Training the Technologists of Tomorrow NASA, Girl Scouts and the FIRST Robotics Competition

March 2006 Space Cookies Robotics

Training the Technologists of Tomorrow

NASA, Girl Scouts and the FIRST Robotics Competition

Team 1868: The Space Cookies

2006 Robotics Competition

http://www.girlscouts.org/


Deliverables for Sponsors

• 3 paragraph email outlining who we are and what we're looking for from the recipient, perhaps a team photo from the regionals

• A Powerpoint presentation that conveys the excitement of the endeavor and asks for what we want

• A 1-page leave behind (double sided) tri-fold brochure for attendees

• Ideally, a basic 2-4 page web site with robot photos, links, lessons learned and tips for newcomers to robotics


Agenda

• Purpose of visit• Team 1868 – The Space Cookies• The FIRST Robotics competition • How we won the regional competition• Support, Donations & Sponsorship• Giving back• Q&A


Purpose of Visit

• All-Girls Robotics Team seeking to raise at least $10,000 for next round of events– Use of funds

• Travel & Lodging for National Competition in Atlanta, GA• To perform community outreach

– Placed as “Rookie All-Star” and won “Highest Seed Rookie” in FIRST Silicon Valley Regional Competition in early March 2006


Team 1868 – The Space Cookies• All girls team• Twelve high schoolers from all

over the Bay Area– Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors– Range of interests and

motivations• Sponsored by NASA and Girl

Scouts• Few of team had any

engineering or robotics experience

• Mentored by experienced team and individual mentors

• Started in December 2005


FIRST Robotics Competition(For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)

• Founded by Dean Kamen• Purpose is to inspire an

interest in science and technology in youth

• Builds self-confidence, knowledge and life-skills

“We need to show kids it’s more fun to design and create a video game than it is to play one” – Dean Kamen


FIRST Robotics Rules1. Six weeks to design a robot that can play

on a field the size of a basketball court as part of a 3 vs. 3 robot competition.

2. At each end there are 3 goals• One high goal basketball style goal• Two low soccer style goal• 30 Seconds in autonomous mode• 3 minutes on offense, defense and free-for-

all in driver mode

3. All teams get the same basic parts • CPU, motors, sensors, pneumatics. • Choices, choices, choices

• Arms or no arms?• Treads or wheels

• Some constraints• Weight• Dimensions


Picking a Strategy• Choices, choices…

― Block or Score ― Score in the high goal, or score

in the low goal. ― Gather balls or pre-load only ― At the end, your robot needs to

get back on your platform for extra points

• We have a fairly simple robot but quite effective. We focused on:– Ball gathering– Scoring in the low goal– Built low for stability– Built for speed– Getting up the ramp


Hands-On Work

• Design• Machining• Assembly• Electronics• Mechanics• Software• Practice, Practice, Practice


Mentors

• Guided by mentors but built and operated by team• Thanks to

– NASA & Girl Scouts– The Cheesy Poofs (Bellarmine Prep) – Legendary FIRST team– Individual Volunteer Mentors

• Project Management• Electronics• Software• Design

– Parents


FIRST Silicon Valley Regionals

• Space Cookies won big!

FIRST AwardsHighest Seeded Rookie Team

Rookie All-Star TeamAwarded to The Space Cookies

March 2006

Click above to Play Movie


MilestonesDec 2005 – Call for participation, Initial meeting Jan 7 2006 – Challenge announced Jan 7 2006 – Agreed on 3 goals (go for low goal only, be strong enough to push other robots around, be able to get

onto ramp)Jan 2006

– Brush pick-up, tried and then discarded for roller pick up seen in previous FIRST game– Roller pickup prototype built and tested– 28 Inch front changed to 38” front, major discussion over whether to have robot regurgitate balls by reversing motors, or

have separate system to spit them out the back– Initial design and strategy decided – Course corrections – Prototype mechanisms – Final Design – First Assembly of Robot

Feb 10-15 2006 – Repeated Assembly of Robot, pile of parts as of Feb 4Feb 12 2006 - Troubleshooting nightFeb 20 2006 - All-Nighter Feb 21 2006 - Ship date!!! Mar 16-18 2006 - FIRST Silicon Valley Regionals Rookie All Stars!April 26-29 2006 - FIRST National Competition, Atlanta, GA


Press Coverage• NBC11 Nightly News• San Jose Mercury News• CNET• Local Papers

– Los Altos Town Crier

• Various other media


Support & Current Sponsors

• Space Cookies required to cover costs of travel to Atlanta for FIRST National Championship

• Doing cookie sales, car washes• NASA Ames Office of Education & FAA are

contributing towards part of the expenses


Estimated Minimum Budget

Item Amount NotesHotel 3600Airfare 6400

TOTAL 10,000 Community outreach will cost additonal dollars

• Assumptions• Twelve girls, three mentors• Food and recreation is personally funded• Parents traveling on their own budget


Sponsor a Worthy Cause• Allows team to travel to Atlanta and show what girls can do

in science and technology• Supports community outreach

– San Jose East Side High Educational Festival participation– Girls Go Tech Event (Encourage girls into STEM – Science

Technology, Engineering and Math)– Participation in Tech Museum Exhibit for ages 6-12– Adopted Brownie Troop 990 to mentor girls for First Lego League– Other events planned

• Web Site to publicize team’s efforts and successes


Sponsorship Opportunities• $ 5000 Gold sponsorship

– $2500 Silver Sponsorship also available– $1000 Bronze Sponsorship

• Sponsorship considerations:– Space Cookies present at event of your choice [Gold]– Sponsor name on robot, banner, T-Shirt [Gold]– Written report about Nationals in Atlanta [Silver & Bronze]– Sponsor name on banner [Silver]– Sponsor name on t-shirt [Bronze]– Space Cookies will be eternally grateful…


Questions

• Contact Information– Dr. Jeannice Fairrer Samani

• [email protected] • (650) 575-9260

– Rajiv Dholakia• [email protected] ; [email protected]• (650) 400-2958 (mobile)

– Smita Joshi• [email protected]• 650 494-1005

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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Training the Technologists of Tomorrow NASA, Girl Scouts and the FIRST Robotics Competition

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