MechapiratesSanta Ynez High School Robotics Team

Team 5136

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Mission Statement

• Promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and math in an afterschool

program.• Team members excel at construction,

mechanics, programming, thinking, and teamwork• Teach team members through a

challenging guided experience• To operate this team like a start-up

company.

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The Varsity Sport for the MindTM

F.I.R.S.T (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Competition, energy and teamwork just like a sport Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams

of students are challenged to: Raise funds Design a team "brand" Hone teamwork skills Build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field

of competitors in a six week time period 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.

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2013-14 Season Goals October 2013 our program goals:▪ to give it our all so we were tired when we were done▪ raise enough money to compete▪ have a functioning robot, have mentors, be proud!!!, ▪ learn new skills▪ Mr Swanitz. would consider us a success

In November 2013, we attained enough funds and mentors to start participate in the FRC competition

First year (rookie) robotics competition goals:▪ Build robot that can participate in competition ▪ Be able to drive on field (remote control) ▪ Score in a single manner ▪ Not catch fire▪ We thought about adding to finish in the middle of the

pack, but decided that that goal was too high.

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2014 FRC Design Specifications:

Robot Must be able to do one or more of the following: Move throughout the field of

play √ Retrieve a ball √ Catch a ball √ Pass a ball √ Shoot a ball √ Block opponent from making a

goal √

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5136 engineering process

Using an established engineering process is key to success

• Define functions of robot• Strategy based• Skills based

Prototype

Detailed design using Solidworks

Fabrication• Parts

custom built in machine shop

• Programming• Autonomous mode• Tele-operated mode

• Testing• Adjustment• Improvement

• Strategy supported by robot design

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Challenges: Working as a cohesive team Working 6-7 days a week for six weeks (before school,

afterschool and weekends)

Homework and keeping grades up during the build season

Create an awareness of our new team Keeping the design within our abilities Staying within a budget

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Exercise in problem solving Project based learning to the extreme

  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

Create a robot to strict specifications Compromise within team on functions and strategy Design limited by skill set and experience

Madera and St. Louis more than Competition On site integration and trouble shooting Pit crew, alliance strategy, safety, marketing Gracious professionalism

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Madera FRC Competition

•Selected by veteran team for alliance•Competed in the finals•Received the FRC Rookie All-Star Award

“for outstanding achievement by a first year team”

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St. Louis World Championship

400 teams competing from 17 countries Teams broken into 4 divisions of 100 teams

Newton, Archimedes, Galileo, Curie Winner of each competes in Einstein division for the grand

championship Team 5136 accolades

Highest rookie seed in Newton Division Chosen to be on alliance with top seeded team▪ Team 1678, Citrus Circuits, Davis, Calif.; ▪ Team 1114, Simbotics, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.;▪ Team 1640, Sab-BOT-age, Downingtown, Pa.;▪ Team 5136, Mechapirates, Santa Ynez, Calif.

Newton Division winner Einstein division Finalist (2nd in world)

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Internal Support SYVHS District World Competition Fee $5K Maintenance Staff quickly adapted the build

room for our safe use - Gary, Polo, Richard Business Office responded quickly to all of

our needs - Renee, Cindy, Susan and Nicole Mark Swanitz promoted FRC with the staff Students committed on average 15-20 hours

per week to the project on top of homework, sport and school. A few hardy students committed more.

Teacher advisor and spouse lived here

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External support Community supports STEM educational program

Over 30 local sponsors▪ Platinum: Limotta IT and Raytheon▪ Gold: SYV Youth rec, Solvang Rotary, Valley Foundation

Mentor support Over 10 mentors contributed in excess of 1000 unpaid

volunteer hours and traveled to St. Louis using their vacation time. Several mentors lived here as well.

3512 (Orcutt) mentored us throughout the season 973 (Atascadero) mentored us after Central

Valley regional 1717 (DP) gave us the initial tour of their facility

Goals vs. Outcome

GOAL

Fund Raising Functioning robot

Participate in competition

Not catch fire Mentor support Learn

OUTCOME >$35,000 Built 2 robots (one for

competition second for practice) Invited to World Championships Placed 2nd at championships Selected by veteran teams

World class robot, highly reliable

1000+ donated hours Hardest fun ever!

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Goals for next year Use successful rookie year to attract more

students Attract more mentors

Engineering, Business, Marketing, Build world class robot

Use proven real world engineering practices Requirements based design

Attend 2 regional competitions Reach finals of competition

Promote “gracious professionalism” of team 5136 within Santa Ynez and tri county area

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Questions?