a video for the Chairman’s Award. We use the photos this team takes for the web site, promotional materials, and videos.

Programming

The programming subteam is responsible for programming the robot so that it is controllable via an OI (Operator Interface) or other method as dictated by the challenge. This team will work closely with the controls team to ensure that all wiring is correct and the controls team will assist in wiring extra programming sensors, etc. They are also responsible for creating autonomous/hybrid code as needed based upon the present year’s challenge. This subteam adds sensors, switches, etc., as needed to enhance or better control the robot’s performance. These items will also be added if ordered by the safety captain or mentor when they contribute to the safe operation of the robot and protection of team members and spectators.

Public Relations

The public relations subteam is responsible for projecting a professional image of our robotics team throughout the local community through local media, the schools, and through various community events. Examples of public relations include bell ringing for the Salvation Army and Math Night at Hillcrest Elementary School.

Safety

The safety subteam is responsible for monitoring all activities of the team. This subteam instructs the team in safe operation of machinery, enforces all team safety rules and administers safety tests to guarantee retention of the information. At competition, they are responsible for the organization of the pit. The main goal is to create a well-organized and safe working environment. Safety is vital to the team so that we can keep order and have a workable environment.

Scouting

The scouting team is responsible for data collection, input, and analysis. Every year, the scouting requirements will change and the expected data to be collected will be subsequently changed. People on this team will spend the majority of their time in the stands collecting robot data during the matches. Scouting may also include analyzing videos, browsing team’s websites, as well as monitoring robotics forums. The ultimate purpose of this team is to be able to make a well-informed decision during alliance picking.

Web Site Design

The website design team is responsible for designing and maintaining the team’s website. Members of this subteam will work to make sure that all information on the website stays current and easily accessible. Without this subteam, this website would not be possible. They also maintain our team’s collaboration site.