Team 1094 The Channel Cats Team Manual

Team 1094 The Channel Cats Team Manual

Table of Contents: What is FIRST?... 2 Gracious Professionalism TM and Coopertition TM... 2 Who We Are... 3 River City Robots and FRC Team 1094 History... 3 River City Robots Goals... 3 FRC Team 1094 The Channel Cats... 3 Team Goals... 3 How We Strive to Meet Our Goals... 4 Safe Environment... 4 Provide Inspiration... 4 Promote the Ideals of FIRST... 4 Introduce Students to Positive Role Models... 4 Empower Students... 4 Promote Teamwork Skills... 5 Support Other FIRST Teams... 5 Serve as an Area Portal for the FIRST Robotics Experience... 5 Funding... 5 Other Team Information... 5 Expected Behavior... 5 Student Membership Eligibility... 5 FRC Sub-Committee and Team Positions... 6 Parent Responsibilities... 6 Adult Mentor Involvement... 6 School Work / Plan of Assistance... 6 Build Season Schedule... 7 FRC Drive Team Selection Process.... 7 Scholarship Information... 8 Non Discrimination Statement... 8 Child Safety Policy... 9 Mentor & Coach Background Checks... 9 Version 3 Team 1094 The Channel Cats 2015 Page 1 of 9

What is FIRST? Source: http://www.usfirst.org Welcome to the FIRST Robotics Competition! The varsity sport for the mind, FRC combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams of 25 students or more are challenged to raise funds, design a team brand, hone teamwork skills, and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. It s as close to real-world engineering as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. Students get to: Learn from professional engineers Build and compete with a robot of their own design Learn and use sophisticated software and hardware Compete and cooperate in alliances and tournaments Earn a place in the World Championship Qualify for over $12 million in college scholarships Gracious Professionalism TM and Coopertition TM These trademarked terms embody the behavior expected from all FIRST participants. Gracious Professionalism TM Dr. Woodie Flowers, FIRST National Advisor and Pappalardo Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, coined the term "Gracious Professionalism TM." Gracious Professionalism is part of the ethos of FIRST. It's a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions. Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. They avoid treating anyone like losers. No chest thumping tough talk, but no sticky-sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, competition, and empathy are comfortably blended. In the long run, Gracious Professionalism is part of pursuing a meaningful life. One can add to society and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing one has acted with integrity and sensitivity. Coopertition TM Coopertition TM produces innovation. At FIRST, Coopertition is displaying unqualified kindness and respect in the face of fierce competition. Coopertition is founded on the concept and a philosophy that teams can and should help and cooperate with each other even as they compete. Coopertition involves learning from teammates. It is teaching teammates. It is learning from mentors. And it is managing and being managed. Coopertition means competing always, but assisting and enabling others when you can. Version 3 Team 1094 The Channel Cats 2015 Page 2 of 9

Who We Are River City Robots and FRC Team 1094 History RCR was born in 2001 and started in the O Fallon, MO public school system. Losing school support, RCR evolved into a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. During this transition, the core team FRC team officially changed its name to The Channel Cats. RCR is now an umbrella organization, comprised of Channel Cats team Mentors that acts as the School supporting the FRC team and other FTC and FLL teams. Visit www.rivercityrobots.org for more information including our bylaws, 501(c)3 documents, Board of Directors and charter! Get in Touch with us here: River City Robots 1368 Village View Ct St. Paul, Missouri 63366 Attn: Ralph Lambert rivercityrobots@hotmail.com River City Robots Goals RCR goals are closely aligned to those of FIRST and span all of our teams, FRC, FTC FLL, and JrFLL. Provide a safe and secure environment for student participation. Inspire students in the fields of technology, math & science. Promote the ideals of FIRST. Increase community awareness of science and technology education opportunities. Provide a portal for area home schooled students and those without teams at their schools. FRC Team 1094 The Channel Cats The Channel Cats team is all about getting our kids fired up about technology. Robotics holds so much interest in young minds; it is a natural way of doing this. Students have fun learning about teamwork, problem solving, design, working their minds, working their hands, working with electronics, working with software, leaving them energized and ready to enter the world of tomorrow! This all happens under adult supervision and mentoring and with real world constraints of money and time. These skills inspire those involved to become what they can and want to be. The Channel Cats team is not just for the "nerdy", "geeky", "special" or "rich". It is for ANY kid with an interest in working on a team to accomplish great things while learning and having an awesome time doing it! We encourage anyone interested in joining as a team member, a mentor, a sponsor or as someone who wishes to help in any way to contact us about our club! Visit www.frc1094.org for more info! Team Goals Support the Goals of FIRST and River City Robots. Safety is a Number One Priority. Inspire students in the fields of technology, math & science. Prepare students for leadership roles. Introduce students to positive role models. Promote teamwork skills. Empowered Students - lead and direct, not to build the robots! Version 3 Team 1094 The Channel Cats 2015 Page 3 of 9

Provide technical assistance and organizational mentoring to other FIRST teams. Keep the shop clean and organized. Develop and build competitive robots. Focused design and build process. Inclusive of everyone, attendance is critical during build season! Focused effort towards various FIRST award programs. Support year round outreach through educational meetings, demonstrations and appearances. Support members in career choices and acquisition of scholarship funding. How We Strive to Meet Our Goals Safe Environment The Channel Cats team places safety as a top priority. Details regarding safety include shop equipment use, proper personal protective equipment (PPE), and proper behavior is covered in the FRC team 1094 safety manual. This will include specific equipment qualification for individuals to insure they know the proper use of the equipment. For FTC, FLL and JrFLL, safety requirements are to be set by the lead mentor/coach for each team. Provide Inspiration A Core value for FIRST and the Channel Cats team is to provide inspiration through collaboration with local professionals and competitions that are both hard work and a lot of fun. Through student requirements, we strive encourage and the participation of all of our students. Promote the Ideals of FIRST Expected participation goes beyond the build season and competitions. There is a hunger in our area for what FIRST delivers and the Channel Cats team will continue to endeavor to meat that need. Throughout the year we are present at all types of demonstrations, fairs and fundraisers. See a partial list on www.frc1094.org! All of these activities are not only to promote the Channel Cats team, but to recruit students and increase community awareness of science and technology education opportunities. Introduce Students to Positive Role Models The Channel Cats team operates with volunteer professionals from various technical fields. Our mentors hold positions in a variety of positions from teachers to engineers, from talented home school mothers to computer programmers. Skill sets are too vast to list. It is much more than mechanical, electrical, and programming skills. We embody everything from art to engineering. It is a great place to motivated children by teaming up with people who can and want to help. Empower Students It is a conscious decision among our mentors to lead the students through every phase of the program, from design to build and with all the other facets of running a FIRST robotics team. Although the students would learn a lot from watching adults build a robot; that strategy would miss the core of our goals. We show them the tools to make good decisions and lead with experience. We feel we have attained this goal when the students can take over at a competition, and the mentors can stand back and watch. Version 3 Team 1094 The Channel Cats 2015 Page 4 of 9

Promote Teamwork Skills The teamwork happens throughout the year as tasks are divided out to several students with each mentor. During the off season we are busy keeping our older robots running for demos and outreach, working on fundraising projects and training in the aspects of robot building. If are lucky we will also be upgrading the current year s robot for some off season events! At the beginning of the official season, everyone comes together to start the process of deciding how we want to play the game we had just learned about. There will be a lot of discussion and decisions made as a whole group with everyone s input. Once the direction is in focus, we again split up into teams to build what we have planned. Support Other FIRST Teams Through the hard work of the Channel Cats, River City Robots is able to sponsors many FLL teams and we have a good relationship with our other local FRC and FTC teams. We strive to provide technical assistance and organizational mentoring to any FIRST Teams we encounter. This is accomplished through practicing with them, loaning tools and parts, offering our time with their questions and anything else they have a need for. We LOVE to spread the word about FIRST! During the 2010 FTC kickoff in St. Louis, we introduced ourselves to a small group who were looking a little lost. They had an FTC team but wanted to know how to get going in FRC. This new team from Hannibal showed up at the 2011 St. Louis FRC regional with a robot that would not run. Team 1094 mentors could not have been more proud of how the Channel Cats responded to help this team and other rooky teams at our local regional! To us, regardless of the final score on the field, our kids were already winners! Serve as an Area Portal for the FIRST Robotics Experience The Channel Cats team is home to students from multiple counties and many school districts that don t have FIRST robotics teams. We have a particularly strong group of home schooled kids as well. The Channel Cats team has been a great vehicle to bring FIRST Robotics to many that would go without the opportunity. Funding It has always been the intention of the Channel Cats team to provide a low cost, technology enriching experience for our youth. That is not to say the team can operate without money. We rely on donations from individuals, corporations, and fundraising. We have been blessed with some great corporate donors but still rely heavily on individuals and our fundraising events to operate. Other Team Information Expected Behavior Students involved with the Channel Cats team need to be engaged and have fun! With that, each student is to be respectful of other students', mentors and adults while engaged in any Channel Cats team activities. Student Membership Eligibility Students must put in a certain level of involvement to be considered an active member. In order to be considered active, a student must meet these requirements: Attend a minimum of 50% in team activities during the build season. (Kickoff to Competition) Follow the expected behavior outlined above. Be productive on the team and comply to shop and safety rules. Participate in two or more demonstrations, fundraising, or Channel Cats team outreach activities each off-season. These activities and hours performed must be approved by a team mentor (adult) and the receiving party (if necessary) Version 3 Team 1094 The Channel Cats 2015 Page 5 of 9

Active status for all students will be reviewed by the end of January. Final status will be announced the day after the robot ships (In February). Active students will be allowed to compete as Channel Cats in the March and April FIRST Robotics Competitions. FRC Sub-Committee and Team Positions The Channel Cats team has many areas to let your talents shine: Technical Teams Spirit Teams Publicity Teams Marketing Teams Travel Team This includes Robotic Designers, Builders, Operators, Pit Crew, Electronics Assemblers, CAD and Inventor operators and Programmers. This includes Award Presentation Teams, Animation Team, Mascots, and Cheerleaders. This includes Journalists, Web Designers, Photographers, Button and Prop Makers and Outreach Participants. This includes Fund Raisers, Sponsor Acquisition, Marketing Brochure Makers. Persons who look up hotels and local interests around competitions away from home, Organize restaurant reservations for team meals when possible. Parent Responsibilities Although parents are not required to participate, the Channel Cats team would like parents to know that there are things they can help with even if you are not tech savvy. Many of our parents find the process very enjoyable and just love seeing their children blossom under our program. Many parents help with fund raising activities, food and drink, presentations and giveaways, organize team building outings, help with artwork and the list goes on and on. For those who are technical by nature, please consider becoming a mentor! We can always use another person to help direct or take on a small team of kids to go out and produce something. Participation is not only welcomed but encouraged! See FRC Sub-Committee and Team Positions above for some more areas you might be able to help direct! Adult Mentor Involvement Channel Cat adult mentors are encouraged to use their strengths to help team. The efforts of our Mentors must be student-focused and within the spirit of FIRST. There are many chances to mentor Channel Cat members such as: Mechanical Machine Design Electrical Design & Wiring Software Development & Programming CAD Design, Drafting, Animation Metalworking & Part Fabrication Carpentry & Construction Project Leadership Marketing & Public Relations Fundraising & Financial Management Video & Graphical Publications Machine Shop Management Strategy Development & Coaching Travel Coordination Event Planning Saturday Build Season Lunches And So Much More! School Work / Plan of Assistance The FIRST Robotics Build Season starts around the first weekend of January and runs until the ship date roughly 6 weeks later. It continues on at a lesser pace until we are done with the competitions during March and April. This falls in the middle of the school year for most students. It is important for students to not let their grades slip during this period. Homework and studies should be completed before going to the meetings. Channel Cats mentors are available to help with homework problems or assistance in any way to help students with their school work. Version 3 Team 1094 The Channel Cats 2015 Page 6 of 9

Build Season Schedule o Week 1 Understand Game, Scoring & Robot Rules Select Robot Functionality & Requirements Brainstorm Robot Configurations Select Field Pieces to Build o Week 2 Prototype Selected Robot Elements Breadboard Robot Systems Decide on Robot Configuration & Order Parts o Week 3 Begin Robot and Operators Station Construction & Software Complete Selected Field Pieces o Week 4 Complete Robot and Operators Station Construction & Software Check Weight & Adjust If Required Complete Bill of Materials o Week 5 Test & Repair Robot Select Competition Team Members Driver & Pit Crew Training o Week 6 Test & Repair Robot Driver & Pit Crew Training Install Skins & Signage Ship Robot FRC Drive Team Selection Process. Along Meet the eligibility requirements listed above in FRC Student Membership Eligibility, mentors will be evaluating students on the criteria listed below to select driver teams for competition. Strong Work Ethic This is the most important criteria. We want students on the team who will work their butts off! If we have drivers with a good work ethic, they will take advantage of practice time as it becomes available. Good Communication The drivers need to be able to communicate with each other, with their coach, with the other teams they work with, with the team s tacticians, with the judges, and with everyone else who will want to talk to them. They are the team s most visible representatives. Works well with others Potential drivers are judged by how they work with their teammates and especially those younger than them on the team. Follows Coach s direction well One of the driver s primary roles is to listen to the coach during a match without question. The coach will be focused on the overall match strategy and play, not just the team s individual robot, and will be able to make the best decision. Responsible Drivers need to be able to handle the responsibility placed on them, and must be responsible students by nature. Version 3 Team 1094 The Channel Cats 2015 Page 7 of 9

Positive Role Model The drivers will be looked up to by many people (team members, community members, members of other teams etc.) and they must act in a manner fitting this. Academically Strong Drivers are role models. As such we feel it is important for them to be strong academically. Focused Drivers need to be focused on the job they ve been assigned. We want drivers capable of focusing on this and avoiding distraction. Maturity A driver must behave beyond his/her age to be successful. Leadership Drivers must be able to lead their team, to make it greater than the sum of its parts. They need to be able to rally their peers to do what is necessary for the good of the team. Familiarity with the robot The drivers and the robot should be almost one during the match. They need to be able to feel when something is wrong with the robot, and compensate accordingly. This is also important if the robot is damaged during the competition and the driver must assist the pit crew in repair. Good under pressure It is important that when the match is on, and things aren t going according to plan that the driver maintains his/her calm; this calm can be the difference between victory and defeat. Good Strategic Thinking Drivers must be strong strategic thinkers, and be capable of strategic analysis of the game. Knowledgeable of the rules. The driver must be totally familiar with all of the rules of the competition in order to avoid any penalties that might be the difference between victory and defeat. Ability to drive the robot We will test to make sure potential drivers have some capability with a joystick in hand. Initial practice sessions (with all potential candidates present) also serve as a test of driver ability. Scholarship Information Members of the Channel Cats FIRST Robotics Team are eligible for an ever growing number of scholarships that are set aside every year. We have had several of our alumni take advantage of these opportunities and encourage all current students to review and apply for these great prospects in furthering their education! For details please see the latest details on the US FIRST website. www.usfirst.org Coupled with these, several of our students have participated in internships with the St. Louis Science Center. Another great benefit is the growing number of corporations that are participating in FIRST and express interest in hiring FIRST students. Being on a FIRST team will expose students to some of these corporations to showcase the skills learned that these companies desire. Non Discrimination Statement The Channel Cats Team is bound by the River City Robots Non Discrimination statement. The River City Robots organization is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and empowerment of students. The organization does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin in the operation of any of the organizations supported teams. Version 3 Team 1094 The Channel Cats 2015 Page 8 of 9

Child Safety Policy The Channel Cats team has instituted a Child Safety Policy to help protect our students and families. Since then, the FIRST organization has implemented a more comprehensive (YYP) Youth Protection Program. The FIRST program requires that the lead mentor and a backup go through a background screening process. River City Robots and the Channel Cats require all of our mentors to review both of these programs. Mentor & Coach Background Checks The (YYP) Youth Protection Program provides a process for background checks for all Channel Cat mentors and coaches. To work with kids in our organization, all mentor and coaches are required to have a background check in accordance with the FIRST YPP Program. This in turn requires all mentors and coaches to register with the TIMS system. Our lead mentor will supply the names and emails of our mentors to the FIRST Youth Protection Department. The supplied email address will get an email from Verified Volunteers for the United States for further instruction. The process and FAQ are outlined here. Version 3 Team 1094 The Channel Cats 2015 Page 9 of 9