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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 the opportunity of FRC to all students. To increase the number of students participating on our team. To attract enough man-power to competitively participate at regionals and championship. To attract more mentors and sponsors to increase the resource available to students.
Team Goals: 40 student members, 10 mentors, 6 sponsors, $20,000 annual budget, 4 younger robotics teams mentored
Attending 2 regional competitions each year. Contingencies planned for attending World Championship.
Make a good attempt at winning at least one award and rank higher then 12th.
Make an Inspiration Award submission each year.
Sign-up - Google Form
Minimum Expectations for students:
Attend team meetings - 2 hours a week ( 3 - 5 pm) equals 72 hours per year
Attend at least 2 days of competition in March (8 am - 5 pm)
Active Student Members will:
Try to attend every team meeting. 4 hours per week
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 once a week.
Practice 'Gracious Professionalism' at school and events.
Robotics Team Student Leaders will:
Lead the team at meetings, events, and competitions.
Use AE time 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 - Projects, Events, Build Season, and competitions
Mentor Meetings (possibly virtual) - once a month
Student Leadership Meetings - once a week (maybe during AE)
Whole Team Meetings - twice a week or more during build season
Sub-Team Meetings (possibly virtual) - as needed
Donation - 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
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: Dean Legault will be consulted.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP ROLES
Team Captain - will be the top student position on the team. They will help plan and lead team meetings, approve strategy and robot design decisions, and will be the primary spokesperson for the team.
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 Project Manager - will be the project manager for the competition robot. This student is responsible for overseeing the 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, approve any needed changes to the robot before and during the competition, and facilitate communication between students and mentors.
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.
Lead Robot Designer (CAD) - will coordinate and integrate all work related to the design of the robot. Will work closely with other team leader 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.
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.
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.
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