Team Goals
- Inspire students to explore, experience, and appreciate technology, math, science, and engineering through hands-on participation in team activities
- Prepare students for leadership roles through shared decision-making on our team
- Promote the ideals of FIRST in all that we do
- Increase community and state awareness of engineering education opportunities
- Promote teamwork skills
- Introduce students to positive role models
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Schedule
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Sub Teams
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Team Leadership
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Student Expectations
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Pre-Season Meetings:
September through December
The team meets on Tuesdays from 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm, two and a half hours of continuous work.
Pre-Season Competition (Ra-Cha-Cha Ruckus in Rochester, NY)
Saturday in Late October
An exciting locally-run one-day off-season competition where we use our robot and game from the previous year. This competition is a perfect opportunity for new team members to see how much fun we have. The event excites them to build a new robot for the new game announced in January. At Ruckus, we can train new drivers and give new team members and their families a chance to see a competition without waiting until the real matches in March!
FIRST Season Meetings
January through March
The kick-off date for the 2023-24 season is JANUARY 6, 2024. Students and mentors will meet every Tuesday & Thursday 5:00pm- 8:30pm. Students and mentors will also meet on Saturdays from 9:00am - 5:00pm.
All the details for meetings, team events, fundraisers, and competitions are sent out through the ParentsSquare robotics group.
***BE AWARE! The end of the season is very hectic, and more meetings may be needed to complete our robot.
Finger Lakes Regional Competition (RIT, Rochester, NY) - 4 Days in mid-March
1st Opportunity to show off our robot in competition! This event is open to the public and live-streamed. Families are encouraged to attend!
2nd Regional Competition (TBD - Albany, NY or Cleveland, OH in the past) - 4 Days in late March
2nd Opportunity to show off our robot in competition with possible improvements! We take a tour bus and stay in a hotel in the event city for the event. This event is also open to the public and live-streamed.
FIRST Robotics World Championships (Houston, TX) - 4 Days in late April
Over 600 teams from all over the world compete at one venue. We have been to this championship three times in the past 15 years.
Our team divides into sub-teams for the competition season. Students can be on multiple sub-teams.
Sub Team Leaders
Each sub-team will have a student leader responsible for organizing the team members, creating a schedule, and meeting deadlines. This leader is also responsible for communicating the status and collaborating with other sub-teams.
Sub Team Selection
Students are given a survey after our Preseason event (Ruckus) to gauge which sub-teams they are interested in being part of for the competition season. Mentors use this information and the student's performance throughout the preseason to assign these groups a few weeks before Kickoff.
Sub Team Options
Programming
A robot can do little without its code. This team focuses on writing the code in Java to bring the robot to life. The subteam codes for the robot sensors and monitors to ensure accurate readings and compliance with software programs and allows user input to control motors on the robot.
Control Systems
The control system subteam is responsible for the robot's electronics and pneumatic control systems. The subteam wires the robot sensors and motors and provides detailed documentation on all connections.
Business and Media
The Business/Media subteam involves a wide range of skills. The majority of these skills are non-engineering tasks. They contact sponsors for fundraising, write grants, complete the yearly business plan, and write and release social media posts and newspaper articles to maintain the team's image. They also design the website and all team apparel.
Design and Strategy
The Design subteam uses Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to create images of parts and mechanisms for our robot to be sent for Hardware Fabrication. Once most of the CAD is complete, they create a strategy guide that encapsulates specific scenarios, even those with the slightest possibility of occurring on the field. They draw out plays and teach them to the drive team to better prepare them for the stress of mid-match reactions during competition. They create or find a scouting app each season for competitions for scouts to input data about the different robots in the matches. The subteam also makes an automated analysis to view the data recorded on the scouting app.
Mechanical
The manufacturing subteam performs all tasks and duties regarding the creation of the individual parts used in prototyping and finalizing subsystems of the robot. Manufacturing these parts demands diligence and precision, as well as a high standard of work ethic of the members of this subteam. Members work predominantly with power tools (laser cutter, CNC, lathe, drills, saws, grinders, etc.) to cut and assemble wood and metal. They are in charge of the construction of the physical robot per the CAD design specifications. This team is typically broken up into multiple sub-teams within the manufacturing team focused on a specific subsystem of the robot, such as the Drive base, Shooter, Intake, or Climber.
Field and Bumper Construction
This team is responsible for creating the parts of the competition field as detailed in the game manual. They are also responsible for the manufacturing of the robot's bumpers.
Sub Team Leaders
Each sub-team will have a student leader responsible for organizing the team members, creating a schedule, and meeting deadlines. This leader is also responsible for communicating the status and collaborating with other sub-teams.
Sub Team Selection
Students are given a survey after our Preseason event (Ruckus) to gauge which sub-teams they are interested in being part of for the competition season. Mentors use this information and the student's performance throughout the preseason to assign these groups a few weeks before Kickoff.
Sub Team Options
Programming
A robot can do little without its code. This team focuses on writing the code in Java to bring the robot to life. The subteam codes for the robot sensors and monitors to ensure accurate readings and compliance with software programs and allows user input to control motors on the robot.
Control Systems
The control system subteam is responsible for the robot's electronics and pneumatic control systems. The subteam wires the robot sensors and motors and provides detailed documentation on all connections.
Business and Media
The Business/Media subteam involves a wide range of skills. The majority of these skills are non-engineering tasks. They contact sponsors for fundraising, write grants, complete the yearly business plan, and write and release social media posts and newspaper articles to maintain the team's image. They also design the website and all team apparel.
Design and Strategy
The Design subteam uses Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to create images of parts and mechanisms for our robot to be sent for Hardware Fabrication. Once most of the CAD is complete, they create a strategy guide that encapsulates specific scenarios, even those with the slightest possibility of occurring on the field. They draw out plays and teach them to the drive team to better prepare them for the stress of mid-match reactions during competition. They create or find a scouting app each season for competitions for scouts to input data about the different robots in the matches. The subteam also makes an automated analysis to view the data recorded on the scouting app.
Mechanical
The manufacturing subteam performs all tasks and duties regarding the creation of the individual parts used in prototyping and finalizing subsystems of the robot. Manufacturing these parts demands diligence and precision, as well as a high standard of work ethic of the members of this subteam. Members work predominantly with power tools (laser cutter, CNC, lathe, drills, saws, grinders, etc.) to cut and assemble wood and metal. They are in charge of the construction of the physical robot per the CAD design specifications. This team is typically broken up into multiple sub-teams within the manufacturing team focused on a specific subsystem of the robot, such as the Drive base, Shooter, Intake, or Climber.
Field and Bumper Construction
This team is responsible for creating the parts of the competition field as detailed in the game manual. They are also responsible for the manufacturing of the robot's bumpers.
Team Leadership Roles
Team leadership elections for roles happen in the first couple of weeks of the school year. Only returning team members are eligible to run and vote for these positions. Each student running for an appointment must give a short speech for the position before the vote.
President & Vice President
Competition Roles
The mentors determine competition roles. This decision for these roles happens mid-build season. Positions are determined through observance of hard work and dedication to the team throughout the season, along with an interview and sometimes performance evaluation (driver's test).
Field Team
Coach
Driver 1
Driver 2
Technician
Human Player
Safety Captain
Pit Leader
Pit Crew
Scouting Captain
Scouting Team
Team leadership elections for roles happen in the first couple of weeks of the school year. Only returning team members are eligible to run and vote for these positions. Each student running for an appointment must give a short speech for the position before the vote.
President & Vice President
- Recruitment Ambassadors
- Start meeting
- Close meeting
- Set up meeting dates with help from lead mentor(s)
- Create meeting agenda with help from lead mentor(s)
- Attend all meetings
- Fill in for any missing leaders
- Take meeting minutes
- Guide approval of all purchases with help from lead mentor(s)
- Updating Ledger for Bank Account with help from lead mentor(s)
Competition Roles
The mentors determine competition roles. This decision for these roles happens mid-build season. Positions are determined through observance of hard work and dedication to the team throughout the season, along with an interview and sometimes performance evaluation (driver's test).
Field Team
Coach
Driver 1
Driver 2
Technician
Human Player
Safety Captain
- Assign safety glasses
- Check for safety tests
- Organize clean up at each meeting
Pit Leader
- Check pit/clean
- Organize pit crew duties
Pit Crew
- Change battery
- Change bumpers
- Check over robot
Scouting Captain
- Collect scouting reports
- Organizing scouting reports
- Organize scout duties
- Clarify game rules
Scouting Team
- Gather information on other teams during competition
- ALL STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE ON THE SCOUTING TEAM UNLESS THEY ARE PART OF THE FIELD TEAM
Schoolwork
Success is an important part of FIRST and the team. It is not restricted to the robot, game performance, or how many trophies the team is awarded. Team members are successful only when they succeed in the classroom, and then participate in team activities. All team members are expected to make schoolwork and individual academic performance a priority over any team event or activity. Students must complete schoolwork before participating in teamwork sessions and activities. Our robotics team will follow the Canandaigua Academy’s Academic Eligibility Policy.
Respect
Team members will show respect to everyone. Remember that adults on the team are volunteers and are not receiving any pay for their time.
Attendance
Our time together is precious. Please respect that the mentors are volunteering their time to help us as a team, do not waste it. Students are expected to and should strive to attend all team events, activities, and meetings. Students can only participate in meetings if they are at school on a meeting day.
Focus
Our meetings are very long. Students will remain focused on the tasks assigned throughout this time. Team members should follow the instructions of the team leaders and mentors. If you run out of something to do, please ask the mentors for another task. Stay Productive!
Competitions
Students will be assigned jobs to do at the First Robotics Competitions. Students will be required to stay on their given job during each competition. Though you may think some jobs are not as good as others, please understand that each job is crucial to our team’s success. Students represent our team, school, and themselves at competitions. Students will act respectfully and responsibly with everyone at the event. Students will not leave the venue without a mentor and will follow all field trip guidelines and policies the school sets. All of these policies supersede the policies set by the team.
Dress Code
Due to our team’s involvement within our school and community, our team will be following the dress code created by our school. During any of our team events or meetings, students will need to abide by this dress code. Any student or mentor seen to violate this policy will need to correct the issue immediately. As in many sports, team members have uniforms; before our competitions in March, students receive a team t-shirt as our uniform. We ask that team shirts be worn during our competitions and community events and not modified in any way. Any altered shirts will be confiscated.
Team Fee
Each student on the team is required to pay a team fee for the 2022-23 season. There will be options for students to raise funds to offset this cost. Our team is costly to run. This fee helps offset a fraction of our expenses. This team fee is the only money we ask for throughout the season. This fee helps cover a small fraction of the t-shirts, food, transportation, lodging, registration fees, and events throughout the season. Team Fees are typically due in January. If you are having difficulties paying this fee, please contact Mr. Bowman or Mr. Schlegel. Money is never a reason a student can not participate.
Success is an important part of FIRST and the team. It is not restricted to the robot, game performance, or how many trophies the team is awarded. Team members are successful only when they succeed in the classroom, and then participate in team activities. All team members are expected to make schoolwork and individual academic performance a priority over any team event or activity. Students must complete schoolwork before participating in teamwork sessions and activities. Our robotics team will follow the Canandaigua Academy’s Academic Eligibility Policy.
Respect
Team members will show respect to everyone. Remember that adults on the team are volunteers and are not receiving any pay for their time.
Attendance
Our time together is precious. Please respect that the mentors are volunteering their time to help us as a team, do not waste it. Students are expected to and should strive to attend all team events, activities, and meetings. Students can only participate in meetings if they are at school on a meeting day.
Focus
Our meetings are very long. Students will remain focused on the tasks assigned throughout this time. Team members should follow the instructions of the team leaders and mentors. If you run out of something to do, please ask the mentors for another task. Stay Productive!
Competitions
Students will be assigned jobs to do at the First Robotics Competitions. Students will be required to stay on their given job during each competition. Though you may think some jobs are not as good as others, please understand that each job is crucial to our team’s success. Students represent our team, school, and themselves at competitions. Students will act respectfully and responsibly with everyone at the event. Students will not leave the venue without a mentor and will follow all field trip guidelines and policies the school sets. All of these policies supersede the policies set by the team.
Dress Code
Due to our team’s involvement within our school and community, our team will be following the dress code created by our school. During any of our team events or meetings, students will need to abide by this dress code. Any student or mentor seen to violate this policy will need to correct the issue immediately. As in many sports, team members have uniforms; before our competitions in March, students receive a team t-shirt as our uniform. We ask that team shirts be worn during our competitions and community events and not modified in any way. Any altered shirts will be confiscated.
Team Fee
Each student on the team is required to pay a team fee for the 2022-23 season. There will be options for students to raise funds to offset this cost. Our team is costly to run. This fee helps offset a fraction of our expenses. This team fee is the only money we ask for throughout the season. This fee helps cover a small fraction of the t-shirts, food, transportation, lodging, registration fees, and events throughout the season. Team Fees are typically due in January. If you are having difficulties paying this fee, please contact Mr. Bowman or Mr. Schlegel. Money is never a reason a student can not participate.
