FLL to FTC FIRST for FLL alumni

Transcription

1 FLL to FTC FIRST for FLL alumni Presented by: Team Unlimited, FTC0001 ftc0001.org

2 Outline Origin of the FTC Program Evolution of the FTC Platform Evolution of the FTC Challenges Making the FLL to FTC transition FTC team maintenance - Care & feeding

3 FLL FTC - FRC FLL FIRST LEGO League Oriented to grades 4-8, based on LEGO Mindstorms kit Fall season (September-December), small autonomous bots FTC FIRST Tech Challenge Oriented to grades 9-12, based on TETRIX Robotics kit Fall-Winter season (September-March), mid-size auto/remote bots FRC FIRST Robotic Challenge Oriented to grades 9-12, custom components Winter season (January-March), large auto/remote bots

4 Origin of the FTC Program Originally a collaboration between: FIRST Innovation First Inc (IFI) Radio Shack Currently a collaboration including: FIRST Pitsco (LEGO Education) LEGO Corporation HiTechnic Sponsors Rockwell Collins, PTC and National Instruments

5 What Needs Does the FTC Fill? FIRST the FTC Inspires and Recognizes high school students working to excel in Science & Technology! Lower barrier to FIRST entry at the High School level Affording these opportunities to students without an HS FRC team, or immediate prospect of forming one Allowing FLL teams to continue their path, regardless of school or corporate support and facilities Encouraging the participation of teams less oriented to machine tools and mechanical engineering Creating a Junior Varsity track for incoming members of existing FRC teams

6 Evolution of the FTC Platform Edu-Bot (Robovation) Vex Robotic Development System TETRIX Robotic Design System

7 Design & Build TETRIX System Origins of the TETRIX System Intended as an enhanced platform for the FIRST Tech Challenge Replacing the Vex Robotic Development System LEGO Education (Pitsco) integrates the system Supplies technological education systems to schools Represents LEGO to educational markets Components available at a 30% discount to FTC teams

8 Design & Build TETRIX System 2011 FTC Competition Kit

9 Design & Build TETRIX System Quick look at key components Details of Tetrix environment later in the presentation

10 Robots: Mindstorms vs. TETRIX FLL robots are entirely autonomous LEGOs are friction-fit plastic parts, no use of tools Very extensive parts list No modification of parts Available retail Proprietal graphics-oriented coding environment Teams achieve in ways that you would never expect! FTC robots both autonomous & operator controlled TETRIX uses bolted metal parts, varied use of tools Limited parts list Allowed to modify parts Available from LEGO Education Graphical-oriented and textbased coding environments Teams achieve in ways that you would never expect!

11 Evolution of the FTC Challenges Spring 2005 FVC Demo (mini-frc 2004 FIRST Frenzy ) Pilot FVC Half-Pipe Hustle Extended Pilot FVC Hangin -A-Round FTC Quad Quandary FTC Face-Off! FTC Hot Shot! FTC Get Over It! FTC Bowled Over!

12 FTC Competitions Registration Team setup pit area Robot inspection Practice rounds Judging interviews Opening Ceremonies Qualifying matches Scouting Alliance selection Elimination rounds Awards Closing Ceremonies

13 Awards at Closing Ceremonies PTC Design Award esthetic design elements Rockwell Collins Innovate Award most innovative design, notebook Connect Award community outreach, fundraising Promote Award video to promote STEM Compass Award coach or mentor recognition Motivate Award spirit & enthusiasm Think Award engineering process, notebook Finalist & Winning Alliances Awards Inspire Award Top award, aspects of all, notebook

14 Gracious Professionalism GP is a Guiding Mantra in FIRST Call it Good Sportsmanship, Coopetition, the Golden Rule Always been loosely defined by FIRST But.. we know it when we see it!

15 Challenges past... Partial list of potential tasks Climb a step or ramp Hang from a bar Pickup and place balls, rings, pucks, batons from/to various levels From floor level to above robot starting height Small to large, light to heavy Place moveable objects at various locations on field End with robot at a designated location Have team member shoot baskets Have the robot shoot balls And new tasks every season...

16 Design & Build Documentation The Engineering Notebook Bound or spiral notebook(s) All entries in pen, from each team member A working document, used continuously and consistently Never erase, everything has important, especially the things that didn t work Edison, 1000 ways not to, 1% inspiration Key part of judging at Championships Leave space to insert photos and diagrams Illustrations can clarify more quickly than words Photos of white board during brainstorming Use of CAD software for design & documentation PTC Creo/Pro for 3D CAD

17 Making the FLL to FTC transition FLL FTC FRC

18 Positioning of the FTC Unmet needs of high school age students Competing robotics programs Lack of influence of freshman in a high school environment FRC is resource intensive Sponsorship & funding, facilities & space, machine tools School support is a practical necessity FTC requires fewer resources Modest funding sufficient, lesser space demands, hand tools School support is optional Existing FLL teams can keep their teams in being Often no FRC team available age out

19 FIRST team recruiting flow New team members resources FLL FTC FRC

20 Competitions: FLL vs. FTC Focus 4 th -8 th grades 4x8 competition table, small scale Only 1 robot on field The Project is a major focus Fall season Tournaments in schools, inexpensive Many awards Focus 9 th -12 th grades 12x12 competition field, medium scale 4 robots on field at once The Engineering Notebook is a major focus Fall-spring season Tournaments in mixed venues, moderate cost Comparatively few awards

21 Organizing an FTC team School-based teams Most common affiliation Support varies from great to poor Organization-sponsored Good balance between support and independence SYRA Sharon Youth Robotics Association Independent Single teams without affiliation Often issues due to lack of support No environment is better than the people that are involved!

22 Community-based Organization Example: the Sharon Youth Robotics Association (SYRA) Community Organization - CONTINUITY Article in local paper, posters, website and referrals to announce season team formation meetings Weekly SYRA meetings for all FLL teams: info, training, mentoring and table practice SYRA Mentors Team Alumni coaches orient new FLL coaches, alumni team members mentor current FLL teams, run town tournament, referee at state competitions

23 Mentoring and the FTC program FLL alumni in the FTC & FRC programs are particularly well suited to mentoring FLL teams! FTC or FRC teams can mentor FLL teams Affiliate teams encourage the future FTC teams Sponsor orientation seminars Volunteer for FLL competitions FTC or FRC teams can mentor FTC or FRC teams Affiliate teams share expertise Sponsor orientation seminars Compete twice, volunteer at least once?

24 Mentoring and Program Promotion The success of our team was aided by the selfless efforts of many people PAY IT FORWARD! Mentor s team for the SYRA FLL program Recruiting & publicity Orientation & training of both new team members and coaches Help run weekly SYRA meetings Refereeing at FLL locals, qualifiers and championships Sharon FLL Annual Invitational competition Liaison with area FLL teams - affiliates Promotion of the FTC program Demonstrations at FLL & FRC competitions Volunteered to help initiate RI & CT FTC programs

25 Promoting an FTC team Getting your message out there Local newspaper coverage of recruiting meeting(s) Posters at high traffic spots in town School announcements Word-of-mouth Ongoing Local newspaper coverage of events Website Networking Fund-raising events

26 FTC team budgeting Step up from FLL costs, substantially less than FRC Initial equipment is substantial Most equipment can be reused each year Some metals replacement Sponsorship is desirable Issue for organizations without non-profit incorporation Facilities - 12x12 field is sizable Travel expenses (out-of-state competitions) Food budget!

27 Initial costs to field an FTC team FTC team registration Tournament registration (each) Standard TETRIX kit Competition field components 2 battery/charger sets DC motor & Controller kit Extra Sensors Extra metals and plastics Engineering notebook & photos Safety glasses Travel, food, misc... $ 275 (annual) $ 300 (max) $ 900 $ 300 $ 120 $ 120 $ 50 each $ 50 plus $ 50 plus $ 25 plus

28 Volunteering for FIRST FIRST volunteers can wear many hats... & tee-shirts, & badges... Giving back to the programs Win-Win

29 Build the team! Field trips and outings Robotic events (AAAI conference, MIT competition) Tech & sports events (Yankee Steam-up, PawSox games) Shared activities Movies, network parties, school functions, charity run Volunteer! Feed them! My most appreciated role on the team is Cook You can not over-indulge teenagers when it comes to food!

30 The FIRST Tech Challenge Competition is what ties the program together Motivation! Failure of robotics kits in the retail marketplace For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Our opportunity is to help move this program forward! Promote the program at every opportunity! Make the benefits available to every interested high school student! And... encourage them to participate! unlimited.org

31 Design & Build TETRIX System Origins of the TETRIX System Intended as an enhanced platform for the FIRST Tech Challenge Replacing the Vex Robotic Development System LEGO Education (Pitsco) integrates the system Supplies technological education systems to schools Represents LEGO to educational markets Components available at a 30% discount to FTC teams

32 Tetrix Robotics System Addendum Chassis Computer (microcontroller) Motors Power Sensors Communications/ control

33 Design & Build TETRIX System 2011 FTC Competition Kit

34 Design & Build TETRIX System 2011 FTC Competition Kit TETRIX Education Base Set, which includes: Brackets and mounts Structural channel and plates Structural tubing and hubs Wheels and gears and omniwheels Battery pack and charger Hard Point Connectors for attaching TETRIX elements to LEGO Technic elements Servos, DC motors, and associated HiTechnic controllers Fasteners and tools Storage bin NEW TETRIX Getting Started Printed Guide and DVD LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT Base Set, which includes: NXT Intelligent Brick Rechargeable NXT battery and charger Servo motors, gears, LEGO Technic beams Storage bin Install CD & one-year FTC team license for LabVIEW for LEGO MINDSTORMS Install CD & one-year team license for PTC Creo/Pro 3D CAD/CAM design s/w One Logitech joystick controller $650 w/lego NXT kit, $450 w/o it, order at team registration

35 Design & Build TETRIX System 2011 FTC Resource Kit Kit provides more than 40 useful TETRIX parts Includes the larger gears and longer channel that are not included in the TETRIX Education Base Set. Includes two additional DC motors and one Logitech joystick controller, and a sturdy plastic storage bin. $199, order at team registration

36 Design & Build TETRIX System Samantha Wi- Fi for Operator Control b wireless-to-usb adapter for use with the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Intelligent Brick and the TETRIX building system in the FTC program. Connects through computer Wi-Fi adapter or Wi-Fi router/access point LED lights used for status monitoring and troubleshooting. $50, order (only one) at team registration Order additional TETRIX components at

37 Design & Build TETRIX System Motor Systems

38 TETRIX Servomotor Systems Servomotor Controller - up to 6 individual servomotors Servo motor throw Chains from NXT/other motor controllers

39 TETRIX DC Motor Systems DC motor controller up to 4 DC motors (in pairs) Connection pair for PID loop control Chains from NXT/other motor controllers

40 TETRIX DC motor direct drive

41 TETRIX DC motor direct drive

42 TETRIX LEGO Motor Systems

43 TETRIX Gears & wheels

44 TETRIX Omni Wheels Rollers allow free motion perpendicular to the axis of wheel rotation Easy pivoting for chassis Roller rotation Wheel rotation

45 TETRIX Sprockets & Chain Kit New TETRIX system enhancement for 2009/10 15, 24 and 32 tooth aluminum sprockets 5 feet of.250 inch steel chain 4 master links Chain breaker to cut chain

46 TETRIX Servo structural components

47 TETRIX Structural metal & hardware

48 TETRIX simple chassis design Simple 4 wheel, independent drive motors, ungeared TETRIX tires have very good traction, long wheelbase will resist differential turning

49 TETRIX Power systems One 12 volt NiMH rechargeable battery pack, fused Order spare(s) Powers all the secondary non-lego systems

50 Robots: Mindstorms vs. TETRIX FLL robots are entirely autonomous LEGOs are friction-fit plastic parts, no use of tools Very extensive parts list No modification of parts Available retail Proprietal graphics-oriented coding environment Teams achieve in ways that you would never expect! FTC robots both autonomous & operator controlled TETRIX uses bolted metal parts, varied use of tools Limited parts list Allowed to modify parts Available from LEGO Education Graphical-oriented and textbased coding environments Teams achieve in ways that you would never expect!

51 TETRIX Coding LabVIEW

52 TETRIX Coding RobotC