FRC 2357

Golden Rules

1. Keep it Simple, Silly
2. Be awesome at the things we choose to do
3. Steal from the best, invent the rest
4. Fail Faster
5. Don't let stop build day stop us

FRC 2357

#1: Keep It Simple

• Build within our team's capabilities
• Simple = Robust
• Function over form
• Fewer degrees of freedom

FRC 2357

#2: Be awesome at what we choose to do

• Fewer things = better things
• Build within our team's capabilities
• Build faster than our time limits
• If something is questionable and optional, don't do it
• Spend time optimizing what we have

FRC 2357

#3: Steal From The Best,

Invent the Rest

• Do Research (Chief Delphi, etc.)
• Ri3D
• Look at 2056, 610, 973, 330
  • Simple, effective robots
• Be game historian, look at previous years

FRC 2357

#4: Fail Faster

• Prototype mechanisms before build
• Finish robot build early, leave time for failing and iterating
• Celebrate failures!
  • Failure in shop is one avoided

FRC 2357

#3: Don't let stop build day stop you

• Practice Robot
• Drive Practice
• Iterate on mechanisms
• Iterate on code
• Autonomous mode
• Withholding allowance (30 pounds)
• Watch other teams! Competitions! Videos! Chief Delphi!

FRC 2357

Mechanisms

Inside frame perimeter whenever possible

Few degrees of freedom, few moving parts

Low center of gravity

Robust, can take a hit

Symmetry when possible

FRC 2357

Game Pieces

• Acquisition
• Manipulation
• Storage
• Elevation
• Positioning
• Release

FRC 2357

Control Systems

• Motors
  • Variable control
  • Needs sensors, programming
• Pneumatic
  • Simple: Binary (in/out)
  • Can run out of air

FRC 2357

Game piece control

• Closed-loop is best
  • Precision
  • Repeatability
  • Less chance for interference
• Open-loop is risky
  • Rely on driver vision

FRC 2357

Quality Control

• Be meticulous
• Spend time to do it right
• Robustness

FRC 2357

Write/Test code ahead of time

• Sensor/motor code on test board
• Always have run code on test board before running on the robot

FRC 2357

Game Analysis

• Read the rules!
• Define every possible way to score
• Define every possible way to prevent scoring
• Understand ranking system
• Define possible strategies and roles
• Look for "chokehold strategies"
  • one task which overwhelms scoring

FRC 2357

Cost/Benefits

• Difficulty versus reward
  • Scale vs. Switch (2018)
  • Beware coolness factor
• Best choice: easiest with biggest points
• Denying 10 points is just as good as scoring 10 points

FRC 2357

Preparing for Build Season

FRC 2357

Build Season

• Accelerated Schedule is important
• Aim for the moon, achieve escape velocity
• We all have a tendency to be optimistic
• Celebrate simplicity (including things we won't do)

FRC 2357

Schedule

• Stage 1 - Planning
  • Game Strategy, drivetrain and mechanisms
• Stage 2 - Start Build
  • Start with what we know, develop what we don't
• Stage 3 - Complete Build
  • Everything works decently, will need improvement
• Stage 4 - Break & Fix
  • Iteration and Optimization
• Stage 5 - Pre-Competition
  • Final tweaks

FRC 2357

Stage 1: Planning

Kickoff Weekend: Most important weekend of entire season

1. Read the Rules
2. Answer the "What" Questions
   • Define our strategy and robot tasks
3. Answer the "How" Questions
   • How does the robot carry out tasks?

FRC 2357

• Complete
  • Game Strategy
  • Robot Qualities (speed, etc)
  • Robot Functionality
  • Drivetrain Design
  • Drivetrain CAD
  • Mechanism Tasks Defined
  • Imagery Plan Defined

End of Day 3

Planning is done!

FRC 2357

Stage 2: Start Build

Build drivebase and finalize mechanism prototypes

• Build drivebase
• Wire drivebase
• Prototype mechanisms
• Program base and drive code
• Program for likely mechanisms
• Finish imagery designs

FRC 2357

Checkpoint: Stage 2

• Complete
  • Working drive base
  • Mechanism Design
  • Mechanism CAD
  • Imagery Designs

End of Week 2

Working drive base!

Design Freeze!

FRC 2357

Stage 3: Complete Build

Build mechanisms

• Drive practice (drive base)
• Build mechanisms
• Mount mechanisms
• Wire mechanisms
• Program for mechanisms
• Start programming for autonomous
• Build bumpers
• Imagery design builds
• Set up pit in shop, try it out

FRC 2357

Checkpoint: Stage 3

• Complete
  • Working mechanisms on robot
  • Mechanism code (with sensors)
  • Basic autonomous code
  • Bumpers
  • Robot imagery complete

End of Week 4

Working robot!

FRC 2357

Stage 4: Break & Fix

Stress test, iterate, and optimize

• Drive practice (driving + mechanisms)
• Stress test robot and fix what breaks
  • Run it into a wall, etc.
• Fine tune mechanisms, sensors and code
• Iterate on autonomous
• Pit drills
  • Pre-match checklist and Simulate fixes
• Scrimmage Matches

FRC 2357

Checkpoint: Stage 4

• Complete
  • Practice robot complete
  • Cycle time meet goals
  • Autonomous meets goals
  • Robot pre-inspection
  • Robot measured, weighed, photos and videos
  • Pit checklists complete
  • Imagery elements complete

Stop build day

Ready for competition!

FRC 2357

Stage 5: Pre-competition

Prepare for competition, optimize

• Drive practice (track cycle times)
• Autonomous testing and tuning
• Watch other teams, reveals, etc.
• Spare parts
• Look for improvements (withholding allowance)
• Competition packing checklist
• Pack for competition
• Plan Pit set-up and tear-down
• Scouting plan

FRC 2357

Checkpoint: Competition

• Complete
  • Competition packing checklist
  • Everything packed up
  • Student waivers
  • Team, Robot, and award info (brochures, etc)
  • Scouting Plan

Final Thoughts & Inspiration

FRC 2357

Things to Remember

1. Personal hygiene
2. Academics
3. Health
4. Mental Health
5. We are family
6. Reasonable Goals

FRC 2357

This is the year...

• Relish you role, accept it as imperfect as it may be, and enjoy it.  You may never get a chance at it again.
• Choose one person on your team, the one no one else is paying attention to, and inspire.
• Choose another person on your team, the one who has really stepped up and hasn’t been noticed yet, and recognize.
• Gracious Professionalism is a standard to work toward personally.
  • Never use it as a gauge to point out someone else’s shortcomings.

FRC 2357

This is the year...

• Compete harder than you did last year.

• Share more than you did last year.

• Get to know a different part of FIRST this year, one you know very little about.

FRC 2357

This is the year...

• Do/Learn one thing this year that betters your future.

• Do/Teach one thing this year that betters the future of your team.

• Do one thing this year that leaves FIRST in better shape than you found it in.

FRC 2357

This is the year...

• Have the courage to carry the FIRST message into the rest of your life.

• Be willing to say, “I participate in FIRST because I want to change the culture for the better” even though you know many will not understand and may even laugh at you.

FRC 2357

“Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson