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Curriculum Committee & Course DescriptionCurriculum Committee & Course Description

Course Description:

Course # -

This course spans an entire school year with weekly meetings for planning and strategizing for the spring competition for FIRST Robotics (FC) and the fall First Tech Challenge robotics (FTC) competition. The build season for FTC and FC entails daily meetings and often include weekend sessions to develop both a robot to meet current year game guidelines and the development of team components such as: promotion, travel, fund raising, programming, graphic design, team strategy, and community outreach. The program and course allow students to participate for all four years of high school, allowing students to protract into ever increasing levels of maturity and responsibility as they participate yearly.

Graduate GoalsGraduate Goals

• Gained experience in working as a team

• Ability to problem solve and develop strategies to address problems

• Skill with scheduling, prioritizing and meeting deadlines

• Ability to follow guidelines and parameters precisely

• Gained knowledge of engineering skills and what engineers do

• Increased networking skills

• Construction and assembly knowledge of electronics and robots

• Ability to communicate effectively both written and graphically

• Ability to use and manipulate technology for an end purpose

• Skills at reaching target audiences with information


Course RationaleCourse RationaleEmployers throughout the country are looking for workers who can work as a team and solve problems for their companies. This course organizes students into working teams according to their aptitude and develops their abilities and skills through experimentation and guided help through mentors, coaches and returning team members.

Students work on a specific and punitive time table, where all is accomplished by the given date or all is lost, just as it is expected and mandated in industry.

As students develop banners, t-shirts, handouts, team buttons and other promotional items, they learn to act as a community and develop a team sense of pride This can translate into numerous careers in industry and develops “team” workers.

The robotics building part of the course/competition develops skills that will transfer to numerous future careers such as: programmers, robotics engineers, engineering, electronics technicians, schematics designers, CAD operators/designers or industrial manufacturing careers.

Finally, the course/program encourages close association with mentors tied to skills associated with engineering/robotics/electronics. This course offers students unparalleled opportunity to work closely with adults already in industry and develop contacts and friendships that will inevitably be of great value in years to come, if they decide to move into fields associated with the robotics program.


Scope and SequenceScope and Sequence

Freshman

FIRST Tech Challenge - FTC


Sophomore – Senior


Junior - Senior

Mentoring/Leading


Post Secondary

Mentoring

FIRST Tech Challenge – FTC

&

FIRST Robotics Competition - FRC

COURSE OBJECTIVESCOURSE OBJECTIVES

#3 – Communication & Teamwork

#1 - Publicity/Community Outreach

#2 - Fabrication (Game Arena)

#4 – Robot Design & Layout


#5 - CAD Animation & Web Design

#8 - Programming

#6 - Robot Fabrication

#7 - Fund Raising

#9 - Travel & Accommodations

#10 - Graphic Design

Students will determine local need for schools, programs and individuals that could benefit from the robotic team’s influence and reputation and develop demonstrations, benefits, attention and/or public appearances for the mutual benefit of both the team and the said entity, along with development of items such as t-shirts, brochures, handouts, etc that would advertise and promote the team and the FIRST robotics program.

Objective #1 Publicity/Community OutreachObjective #1 Publicity/Community Outreach


• Students will brainstorm with team for possible support partners

• Students will develop letters to companies/corporations which include information about: ● The team ● FIRST ● What you are trying to accomplish with their help ● What kind of support is needed ● Explain what perks/forms of advertising can be offered for their support ● Ask if willing to set up a meeting to provide a presentation

• Students will create display boards, posters and informational brochures for fairs, holiday festivals and develop giveaways such as games, bobble head dolls, patches, etc.

•Students will develop contacts and strategies for developing possible donors, mentors, new members and support organizations.


Objective #2 Construction (Game Arena)Objective #2 Construction (Game Arena)

Students will follow given FIRST directives, guidelines and specifications creating either a portion or the entire working game field for purposes of game practice, by using either exact materials as directed, or by developing alternative materials meeting design parameters and conforming to team budget limitations.

• Students will download all files and brainstorm about how to develop a game field to meet game criteria.

• Students will follow schematics and build game pieces needed for effective practice sessions.

• Students will replace standard materials with alternative materials with no reduction in effectiveness of the functionality in purpose.

• Students will wear protective devices and maintain a safe working area and use safe practices with tools needed to produce all game pieces.

• Students will test game pieces for reliability and functionality as expected by the game rules.

• Students will develop and layout a functioning arena or partial arena as size and funds allow.


Objective #3 Game Strategy, Tactics, ScoutingObjective #3 Game Strategy, Tactics, Scouting

Students will develop a plan to approach the current FIRST robotics game that includes, tactics for playing the game, design of robot, approach to what the robot will do, and how to determine what robot from other teams best suits an excellent joint alliance for competition.

• Students will download all files for the rules manual for the current robotics season and divide the team into 2-3 working groups to read and understand the game and to brainstorm about possible solutions.

• Students will appoint team members from their group to give a presentation, which includes, CAD drawings, diagrams, and thorough explanations of reasoning, to the whole team on their robot design and game strategy, trying to sell why it’s the best idea.

• Students will choose the best idea and strategy and begin development of if/then strategies that may occur during the game and begin development of sketches & CAD drawings to enable development of a prototype design that can be produced within a week or less.

• Students will develop a scouting team who will develop a system and checklist to use when scouting at the competition that enables the team to have accurate information for making choices if selected for the semi-finals and to prepare for all matches.


Objective #4 Robot Design & LayoutObjective #4 Robot Design & Layout

Students will be able to design, produce and follow a plan of procedure, create working robot drawings which conform to specifications and create prototype components suitable for testing and experimentation.

• Students will download all rules/manuals files needed from the US FIRST site.

• Students will begin to design robot components by breaking the robot into distinct parts such as: body, drive system, wiring component, arm or gathering device as required,wheels and brackets-mounting systems-support systems, etc.

• Students will use Inventor to design and draw each component before producing a part or sending to 3D printer for prototype testing.

• Students will build from CAD drawings and create working prototypes.

• Students will redesign where necessary to confirm adherence to specs and parts reliability.

• Students will combine systems when all components for each system are complete, and begin extensive testing, timing and reliability study for individual parts.


Objective #4 ActivitiesObjective #4 Activities

• Students will download all rules/manuals files needed from the US FIRST site.

• Students will begin to design robot components by breaking the robot into distinct parts such as: body, drive system, wiring component, arm or gathering device as required,wheels and brackets-mounting systems-support systems, etc.

• Students will use Inventor to design and draw each component before producing a part or sending to 3D printer for prototype testing.

• Students will build from CAD drawings and create working prototypes.

• Students will redesign where necessary to confirm adherence to specs and parts reliability.

• Students will combine systems when all components for each system are complete, and begin extensive testing, timing and reliability study for individual parts.


Objective #5 CAD Animation and Web DesignObjective #5 CAD Animation and Web Design

Students will be able to use a CAD animation program to develop a working drawing and create a web page for purpose of information and promotion.

• Students will create sketches and sequences of sketches to create a 1-3 minute animation that represents the game, the team, promotes FIRST programs, or promotes safety during the build season.

• Students will work with and understand the working menus of 3D Studio Max and recreate sketches into working drawings.

• Students will present animation to the team and ask for suggestions or changes, then work to meet team wishes.

• Students will brainstorm with the team and create a web page storyboard showing what pages, components, graphics, etc. that should be displayed on the website.

• Students will use a web page editor or hand code to produce and recreate the approved web

design into a working website.

•Students will maintain and keep the web page current and up to date.


Objective #5 ActivitiesObjective #5 Activities

• Students will create sketches and sequences of sketches to create a 1-3 minute animation that represents the game, the team, promotes FIRST programs, or promotes safety during the build season.

• Students will work with and understand the working menus of 3D Studio Max and recreate sketches into working drawings.

• Students will present animation to the team and ask for suggestions or changes, then work to meet team wishes.

• Students will brainstorm with the team and create a web page storyboard showing what pages, components, graphics, etc. that should be displayed on the website.

• Students will use a web page editor or hand code to produce and recreate the approved web

design into a working website.

•Students will maintain and keep the web page current and up to date.


Objective #6 Robot ConstructionObjective #6 Robot ConstructionStudents will be able to combine robot components previously tested and build a robot capable of performing required game competition maneuvers with a high rate of reliability.

• Students will combine drive, body, wiring components, weighing each and assemble the robot to meet game criterion.

• Students will test the robot for functionality and reliability.

• Students will redesign components as needed if failure occurs.

• Students will demonstrate safe working practices during construction of the robot.

•Students will debur and smooth all parts to avoid cuts and secure all fasteners to avoid vibration loosening during competition.

• Students will inspect robot for final possible infractions to rules before crating.

• Design and assemble crate for shipping following specs.


Objective #7 Fund RaisingObjective #7 Fund Raising

Students will identify sources of income and develop a plan for obtaining funding for team needs, travel expenses, lodging, food, team wear and competition registration.

• Students will determine necessary funds required for the team for the school year and create

a budget.

• Students will brainstorm with the team to determine ideas and participation willingness to fund raising activities.

• Students will prepare and fill out necessary documents for central and school offices to gain permission for fund raisers chosen.

• Students will maintain a spreadsheet with work hours, monies earned and other needed info for each team member.

• Students will create flyers and bulletins suitable for announcing fund raisers in the community and school.

•Students will contact vendors, arrange for deliveries and maintain communication with vendors and forward payments via the school treasurer or other designated system.


Objective #8 ProgrammingObjective #8 Programming Students will be able to use problem solving skills to program a robot both with hand controllers and autonomously; to complete the required game focus and to manipulate all secondary actuators, motors, pumps and devices used in the manipulation of game pieces.

• Students will create programs using approved programming language to move the robot through autonomous movements as required by the game play manual.

• Students will work to synchronize all motors and devices using approved programming language, to work with controller joystick/s.

• Students will determine torque, speed and power requirements needed to complete tasks for each motor.

• Students will wire servos, controllers, motors to function and work with programming language.

• Students will test and verify code/function and redesign where needed.


Objective #9 Travel and AccommodationsObjective #9 Travel and Accommodations

Students will be able to determine, calculate and identify sources for travel and housing when the team travels, along with making all travel arrangements and reservations.

• Students will determine team travel needs and produce a calendar during the month of October to determine when and where the team needs to travel for the coming robotics season.

• Students will determine approximate number of team members who will need to be housed, fed and transported and research possible methods of travel, and housing costs.

• Students will make a spreadsheet with transportation alternatives, their costs and deadlines for reservations and payment and present to the adult committee for selection.

• Students will take final selections from adult committee, call and reserve both transportation and housing, then begin internet searches for local food sources while attending the competitions out of town.

• Students will complete a spreadsheet of approximate costs for food and include any team banquets, free meals, team discounts, team paid meals vs. individual paid meals and any estimations for team costs vs. individual costs for the trips.


Objective #10 Graphic DesignObjective #10 Graphic Design

Students will be able to create and develop graphics suitable for a myriad of applications that are pleasing and evoke a sense of want by viewers, which include but are not limited to: banners, flyers, buttons, team wear, giveaways and website usage.

• Students will manipulate a graphics program such as Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, Publisher, InDesign, Studio Artist, Smart Draw, etc and become familiar with its command menus.

• Students will develop several logos for the team using a draw/paint/graphics program or Logo Creator™ and present designs to the team for approval and selection.

• Students will convert files to needed versions for print production, web use, silk screen or other specified versions required by media.

•Students will work with vendors to maintain communication and submit designs as required to generate needed shirts, buttons and banners that can’t be done in-house.

• Students will develop and modify logo as needed for team selected giveaways such as hats, flags, whistles, trinkets, CD openers,etc.

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