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Dakota Ridge High School's FRC team has competed at the Denver Regional every year since the 2006 season.
Technology Education teacher Bill Schmidt recognized the value that FIRST would bring to his students when he formed the team in 2005. The things students can learn from FIRST just don't fit well into a high school class schedule. As a co-curricular activity, run after school and on weekends, FIRST complements the learning students get in class with hands-on opportunities to learn real-world skills. FRC robots are powers by 12 volts marine batteries, which makes the makes their electrical systems very similar to that in cars. At 120+ pounds, FRC robots are big and powerful enough that safety has to be considered during design, fabrication, and testing. Each robot typically contains over $4000 dollar of parts and materials causing robot design to consider cost, availability, manufacturability, maintainability. These are concepts that just don't come into play in the typical high school robotics course which typically are using toy robot kits to teach basic mechanics and programming. For any teacher forming or continuing a team, FRC involves a lot of extra hours after school. Our school district does not financially support school robotics teams and they don't have a mechanism for paying teachers to coach them. Unlike many of our neighboring high schools, DRHS has keep our team active for nearly 20 years.
Team Purpose
To provide DRHS engineering students with the amazing educational experience of FIRST Robotics.
FRC is the best simulation of a real world engineering project available to high school students. This experience is an excellent complement to our school's Engineering Program. FRC provides students with experience, knowledge, and skills that prepare them for whatever STEM career they choose. By making engineering exciting, FIRST hope to encourage more children to accept the challenge of working towards and achieving a successful and rewarding technical career.
Team Goals
Team Goals
- Grow our Team:
A. 40 Student Members
B. 10 Mentors
C. 6 Corporate Sponsors
D. $20,000 Annual Budget
E. 4 Robotics Teams Mentored
2. Attending 2 Regional Competitions each year.
2. Attending 2 Regional Competitions each year.
A. We will always attend our local Colorado Regional Competition.
(We consider this to be a minimum requirement)
B. The second regional competition will be farther away
(This will require more planning)
C. Contingencies planned for attending World Championship.
(This will require an additional $15,000)
3. Purposefully Plan to Win.
3. Purposefully Plan to Win.
A. Develop strategies and designs to rank 20th or above.
B. Communicate well with other teams during build season.
Prepared for to talk with other team at the competition.
Practice Gracious Professionalism (Other teams will know)
C. Know the criteria for awards presented at competition.
Prepare to be able to demonstrate excellence in at least on award.
D. Make an Inspiration Award submission each year. (2024 achieved)
Use that knowledge & experience to expand our outreach efforts.
Any student enrolled in an engineering course attending Dakota Ridge High School is welcome and encouraged to join the robotics team. Next starting in August 2026, every student in the PLTW Computer Integrated Manufacturing class will be required to be a member of the robotics team. This is a co-curricular activity organized by the DRHS Engineering Student Association to support the DRHS Engineering Program.
Email Mr. Gray if you can't complete the form. christopher.gray2@jeffco.k12.co.us
Minimum Expectations for students
Minimum Expectations for students
Maintain passing grades in all of your classes.
(Students can not participate with more than 1 "F")
Attend team meetings - 2 hrs/week ( 3:30 - 5:30 pm) equals 72 hrs/year
Attend at least 2 days of competition, usually in March (8 am - 5 pm)
Active Student Members will
Active Student Members will
Try to attend every team meeting (4 hours per week off-season).
Try to participate in every fundraiser and outreach event.
Use AE time when possible to plan & work on team projects.
Maintain an engineering journal of their participation on the team.
Learn and practice skills needed to build & program the robot.
Wear their team shirt to school for spirit days and events.
Practice 'Gracious Professionalism' at school and events.
Robotics Team Student Leaders will
Robotics Team Student Leaders will
Lead the team at meetings, events, and competitions.
Use AE & Talon Time to plan & work on team projects.
Maintain an engineering journal of the teams work.
Teach team members skills needed to build & program the robot.
Demonstrate 'Gracious Professionalism' at school and events.
Schedule
Schedule
Mentor Meetings - once a month
Student Leadership Meetings - once a week (during school)
Whole Team Meetings - twice a week or more during build season
Sub-Team Meetings - as needed
to generate more commitment from families and to cover cost of team meals, transportation, t-shirts, team awards & certificates, banquet, etc.
suggested $100.00 (Link to School Donation Page)
Donations up to $499 are accepted from each family.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP ROLES
Leadership roles on the team will be determined by elections or appointed by the team coach. Team Captain, Robot Team Leader and Business Team Leader should be determined by secret ballot election of active team members. If less than two students want to run for a leadership position, the coach will appoint someone to that roll. Several other leadership positions are listed below will also be elected or appointed by the coach. Each active team member is encouraged to seek a leadership role in order to contribute to the team's success and to develop their own leadership skills.
Team Captain - will be the top student position on the team. They will help plan and lead team meetings, ensure strong communication between students and mentors, and will be the primary spokesperson for the team. In coordination with the coach and mentors, the Team Captain will assist in the development and selection of a game strategy and robot design development.
Business Team Leader (Business Plan, Scheduling, Awards, Budget, Fundraising, Grants, Mentoring team, Outreach Events) will develop the team's Inspiration Award submission and presentation. This will be the person who coordinates all the things we need to be doing, other than making robots. Winning the Inspiration Award is the second way the team can earn a place to compete at the FRC World Championship. That means this work is just as important as building the robot.
Robot Team Leader - will be the project manager for the competition robot. This student is responsible for overseeing the design, building, wiring, troubleshooting, and maintaining the robot. The Robot Team Leader will help plan and lead team meetings, advise on strategy and robot design decisions, get mentor approval for any needed changes to the robot before and during the competition, and facilitate communication between students and mentors.
Robot Team
Lead Robot Designer (CAD) - will coordinate and integrate all work related to the design of the robot. Will work closely with other team leaders to make sure the robot meets all of the requirements of the team's strategy and game rules. They will lead the design of the robot chassis, manipulators, bumpers & shell, control systems (electrical, electronic, pneumatic), and systems Integration. They will produce accurate CAD models and drawings of the robot. They will make sure the design is saved and shared with the team. They will create presentation drawings, diagrams, and images to communicate the robot design to judges, other teams, and the general public.
Software Team Manager - will be the top student position for the 'Software Team' which is responsible for programming the robot and designing/making the drive station. The Software Leader will oversee the training of programmers and the programming of the robot. They will help plan and lead team meetings, advise on strategy and robot design decisions, approve changes to the robot software, and facilitate communication between students and mentors.
Hardware Team Manager- will be the top student position for the 'Hardware Team' which is responsible for building the robot, game field elements, pit furniture and anything else we need made. The Hardware Leader will coordinate and oversee the training of fabricators and the making of robot parts. They will help plan and lead team meetings, advise on strategy and robot design decisions, and facilitate communication between students and mentors.
Structural Specialist - Works with Robot Designer to make sure the frame is sturdy enough to hand dynamic and impact load. Makes sure all electronic (battery, electronics board, pneumatics, etc.) components are mounted and protected. Coordinate type, size, and location of fasteners on the robot. Supervises the assembly of the robot.
Fabrication Specialist - Works with the Robot Designer to make sure all custom parts are accurately made. Helps to make material choices that based on the available tools and student skills. Makes sure all parts on the robot are free of sharp corners or edges. Supervises the making of all custom parts.
CNC Specialist - Works with the Robot Designer to adjust custom parts to make them easier to produce. Has learned how to safely use automated machines and rapid prototyping tools. Use CAD model and drawings to set-up and run machines to make custom designed parts. Our team uses: CNC Milling Machine, CNC Router Table, Laser Engraver, 3D Printers.
Mechanical Specialist - Works with the Robot Designer to develop mechanical systems for the robot. Helps to make mechanical advantage decisions and choice of mechanisms. Supervises the assembly of gearbox, belts, chains, rollers, pistons, etc.
Electrical Specialist - Works with the Robot Designer to make sure electronic components are arranged to simplify wiring, set-up, testing, and troubleshooting. Helps to make decisions about wire type, size, color, and type of connectors used. Supervises the assembly and labeling of electrical components and testing of each actuator.
Business Team
Lead Marketing Designer (webpage, Social Media, t-shirts, logos, buttons) will be the student in charge of the overall appearance of our team. They will lead the design process to create/update our team banners, posters, flyers, shirts, webpage, social media, etc. A coherant team image is critical if we we want to try for the Imagery Award. This will have a significant impact on outreach, fundraising, recruitment, and thus is a critical part of the Inspiration Award submission.
Team Finance Manager (Sponsors, fundraising, budget, purchasing) will be the student in charge of making sure the team raises enough money so that the team will have a chance to make it to the FRC World Championship.
Outreach Event Manager (Homecoming parade, elementary, middle, assemblies, etc.) will be the student in charge of scheduling, planning, organizing, leading, and cleaning up after any event where we demonstrate the robot(s). This work is essential for the team to recruit new members and are a major part of the Inspiration Award submission.
If our team earn the chance to attend the
World Championship in Texas
Several factors will affect if the team goes:
Fund Raising - must have $5000 for the Registration?
Approval - fieldtrip is approved by admin/Jeffco.
Staff - must have 2 Jeffco employees attending. Have we hired a Coach/Assistant Coach?
Chaperones - 2+ so that we have a 1:4 ratio
Cost - have we planned ahead so cost/student is $1000 or less.
Robot - is fully functioning at the end of the Regional
Students - at least 8 students available to go.
Several factors will affect which students go:
Who wants to go? - Turn-in signed permission slips.
Who is needed? - Best Driver, Leaders, etc.
Who will represent DRHS best? enthusiasm, etc.
Who has never gone? good if everyone goes once.
Good Grades: no "D" or "F" class averages.
Good Attendance: no unexcused absences/tardy.
Good Behavior: Administrators will be consulted.
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