WHIRR Robotics - lessons learned!

“Lessons Learned” during our Rookie Season!

Mark all dates on a calendar, and check it often.   Things creep up on your QUICKLY!

Things we did well / things we need to improve:

            Used safety glasses, need to remember gloves!

            Visiting other team’s pits, need to report info back to drive team!

            Everyone involved, need to make sure someone is in the pit for repairs!

            Having cellphones kept people accessible, need to keep OUT of pit

READ the Safety Manual!

READ the Game Manual!

At a competition:

Don’t miss practice time

Talking to judges – best to be comfortable, not nervous.  Don’t correct each other.

Pit items – things we saw in pits:

Clock

Whiteboard with match times

Stepladder/stepstool

Folding chairs

ShopVac

Trophy cases – with chalkboard on back!

Notebook on display

Team Portfolio, Scrapbook, Business Documentation

Brochures – “Mentor our team?” – “Want to be a part of our team?”

EZ-Up tents

Items we saw other teams sharing:

Weepuls

Safety Kits

Laminated Sheet, can write on with whiteboard markers, blank match info

An old robot can be repurposed:

New robot cart! 

Frisbee thrower became a t-shirt cannon. 

Coffeemaker on a robot

Buttons were good to pass out, need a postcard/flyer/business card

FEED THE TEAM!

Game name & Year on t-shirt

“Our Robot Capabilities” – on web page – make QR Code

Things the kids really liked

Making friends

Working with others – teammates and other teams

Talking strategy

The FOOD

SMART girl – other teams/kids

Things WE NEED to do:

Need to get more organized

Need to recruit more students

Need more tool training, need it earlier

Wiring through the pole was hard

Need more electrical training, better plan for wiring

Better design for robot – include wiring in plan

Hearing Protection should be a priority

Build the Drive Train earlier

More time for build – more meetings during build season.

More time programming

More practice driving

Things we learned about our robot:

The winch wasn’t working

Need a better grabbing mechanism

Simple would be better

Should have used off-the-shelf parts

Simpler and smaller robots worked well.

Precision is important.  Motion – winch is not precision.

No sensors

Encoders

Consider Omniwheels – able to go sideways, consider other wheels.

Need a better autonomous plan.

Need more programming training

Scouting – need list of questions to ask teams

            Better questions, drive team, scouting.

Nice to have whiteboards

Shelves in pits

Shoe boxes in totes to go on shelves

Recruit Game Part builders BEFORE kickoff

Make inventory of what we have

Get more people

Stay Eligible

Need a team handbook

Team needs – no cheese, lactose free, etc.

we kept in our First Aid box: hair ties, lactose pills!

Mentors list to improve next year:

No computers/phones in build area

Treat robotics like other school activities – let us know BEFORE if you can’t come

Machine vs hand tools – training for power tools

Students doing more, mentors less.

Training students – qualify to use tools

            Badges – helper/apprentice/journeyman/master

Need:  Metal Chopsaw

Need:  Dremel

We need a Succession plan – who is in charge, who is the backup, and a year to year plan.

Check bill of materials!

Organizers for screws, etc.

Schedule the workweek.

Longer build sessions, have a scheduled break.

Student qualifications – to earn varsity letter, to earn graduation cord.