Summary for Saturday
2/11/21
Hi All,
Here is a summary of our Thursday meeting. We have assigned a lead to each group of tasks and helpers, in small groups for work on our Saturday meeting:
Robot Cart - Sebastian to Lead (Ryan)
Helpers: Peter, Shane, Sid
Mockups size verifications: Need Sebastian to define what these are (test cases)
Measure casters and plates for reuse on new cart
Evaluate what stock we have to use for robot cart
Operator Console Decisions and hands-on review - Nandini to Lead (Dan)
Helpers: Josh G, Nick, Yashwin, Varun
In-person evaluation and feedback with previous operators
Switch and input device layout evaluation
Programming - Shiv to Lead, Arjun assist
Learners: David G, Joshua, Andon
Need a basic RoboRio, motor controller and motor setup?
Develop basic code to drive motors, deploy
Pathfinder
Command-based programming, if time
PID tuning, if time
Swerve Drive: Peter to Show Progress (Mike)
Swerve Drive machining, but not until Mid-February
Thanks!
-Ryan P
Here is a summary of our Thursday meeting. We have assigned a lead to each group of tasks and helpers, in small groups for work on our Saturday meeting:
Robot Cart - Sebastian to Lead (Ryan)
Helpers: Peter, Shane, Sid
Mockups size verifications: Need Sebastian to define what these are (test cases)
Measure casters and plates for reuse on new cart
Evaluate what stock we have to use for robot cart
Operator Console Decisions and hands-on review - Nandini to Lead (Dan)
Helpers: Josh G, Nick, Yashwin, Varun
In-person evaluation and feedback with previous operators
Switch and input device layout evaluation
Programming - Shiv to Lead, Arjun assist
Learners: David G, Joshua, Andon
Need a basic RoboRio, motor controller and motor setup?
Develop basic code to drive motors, deploy
Pathfinder
Command-based programming, if time
PID tuning, if time
Swerve Drive: Peter to Show Progress (Mike)
Swerve Drive machining, but not until Mid-February
Thanks!
-Ryan P
Kickoff, Continued
1/9/21
Hi All,
Thanks to those that participated in kickoff. We are taking some time to read the 2021 At Home Challenge Manual, and will reconvene to talk the following:
-Ryan P
Thanks to those that participated in kickoff. We are taking some time to read the 2021 At Home Challenge Manual, and will reconvene to talk the following:
- Come back with ideas for what, specifically, we want to add/change/augment on the 2020 robot
- Who wants to do which aspects of the at-home challenges?
- Infinite Recharge At Home (We agreed this fits in with our team goals for the season and we should try to do all of these skills competitions)
- Game Design Challenge
- FIRST Innovation Challenge
-Ryan P
Kickoff Tomorrow!
1/8/21
Hi All,
As you know, kickoff is tomorrow at 10am our time. We'll get online to chat and then watch the FIRST Twitch stream, but text chat in real-time. Afterwards, we'll reconvene on video and audio to figure out what aspects of the season, if any, we want to pursue.
Thanks!
-Ryan P
As you know, kickoff is tomorrow at 10am our time. We'll get online to chat and then watch the FIRST Twitch stream, but text chat in real-time. Afterwards, we'll reconvene on video and audio to figure out what aspects of the season, if any, we want to pursue.
Thanks!
-Ryan P
Driver Station and Robot Cart Updates
1/5/21
Hi All,
For next meeting, here's what we want to cover:
Driver station:
-Ryan P
For next meeting, here's what we want to cover:
Driver station:
- Requirements update
- Trade space (what options are being considered)
- Testing plan, if anything yet defined
- Preliminary design that meets requirements and will help us to get to a final design
- Anything else
- Requirements update
- Any decisions that need to be made
- Preliminary design
- Anything else
-Ryan P
2021 Season!
11/16/20
Hi Everyone,
Well what a crazy year it has been. I hope you all are doing well and staying healthy.
The mentors met last week and we decided to register for the 2021 FRC season. We are fortunate that FIRST has reduced the typical registration fees due to the modified season. Right now, no in-person events are planned, however FIRST and local organizations will continue to evaluate and plan if they are able. If in-person events are held they will look quite a bit different from previous years. Given recent events, however, I would say this is a very remote possibility at this point. If or when those are announced we will evaluate our team position to see if we want to register for those.
The shop remains open as an essential business and is taking reasonable precautions, which any students would also have to follow (e.g. mask wearing typically, face shields when machining, regular hand-washing, temperature checks, social distancing, etc.).
Thanks!
-Ryan P
Well what a crazy year it has been. I hope you all are doing well and staying healthy.
The mentors met last week and we decided to register for the 2021 FRC season. We are fortunate that FIRST has reduced the typical registration fees due to the modified season. Right now, no in-person events are planned, however FIRST and local organizations will continue to evaluate and plan if they are able. If in-person events are held they will look quite a bit different from previous years. Given recent events, however, I would say this is a very remote possibility at this point. If or when those are announced we will evaluate our team position to see if we want to register for those.
The shop remains open as an essential business and is taking reasonable precautions, which any students would also have to follow (e.g. mask wearing typically, face shields when machining, regular hand-washing, temperature checks, social distancing, etc.).
Thanks!
-Ryan P
Last Day of Build Season
2/21/18
Hey guys,
Yesterday was the last day of build day! Our team has done an absolute amazing job. You guys are awesome. The robot looks great! We have worked so hard this build season and it was definitely worth it. I want to give a big shout out to our mentors, sponsors, and all of our teammates, the electrical team, the programming team, mechanical team, the machining team, the CAD team, the assembly team, and the strategy team. Teamwork makes the dream work!
Here is a short message from Mr. Nate: We did it! We have bagged and tagged the robot! There were only a few things that we did tonight, mostly small things like finishing bracing the electrical board and cleaning up the wiring. A couple of improvements were made to the lift included replacing the bushings that were holding the pulleys with solid blocks to keep the pulleys from bending when they are under load.
I want to congratulate all of you all on an amazing season. You all have done a great job from the early priority list, to the CAD to the machining. We have worked through lots of different problems carefully and methodically. You all should be proud of what you have accomplished.
We have some more work to do in the coming weeks to prepare and improve our technique. We have some problems with the intake that we will need to work through to make it more effective. There will need to be lots of driving practice.
I want everyone to take a little break this week and spend some time at home catching up on homework or just spending time with your families. We will meet again this coming Saturday the 24th from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Good work everyone again, the mentors are proud of everyone!
Yesterday was the last day of build day! Our team has done an absolute amazing job. You guys are awesome. The robot looks great! We have worked so hard this build season and it was definitely worth it. I want to give a big shout out to our mentors, sponsors, and all of our teammates, the electrical team, the programming team, mechanical team, the machining team, the CAD team, the assembly team, and the strategy team. Teamwork makes the dream work!
Here is a short message from Mr. Nate: We did it! We have bagged and tagged the robot! There were only a few things that we did tonight, mostly small things like finishing bracing the electrical board and cleaning up the wiring. A couple of improvements were made to the lift included replacing the bushings that were holding the pulleys with solid blocks to keep the pulleys from bending when they are under load.
I want to congratulate all of you all on an amazing season. You all have done a great job from the early priority list, to the CAD to the machining. We have worked through lots of different problems carefully and methodically. You all should be proud of what you have accomplished.
We have some more work to do in the coming weeks to prepare and improve our technique. We have some problems with the intake that we will need to work through to make it more effective. There will need to be lots of driving practice.
I want everyone to take a little break this week and spend some time at home catching up on homework or just spending time with your families. We will meet again this coming Saturday the 24th from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Good work everyone again, the mentors are proud of everyone!
Time for Scrimmage
2/16/18
Hey guys,
Build season is almost over and it’s already time for scrimmage. You guys have done an amazing job this season! I’m super proud of our robot and all the things we have accomplished! We are currently planning on going to scrimmage at Coronado High School in Colorado Springs. This may all change tomorrow if we do not progress as far as we need to in order to make the trip to the Springs worth it.
We will be meeting at the shop at 8:30 am in order to leave around 9 am this Saturday the 17th. Only mentors will drive students unless a student wants to drive themselves. Students will not be driving other students. We have room for 15 students in mentor cars. We will plan to leave the Springs about 3 and be back at the shop no later than 5 pm. Please have your parents give you a way to contact them in case this plan changes and we get back early or get stuck in traffic.
Mr. James has offered to provide lunch for everyone (a big thank you to him!) but please come with any spending money you will need for snacks. There is a group of parents from 2996 (Cougars Gone Wired) who will be selling nachos, hotdogs, pulled pork sandwiches, candy, drinks and snacks.
I think we should have the goal of being able to pick up a power cube and lift it by tonight to consider going to scrimmage. I think we can do it but it will require everyone to focus and keep at it.
Here are the directions to Coronado High School. Good luck!
Build season is almost over and it’s already time for scrimmage. You guys have done an amazing job this season! I’m super proud of our robot and all the things we have accomplished! We are currently planning on going to scrimmage at Coronado High School in Colorado Springs. This may all change tomorrow if we do not progress as far as we need to in order to make the trip to the Springs worth it.
We will be meeting at the shop at 8:30 am in order to leave around 9 am this Saturday the 17th. Only mentors will drive students unless a student wants to drive themselves. Students will not be driving other students. We have room for 15 students in mentor cars. We will plan to leave the Springs about 3 and be back at the shop no later than 5 pm. Please have your parents give you a way to contact them in case this plan changes and we get back early or get stuck in traffic.
Mr. James has offered to provide lunch for everyone (a big thank you to him!) but please come with any spending money you will need for snacks. There is a group of parents from 2996 (Cougars Gone Wired) who will be selling nachos, hotdogs, pulled pork sandwiches, candy, drinks and snacks.
I think we should have the goal of being able to pick up a power cube and lift it by tonight to consider going to scrimmage. I think we can do it but it will require everyone to focus and keep at it.
Here are the directions to Coronado High School. Good luck!
| directions_to_coronado_high_school.pdf |
Countdown to Build Season
1/1/18
Hey guys,
Build season is quickly approaching. Only five days left until kickoff! On Saturday, the 6th, we will meet from 8 am to 2 pm at the shop to watch the kick off video, brain storm, create a strategy, and read the rules. The kick off video starts at 8:30, so please arrive on time! After Saturday, we will begin meeting to start working on the robot on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm and Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm. Please make sure to sign the 2018 Code of Conduct before build season starts!
Build season is quickly approaching. Only five days left until kickoff! On Saturday, the 6th, we will meet from 8 am to 2 pm at the shop to watch the kick off video, brain storm, create a strategy, and read the rules. The kick off video starts at 8:30, so please arrive on time! After Saturday, we will begin meeting to start working on the robot on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm and Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm. Please make sure to sign the 2018 Code of Conduct before build season starts!
Before and during build season, we ask everyone to send out seven letters to friends, family, and businesses. When you have completed the task of sending or handing out your letters please let Nate Coles know that you have done it. We have not decided yet wether or not to do a second regional this year, but a big part of that is the money for the entry. It's $4000 to just register in addition to the $5000 that is needed for Colorado, so please get these letters out.
| 2018_fundraising_-_friends_family.pdf |
| 2018_fundraising_-_business.pdf |
Also, we have two amazing donation opportunities that have been provided to us. Applewood Plumbing has also given us the opportunity to apply for a $1000 donation. Each month they give $1,000 to a local charity or nonprofit nominated by the public! You can stack the deck in Team Komodo’s favor by filling out the form and nominating the Young Engineers Association as the charity of the month. Now this nomination can only be submitted once a month per person, they can disqualify us if you vote more than once. But that means if each of us fill out the form, we have a greater chance of winning, so go to this link https://www.applewoodfixit.com/12in12/ and fill out the form. You can also have your friends and family fill it out, but make sure that they only fill it out once. (Our past experience is that they don't contact you even though you give them your info. Just make sure to uncheck the box at the bottom of the form.)
The team at the machine shop at Freelance Robotics has been gracious enough to match each donation received through their site dollar for dollar. Up to a maximum of $1500 in total matching donations from Freelance. Please visit this link http://freelancerobotics.org/index.html and click the “Donate to FIRST Team 4293 Komodo” button to donate. Your donation is greatly appreciated!
The team at the machine shop at Freelance Robotics has been gracious enough to match each donation received through their site dollar for dollar. Up to a maximum of $1500 in total matching donations from Freelance. Please visit this link http://freelancerobotics.org/index.html and click the “Donate to FIRST Team 4293 Komodo” button to donate. Your donation is greatly appreciated!
Jr. FLL Expo Outreach Event and Other Pre-Season Reminders
11/12/17
Hey guys,
On Saturday, December 9th, we need a small group to support an outreach event at Willow Creek Elementary in Centennial. This is the easiest outreach we do all year and is a lot of fun. If you would like to help out please contact Ashley Walker at ashley@youngengineers.us. Also, this Saturday, on the 18th we will be hosting a machining class where we will be making the medallions that we make each year with a theme from the game. Be sure to check the Calendar page for more information about future meetings and events.
As holiday season is quickly approaching, don't forget to use Amazon Smile. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your total of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the team. So make sure to help us out!
On Saturday, December 9th, we need a small group to support an outreach event at Willow Creek Elementary in Centennial. This is the easiest outreach we do all year and is a lot of fun. If you would like to help out please contact Ashley Walker at ashley@youngengineers.us. Also, this Saturday, on the 18th we will be hosting a machining class where we will be making the medallions that we make each year with a theme from the game. Be sure to check the Calendar page for more information about future meetings and events.
As holiday season is quickly approaching, don't forget to use Amazon Smile. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your total of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the team. So make sure to help us out!
Don't forget to fill out STIMS registration and sign the 2018 Code of Conduct before Build Season starts. For more information on how to do that visit the How To Register page.
