Designing a FRC Robot, Designing a FRC Robot, a Team Approacha Team Approach

Andy BakerAndy BakerPresident and Co-owner, AndyMark Inc.President and Co-owner, AndyMark Inc.

13 year mentor on FRC team 4513 year mentor on FRC team 452003 Championship Woodie Flowers Award Winner2003 Championship Woodie Flowers Award Winner

Ten tips from AndyTen tips from Andy

1. Pre-season tasks1. Pre-season tasks

Build teamBuild team

Set team goalsSet team goals

Determine leadersDetermine leaders

Set up resourcesSet up resources

Develop SkillsDevelop Skills

2. Kickoff2. Kickoff

Divide into equal sub-groupsDivide into equal sub-groupsWatch Kickoff togetherWatch Kickoff togetherNo stragglersNo stragglersKnow the gameKnow the gameBrainstormBrainstormStart building the fieldStart building the fieldBuy stuffBuy stuff

Day 0Day 0

3. Sub-Group Decision Process 3. Sub-Group Decision Process

BRAINSTORMBRAINSTORM

Organize & categorize ideasOrganize & categorize ideas

Focus on Focus on OVERALL GAME PLAYOVERALL GAME PLAY

Critique, analyze, & eliminate ideasCritique, analyze, & eliminate ideasPick best ideasPick best ideas

Agree on overall designAgree on overall design

Days 1-3Days 1-3

4. Design Presentations4. Design Presentations

Audience – everyone!Audience – everyone!

Sub-teams present design conceptsSub-teams present design concepts

Students lead, adults help as neededStudents lead, adults help as needed

Day 4Day 4

5. Disown, sleep and decide5. Disown, sleep and decide

All sub-team concepts are team propertyAll sub-team concepts are team property

Sleep on itSleep on it

Decide the following dayDecide the following day

6. Make a decision6. Make a decision

Review and critique, using GPReview and critique, using GPDiscuss common ideasDiscuss common ideas

Make a Decision MatrixMake a Decision Matrix Determine qualities and assign values Determine qualities and assign values Rate each team’s idea per each qualityRate each team’s idea per each quality Total each sub-team’s pointsTotal each sub-team’s points Highest point total winsHighest point total wins

Focus on concept with highest point totalFocus on concept with highest point totalAdd common features from other conceptsAdd common features from other concepts

Attribute Weight

1-5 Rank 1-5 Rank 1-5 Rank 1-5 Rank 1-5Speed 4 4 16 5 20 2 8 5 20Power 4 3 12 4 16 4 16 5 20Score-ability 5 4 20 5 25 3 15 5 25Reliability 5 5 25 2 10 5 25 1 5Defense 3 2 6 4 12 5 15 5 15Easy to build 5 5 25 2 10 5 25 1 5Innovation 2 2 4 4 8 1 2 5 10Wow 2 2 4 4 8 1 2 5 10Total points 112 109 108 110

Sub-TeamsBlue Red Black White

Simple robot, known designs, can score well

and defend OK.

Complex robot, stretch designs,

does all functions well if they work.

Simple robot, no risks, using

easiest designs.

Complex robot, very risky

designs, can do it all if it works.

Democracy should ensue… but a monarchy Democracy should ensue… but a monarchy may come about during an impassemay come about during an impasse

7. Putaside7. Putaside

Mr. Bill Beatty, team 71Mr. Bill Beatty, team 71

8. Design Assignments8. Design Assignments

DrivebaseDrivebaseArm, grabber, etc.Arm, grabber, etc.Lift, structure, etc.Lift, structure, etc.Software team (already in place)Software team (already in place)Finish the fieldFinish the fieldDon’t let slackers bring you downDon’t let slackers bring you downReviews daily and weeklyReviews daily and weeklyWeight and motor managementWeight and motor managementTo air or not to airTo air or not to airBuild 2?Build 2?

9. Build a Robot9. Build a Robot

Drive it early, by week 3Drive it early, by week 3Break it early, fix it earlyBreak it early, fix it earlyWeigh it downWeigh it downMeet build goalsMeet build goalsGive drivers 1 week to practiceGive drivers 1 week to practiceGive software team 2 weeks to debugGive software team 2 weeks to debugCelebrate mistakesCelebrate mistakesMake sparesMake spares

10. Celebrate Success10. Celebrate Success

Have an open houseHave an open house

Plan for fun, right before shippingPlan for fun, right before shipping

ShipShip

Practice, fix-it, and tweakPractice, fix-it, and tweak

Thank youThank you

Any questions?Any questions?