Winter 2007-08 News
Meet “The Green Machine” at TechFest! By Sophie B.
February 27, 2008 -- Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816, The Green Machine, will have its 2007 competition robot on display and for demonstration during TechFest, a celebration of science and engineering taking place on Saturday, March 1. Sponsored by The Works, the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology Alumni Society and the Society of Women Engineers, this year’s National Engineers Week event will focus on various aspect of mechanical engineering. The Works is a hands-on museum of science and engineering located on the third floor of the Edina Community Center. During this free event, members of the community are invited to build a catapult, visit The Works hands-on museum, tour various demonstrations staged by the University of Minnesota, and even meet Goldy Gopher! The hours of TechFest are 9 AM to 5 PM; the Edina Community Center, 5701 Normandale Road. For more information, visit The Works, or National Engineers Week.
Simley Scrimmage Reveals Robot Strengths By Aliza M.
February 19, 2008 -- As the Minnesota and Wisconsin Regional Competitions draw ever closer, Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816, The Green Machine, has put the finishing touches on its 2008 robot. The team’s hours of effort were evident and put to good use Saturday, February 16, when 18 team members woke up early to attend a pre-tournament scrimmage hosted by Team 2518, Simley High School, Inver Grove Heights. Edina Robotics was one of nine metro-area FRC teams to attend the scrimmage to test their robots’ speed and power. It was a terrific opportunity to see how well “Zerkit,” our 2008 robot, would stacked up against the competition while playing this year’s game, FIRST Overdrive. Although Zerkit initially experienced some technical difficulties, the glitches were figured out and it was discovered that Zerkit was able to execute one of the most effective strategies to complete this year’s task. The task requires robots to place an almost nine-pound inflatable “Trackball” on an Overpass, push it off that Overpass, then roll or push it around a NASCAR-like track course, before again placing the ball on the Overpass, and starting around the track once again. Teams competed in alliances of three robots, and each alliance was marked with either a red or blue flag. While it was clear some additional tinkering by the build and programming subteams needed to be done, including downloading the hybrid mode programming codes to Zerkit, the robot’s performance was a big inspiration and raised the team’s hopes for doing well in the regional competitions. Those team members not directly controlling Zerkit’s moves on the track kept up a steady stream of support for the team. The Green Machine thanks Team 2518 for hosting an incredible event that will definitely help all FRC teams to do well at their regional tournaments.
Edina Robotics Gives a Lift to Donors Attending Education Fund Event By Sophie B.
January 28, 2008 -- Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816, The Green Machine, provided demonstrations of its 2007 competition robot and promoted the upcoming FIRST Minnesota Regional to guests attending the “Show and Tell Donor Lunch Program” hosted by the Edina Education Fund. Before the luncheon/fundraiser at Edina High School on Monday, the more than 300 attendees were able to see for themselves how their donations have tremendously affected the lives of Edina students, from kindergarten “prop boxes,” to the EHS Breakfast Book Club, to Edina Robotics itself! In 2006 and 2007, The Green Machine received two generous seed grants from the Edina Education Fund, which helped get the team up and running. The 2007 grant also underwrote the team’s participation in “The Fuel Cell Competition,” a pilot test of hydrogen fuel cells and applicability to robotics. Team members demonstrated the pneumatic-lifting capabilities of the 2007 competition robot by lifting guests on its dual-ramp system; answered questions about the FIRST Robotics competition, and explained why a giant, red, 40-inch, eight-pound “Trackball” was being rolled around the hallways of Edina High School.
For more information about the luncheon and the Edina Education Fund, click here.
Offering a Sneak Peak into FIRST Overdrive! By Greg B.
January 29, 2008 – The Green Machine thanks Edina High School teachers, administrators, staff, as well as friends and the many young robotics enthusiasts who visited with the team during its second-annual “Edina Robotics Education Day,” Saturday, Jan. 26. Occurring right in the middle of the six-week build season, this day was a perfect chance for visitors to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at what building a FIRST robot is really about. This year’s event included a scale mock-up of a key element of FIRST Overdrive: “The Overpass,” a bridge that will stand six-and a-half feet off the competition racetrack. The overpass will be used by robot alliances to either place Trackballs, which are 40” in diameter, 7.3 pounds each, for bonus points, or will need to carefully maneuver Trackballs underneath the overpass while avoiding being hit by a falling Trackball. The team’s 2007 and 2006 competition robots were on display along with past year’s competition videos. These made for good compare/contrast scenarios for team members, who guided visitors through the intricacies of how each year’s robot is carefully crafted to meet the current year’s game challenge. This year, the team’s new animation subteam demonstrated samples of various objections rendered using Autodesk’s 3d StudioMax animation program, while members of the computer-aided design (CAD) subteam showed various parts and views of our 2008 robot-in-process. The day was an informative, exciting snapshot into the middle of FIRST Overdrive!
“The Future of Engineering” at University of St. Thomas By Sophie B.
January 21, 2008 -- Members of Team 1816 were proud to take part in the “2008 Engineering Minnesota’s Future” conference held January 17th at Schulze Hall on the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering’s Minneapolis campus. Captain David C., and team members Sophie, Hannah, and Josh demonstrated the lift capabilities of the 2007 competition rampbot (known as Zarthan), and set-up a display to help promote the FIRST Robotics program, as well as The Green Machine itself, to visiting engineers from across the state. The team’s 2007 Chairman's Award portfolio was open for inspection, and a lot of information about FIRST was handed out to conference attendees. Team members were also invited to sit on stage around the podium during the conference keynote address, given by Betty Shanahan, Executive Director and CEO of the Society of Women Engineers. Ms. Shanahan spoke of the urgent need to “broaden the appeal of engineering,” and pointed to Team 1816 as an example of how to reach students and help them become interested in studying engineering. All in all, it was a great opportunity to spread the message of FIRST and demonstrate what the coming generation will have to offer.
The Green Machine Hosts Robotics Education Day on January 26, 2008
January 16, 2008 -- How best to communicate the excitement Team 1816 feels as it designs a robot that will compete well in the FIRST competitions this spring? How can we thank our teachers and administrators, not only for the classroom education but the time and space in which to work as we problem-solve whether to “hurdle” or “herd” a ten-pound, 40” ball around a track? How can we show our sponsors that their funding is going to a worthy effort? The Green Machine is delighted to announce its second annual “Robotics Education Day Open House,” an opportunity to show-and-tell about the team’s efforts this season. On January 26 from 111:30 AM to 2:30 PM, Team, 1816 will devote a few hours of productive build time mid-way through the six-week build period to share progress-to-date with educators, administrators, sponsors, and other community representatives.
And… We’re Off To The Races! By Greg B.
January 7, 2008 -- After months of anticipation, and few weeks of puzzling over game clues, the 2008 FIRST Robotics Competition Season finally kicked off Saturday January 5th with the unveiling of the new game challenge: FIRST Overdrive. In Minneapolis at the University of Minnesota’s Coffman Union, more than 60 teams and 700 people were on hand to view the live NASA TV broadcast from Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, N.H., home of FIRST’s headquarters.
Prior to the morning’s feature segment though, there were a number of proceedings that took place. After team check-in and registration, attendees gathered for the videotaping of a special “Greetings from Minnesota!” message, which was promptly emailed to FIRST for airing during the broadcast (the kickoff was also available via webcast). Joe Passafaro, head mentor for Team 2169, KING TEC, Prior Lake, Minn., then officially opened the gathering with a few words, then handed off to Steven L. Crouch, Dean of the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology, which houses the school’s engineering, mathematics and physical sciences departments. Dean Crouch expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity to host the FIRST Minnesota kickoff, and welcome attendees onto the campus of the university. Continued...
Thank You to Our Corporate Sponsors! By Greg B.
January 4, 2008 -- The Green Machine enters the 2008 build season with a strong line-up of corporate sponsorships. Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic, Inc., and Dr. Stephen Oesterle, Senior Vice President, Medicine and Technology, are continuing their generous funding of the team, having donated $12,000 for this competition year. Another generous company from the 2007 competition season, St. Paul based Ecolab Inc., has returned and greatly increased its commitment to the team, doubling its donation of $5,000 from 2007 to the huge amount of $10,000 for 2008! New companies that have stepped forward this year include Wanner Engineering, Minneapolis, and FWR Communications Networks, Minneapolis. Other notable contributors returning this year include Honeywell Inc., Minneapolis, and Barr Engineering, Edina, Minnesota. Through sponsoring a FIRST team, these companies help to build much more then just a robot. Students who participate in the program gain valuable technical and creative skills that modern world necessitates for good employees. Enabling students to participate in FIRST also exposes them to the excitement and sense of accomplishment found in engineering and problem solving. Sponsorship dollars go a long way by enabling a large number of students to work within the program building these skills, and so the Green Machine thanks its sponsors dearly for continuing to support the team and the FIRST program as a whole.
Five Minnesota Teams Receive NASA Challenge, Program Growth, Funding By Greg B.
January 4, 2008 -- The Green Machine wishes to extend congratulations to the five Minnesota teams that have received NASA grants as part of the NASA Robotics Alliance Project for the 2008 build season. The $6,000 grant pays for the kit of parts received at the beginning of the build season, and entry into a specific regional event. In short, this NASA grant helps to provide the funds to cover all the basic start-up costs of running a robotics team. Likewise, these grants go to help rookie and second year teams get off the ground. To become eligible, teams must be registered with FIRST and submit an application. Upon receiving the funding, a team must also fulfill a few conditions to stay within the terms of the grant. This includes having each student fill out a NASA questionnaire at the beginning and end of the competition season, as well as completing a Chairman’s Award submission detailing their efforts to spread the word of FIRST. Congratulations again to Southwest High School (Team 2129, Ultraviolet), Minneapolis; Studio Academy Charter High School (Team 2488); Rochester, MN; Columbia Heights High School (Team 2545), Columbia Heights, MN; Washburn High School (Team 2549), Minneapolis, and Duluth East High School (Team 2512), Duluth, MN. Good luck to all this season!
Education Day Open House! By Greg B.
January 3, 2008 -- The second annual Green Machine “Edina Robotics Education Day,” is now tentatively slated to take place on Saturday, Jan. 26, from 10 - 12 noon. Occurring right in the middle of our six-week build season, this day is a perfect chance for visitors to get a behind-the-scenes look at what building a FIRST competition robot is really about. Last year’s Education Day was a great success, with the team playing host to approximately 60 guests, including our team’s corporate sponsors, Edina School district administrators, teachers and parents, among others. At this year’s open house, guests will once again have an opportunity to tour the team’s new build site in Edina High School, see previous year’s robots, and talk with team members about the FIRST program. The date and time are tentative right now, and more updates will go out as plans fall into place.
The Green Machine to Take Part in Edina Education Fund Program By Greg B.
January 3, 2008 -- Team 1818 is proud to announce that it has been invited to provide a demonstration of the 2007 robot during the “Show and Tell Donor Lunch Program” hosted by the Edina Education Fund. Running from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at Edina High School on Monday, January 28th, attendees will be served a light lunch while hearing (and in our case, seeing) the tremendous direct impact donations to the Edina Education Fund makes in the lives of students. The Green Machine itself received two generous grants from the Ed Fund to help get our team up and running. Team members will demonstrate the capabilities of the 2007 competition robot,; answer questions, and give tours of the new workspace as part of the event. Reservations are required to attend this free event, and can be made through Sue Carlson at 952.848.4224. For more information about the luncheon and the Edina Education Fund, click here.
The Green Machine Welcomes Wanner Engineering as new Team Sponsor!
December 17, 2007 -- Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816, The Green Machine, is pleased to welcome Minneapolis-based Wanner Engineering Inc. as its newest corporate sponsor. The company, headed by Bill Wanner, an Edina High School alumnus, donated $2,500 toward defraying the team’s 2007-08 FIRST competition expenses.
Wanner Engineering is a worldwide manufacturer of pumps and pumping equipment, including metering pumps, centrifugal pumps, vector peristaltic pumps, and diaphragm pumps.
In November, a delegation consisting of corporate fundraising lead Alex N., co-captain Dan P., chassis lead Matt H., and marketing subteam member Josh P., put together a presentation which featured the team’s 2007 promotional marketing video and an overview of the team’s history, accomplishments, and organization. The group, in turn, was given a tour of Wanner’s engineering and manufacturing facilities, including the assembly, design and prototyping rooms.
Besides providing financial support, engineers from Wanner are also mentoring the CAD and build subteams. Wanner vice-president-engineering Doug Purdy is working with Team 1816’s build subteams, while engineer Evan Seydel, is assisting the team with CAD (computer-assisted drafting).
Minnesota Splash, a Minnesota FIRST regional event! By Greg B.
Photos for this event will be posted soon!
December 17, 2007 -- Three hundred fifty avid FIRST Robotics team members, mentors, and volunteers gathered on Saturday, December 8, at the Eagan, Minn., headquarters of Lockheed Martin for Minnesota Splash. Attendees enjoyed a series of presentations and seminars covering much of what comprises the FIRST build and competition season. The event kicked off with a welcome by Rick Udicious, the Vice President-general manager of Lockheed Martin. Having sons who participated in the program, Mr. Udicious was speaking from experience when he alluded to the special nature of the FRC program: “What you do in the next couple of months …will have an impact on the rest of your life.” Following the introduction by Mr. Udicious, Mark Lawrence of Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816, The Green Machine, gave a brief overview of FIRST’s history, including the founders, leaders and guiding principles.
Team 2169, KING TEC of Prior Lake then appeared, in costume, to assist in giving the many attending rookie team members an idea of what takes place, beginning with the exciting moment when the season’s game is revealed at Kickoff (Jan.5, 2008), to inventorying the kit of parts, to building a robot and finally, participating in the competitions. KING TEC presenters, co-captains Taylor and Dustin P., specifically mentioned the special relationships fostered by and among FIRST Teams. “It’s competition and cooperation at the same time. Use the FIRST community, it’s there for you,” they said. Sam Cheek, Team 2169’s programming head, also gave a very brief overview of the programming needed to run a FIRST robot.
Teams were then divided into groups for break-out sessions. Most of the seminars, prepared and presented by members of The Green Machine, ranged from the how-to’s of robot electrical systems to somewhat less technical topics such as marketing, media, and spirit. William Durfee, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Minnesota, gave a hands-on seminar on pneumatics. A majority of the presentations have been posted on the Minnesota Regional web site. As the build season looms, we hope the first-annual Minnesota Splash was a great way for everyone to dive into FIRST robotics and was a very informative morning for everyone.
What Have We Been Doing? By Dan P.
December 3, 2007 -- The fall months are not just leisure time for the teams participating in the FIRST competition. It is a time for all of the teams, nationwide, to gather all their strength for the competition in the spring. New members need to be broken in, money has to be raised, and subteams have to be trained. Here is what our team, The Green Machine, has been doing to get ready before we take the plunge into competition:
In its first two years of existence, the Green Machine let the FRC robotics world know that it is a power to be reckoned with. The team has been working hard to prepare for the coming year in an effort to live up to the standards set in the last two seasons.
First of all, the outreach team should be given a medal for they have done this fall to get our name out into the community. Sophie B., the subteam leader, has been able to get the team into so many community activities that there probably isn’t a person in Edina who doesn’t know what the team is and what it does! We hosted a fundraiser/benefit at the local Noodles restaurant, where we showed visitors our Chairman’s Award scrapbook and demonstrated our 2007 competition robot. A half-dozen team members attended the Cornelia Science Fair to help the elementary school students with their science projects. Our robot rode in high style in the Edina Homecoming Parade, and we handed out candy to kids and adults who came to see it.
In October, we also participated in the Edina School’s Open House at South View Middle School where we parked our robot in one of the new lobby entrances. While there, we showed new Edina High School principal Dr. Bruce Locklear exactly what an FRC robot can do. We had him sit on one of the ramps, and, just like lifting robots in the 2007 tournaments; we gave Dr. Locklear a competition-winning lift of more than 12 inches! Score!
Our outreach subteam also has been working tirelessly to get ready for the much anticipated “Minnesota Splash,” a pre-kickoff event aimed at bringing together many of the new FIRST Robotics teams which have formed in Minnesota this year. This event, on Saturday December 8th, brings together rookies and veterans for a morning of robotics-related seminars. At least eight Team 1816 members are giving presentations on everything from what to expect at a regional competition to how to document a team’s year with video, photos and presentation materials. Seminars also are in the works on the separate workings of a robot including electrical components, chassis, and drive train construction - everything a rookie team might want to know before the chaotic six-week build begins!
For the last few months, our manipulator subteam has been working closely with our Computer-Assisted Design (CAD), subteam, training new members not only how best to use the workshop but also to design and then build a robotic arm and hand that lifts and grabs. To date, the CAD subteam has been able to produce a 3-D model of what needs to be made, and the manipulator team has been able to build the hand (grabbing mechanism). Next up: an arm and joints.
At the same time, our Marketing and Corporate Fundraising subteam has been researching new sponsors to replace $11,000 from two granting sources that are now unavailable to the team. In November, a group of four team members made a presentation to Wanner Engineering, Minneapolis, which resulted in the company granting the team $2,500. Wanner joins Medtronic, Inc., and Honeywell Inc., as our top team’s sponsors.
The programming team has been practicing a Sample C code to prepare for the first 60 seconds autonomous mode in the competition. Our team is dipping its toes into animation as well. So far, the new animation subteam has created a hairy ball that bounces and another version that resembles a helicopter.
All in all, it’s been a busy fall. Good preparation for the six-week build that kicks-off January 5, 2008!