Team 639

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Team 639 - Code Red Robotics is a robotics team located in Ithaca, New York. The team participates in the annual FIRST Robotics Competition. The team is composed of students and teachers from Ithaca High School and Cornell University, as well as engineers from local companies. Students work together to design, build and compete with a robot in the FIRST robotics competitions. Engineers, teachers and other professionals volunteer their time and mentor the students.

1 Team History
2 Awards
3 Team Organization
4 External links

[edit] Team History

The game changes from year to year, which represents the ever changing world, so students must tackle different ideas and create new solutions. The time allotted to design and build a robot is limited to six weeks, known as build season. During this period, team members meet after school from 5-9PM and a lot of dedication is required. Students must learn how to manage time and complete tasks according to a schedule, while learning about the different aspects of the robot. These aspects are split up into build groups with a group leader. Build groups include:

Frame - In charge of build the frame of the robot, in which the rest are contained.
Drivetrain - Decides on gear ratio, type of motor, shifting, etc and creates the mechanism which gives the robot mobility.
Electronics - Powers the electrical components of the robot, including the control board, radio, motors, victors, etc.
Pneumatics - Creates the pneumatic functions of the robot
Programming - Programs the code that controls functions of the robot, including autonomous mode.
Integration/Game - Designs and builds game specific elements of the robot. Makes sure other subsystems function together.
Field - Builds a full model of the game field for testing.
Animation - Creates an animation based on the Autodesk Visualization Award.
Web Team - Creates a website for the team in accordance of the Web Design Award

Competitions are held at the regional and national levels. In 2005, there are 30 regional events in the United States, Canada, Brazil and Israel with over 900 teams competing. The 2005 finals are held in Atlanta, Georgia with over 7,000 students competing from first place winners from regionals.

2005 --To be added shortly

2004 During the 2004 season, Team 639 design a robot that hanged on a 8ft high chin-up bar and collected balls on the field. This season was marked with several problems including a slow design phase and internal problems. However, the team overcame these obstacles and won first place at the 2004 Canadian Super Regional. The super regional was the first of its kind and featured over 70 teams competing against each other. We also won the General Motors Industrial Design Award for our carabiner bar hook and our robust, scissor lift. The team later joyfully competed at the PARC offseason competition.

2003 During the 2003 season, Team 639 designed a robot that lifted bins and placed them on stacks for extra points, as well as building a strong robot to defend the top of the ramp. 639 competed in the Chesapeake Regional (Annapolis, Maryland) and the Canadian Regional (Mississauga, Ontario). Team 639 placed in the top eight alliances at Chesapeake. In Canada, Code Red Robotics received the Woburn Robotics' Gracious Professionalism Award from Team 188. After qualifying, Code Red Robotics ranked 4th and placed 3rd after elimination. In May, the team participated in the Pennsylvania Robotics Challenge (PARC), and off-season competition sponsored by team 222. At this event, Code Red was allied with team 365 and team 284. The alliance placed 2nd.

2002 Team 639 design a robot with an ingenious bar grabbing mechanism and several subsystems that increased their strength to pull the goals. The team competed in the New York City Regional, where we received the Motorola Quality Award, and the Canadian Regional, where we took Second Place and received the General Motors Industrial Design Award for their strong, robust and effective bar grabbing mechanism.

[edit] Awards

2005

Championships - Team 22's "Best Robot Design" Award
Greater Toronto Regional - General Motors Industrial Design Award
Finger Lakes Regional - Regional Champions

2004

Canadian Regional - Regional Champions
General Motors Industrial Design Award
2004 Web Excellence
Pennsylvania Robot Challenge (PARC) - Quarterfinalist
Highest Combined Losing Score

2003

Chesapeake Regional - Quarterfinalist
Canadian Regional - Semifinalist
Woburn Robotics Gracious Professionalism Award
PARC - Finalist

2002

NYC Regional - Quarterfinalist
Motorola Quality Award
Canadian Regional - Finalist
General Motors Industrial Design Award
Championship - Archimedes Quarterfinalist

2001

NYC Regional - Judges Award

[edit] Team Organization

Engineering Design - all team members

Develop strategy to play the game
Develop a design of a robot based on the pre-determined strategy that abides by the constraints of the competition
Develop designs of the subsystems required
Develop backup designs
Once a comprehensive design is developed, an inventory of parts needed and ordering them
Each subsystem MUST have drawings and/or a schematic

Manufacturing - Drivetrain, Frame, Electronics, Pneumatics, Programming

Use the provided designs to build the subsystems
Evaluate the subsystems and their practicality
Redesign if necessary
Machine extra parts subsystems vulnerable to breakage
Machine intended backup designs
Finish the subsystem build by using the actual materials intended for the competition

Integration / Game Strategy

Design and build specific game elements
Coordinate subsystems together to ensure compatibility
Prepare for additional debugging and testing
Finish assembly

Documentation

Document team activity through pictures and video
Organize and catalog all media for team use when necessary
Record and keep inventories of parts and materials for the team
Maintain top-down documentation of team-related information, including designs, group documents, parts lists, special parts, vendors, etc.
Maintain records of current season design, including the design as well as changes and reasons for them

Competition Drive Team - Driver, Controller, Human Player, Coach

Ample time must be given for the drive team to practice and test the robot
Coordinate with other alliance partners to determine strategy
Communicate with Scouting to determine different and best strategies

Pit Crew

Find design components that need improvement
Assure that the robot meets all FIRST robot requirements (Safety, Weight, etc)
Repair damage and maintain the robot

Strategy - Head Scout, Scouts

Determine the overall strategy for the game
Investigate and record other team's robot and strategy
Communicate with The Drive Team to determine different strategies

Marketing Internal Fundraising

Brainstorm and research fundraising ideas
Organize and carry out fundraisers approved by the team
Communicate with Treasurer and necessary persons to keep track of finance
Utilize presentations made by the PR Group to aid with fundraisers

External Fundraising

Look for corporate giving campaigns
Research businesses for potential sponsorships
Utilize presentations made by the PR Group to aid with fundraisers
Communicate with IPEI liaison and necessary persons to keep track of finance

Public Relations

Make all necessary WIHS announcements regarding the team
Increase community awareness of the team through local newspapers or other publications and media. Accept and write articles regarding the team for submission to newspapers
Create fliers, posters, etc. to increase school awareness
Organize public demonstrations of the robot
Create presentations for team use
Organize freebies (pins, buttons, etc.) for handing out at competitions

Web-Team

Keep the Team 639 website up-to-date for team use and for presenting general information to the public
Maintain the mailing list and forums
Maintain a news and announcements section
Upload and organize team pictures and movies
Post information related to our robots and the yearly games
Archive past information
Increase the usability of the team website and also its visual appeal
Follow a schedule as to have a website ready for judging each season (Website Award)