Robot School, Summer of 2021

Back in the summer of 2019, before the world went off the rails with Covid, we ran an impromptu summer program called Robot Tuesdays.  It was just a chance for the current members of the High School FIRST robotics team to work alongside a batch of Middle School kids that we regarded as "prospects".  It felt odd at the time, some of the kids had just finished sixth grade and it did have a bit of a daycare center feel to it.  But not for long.  These were some smart cookies and we actually offered five kids a chance to join the Big Club while still in 8th grade.  Sure there were a few maturity issues, but generally the younger kids tolerated the squirrely high schoolers.  The alumni of Robot School version 1.0 look to be the backbone of the team going forward.

Because...Covid.  We, and everyone else,  lost a year of competition and most of a year of meeting at all.  This put us on track to lose a good chunk of the team to graduations and moving out of the District.  And the natural handing off of skills and responsibilities got disrupted.  Time for a rebuild season; but we've decided to Go Big.  Instead of retrenching and running a smaller team we are gearing up for an increase in team size and expanded activities.  

And that means it's time for a scaled up version of Robot Tuesdays.  Welcome to Robot School 2.0.

We have several priorities.  One is having all build team members learn at least basic 3D modeling skills.  I hold up a complicated part and ask how long it would take to make it by cutting, grinding and drilling.  Fine.  Now make 7 more.  Or, design it once and laser cut a batch of them.  Here students are on day one of learning Fusion 360.

In approximately an hour they were designing things like this:

And soon thereafter the files go onto the 3D printer....

Another priority is robot driving skills.  Everyone is encouraged to try their hand.  Among other things it helps incorporate the various disciplines of build, software and design.

Plenty more happening that I did not document.  Software is days ahead of expectations.  And our first custom built aluminum frame has been designed, cut and will be assembled shortly.  It should show off our new "swerve drive" project nicely.

Stay tuned.