Mechapirates

1. Santa Ynez High School Robotics Team Mechapirates Team 5136

2. Mission Statement • Promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and math in an afterschool program. • Team members excel at construction, mechanics, programming, thinking, and teamwork • Teach team members through a challenging guided experience • To operate this team like a start-up company.

3. The Varsity Sport for the MindTM • F.I.R.S.T (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) • Competition, energy and teamwork just like a sport • Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams of students are challenged to: • Raise funds • Design a team "brand" • Hone teamwork skills • Build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors in a six week time period • It’s as close to "real-world engineering" as a student can get. • Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team.

4. 2013-14 Season Goals • October 2013 our program goals: • to give it our all so we were tired when we were done • raise enough money to compete • have a functioning robot, have mentors, be proud!!!, • learn new skills • Mr Swanitz. would consider us a success • In November 2013, we attained enough funds and mentors to start participate in the FRC competition • First year (rookie) robotics competition goals: • Build robot that can participate in competition • Be able to drive on field (remote control) • Score in a single manner • Not catch fire • We thought about adding to finish in the middle of the pack, but decided that that goal was too high.

5. 2014 FRC Design Specifications: • Robot Must be able to do one or more of the following: • Move throughout the field of play √ • Retrieve a ball √ • Catch a ball √ • Pass a ball √ • Shoot a ball √ • Block opponent from making a goal √

6. 5136 engineering process • Using an established engineering process is key to success Detailed design using Solidworks • Fabrication • Parts custom built in machine shop • Define functions of robot • Strategy based • Skills based Prototype • Programming • Autonomous mode • Tele-operated mode • Testing • Adjustment • Improvement • Strategy supported by robot design

7. Challenges: • Working as a cohesive team • Working 6-7 days a week for six weeks (before school, afterschool and weekends) • Homework and keeping grades up during the build season • Create an awareness of our new team • Keeping the design within our abilities • Staying within a budget

8. Exercise in problem solving • Project based learning to the extreme •   Learn from professional engineers •   Build and compete with a robot of their own design  •   Learn and use sophisticated software and hardware •   Compete and cooperate in alliances and tournaments • Create a robot to strict specifications • Compromise within team on functions and strategy • Design limited by skill set and experience • Madera and St. Louis more than Competition • On site integration and trouble shooting • Pit crew, alliance strategy, safety, marketing • Gracious professionalism

9. Madera FRC Competition • Selected by veteran team for alliance • Competed in the finals • Received the FRC Rookie All-Star Award • “for outstanding achievement by a first year team”

10. St. Louis World Championship • 400 teams competing from 17 countries • Teams broken into 4 divisions of 100 teams • Newton, Archimedes, Galileo, Curie • Winner of each competes in Einstein division for the grand championship • Team 5136 accolades • Highest rookie seed in Newton Division • Chosen to be on alliance with top seeded team • Team 1678, Citrus Circuits, Davis, Calif.; • Team 1114, Simbotics, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.; • Team 1640, Sab-BOT-age, Downingtown, Pa.; • Team 5136, Mechapirates, Santa Ynez, Calif. • Newton Division winner • Einstein division Finalist (2nd in world)

11. Internal Support • SYVHS District World Competition Fee $5K • Maintenance Staff quickly adapted the build room for our safe use - Gary, Polo, Richard • Business Office responded quickly to all of our needs - Renee, Cindy, Susan and Nicole • Mark Swanitz promoted FRC with the staff • Students committed on average 15-20 hours per week to the project on top of homework, sport and school. A few hardy students committed more. • Teacher advisor and spouse lived here

12. External support • Community supports STEM educational program • Over 30 local sponsors • Platinum: Limotta IT and Raytheon • Gold: SYV Youth rec, Solvang Rotary, Valley Foundation • Mentor support • Over 10 mentors contributed in excess of 1000 unpaid volunteer hours and traveled to St. Louis using their vacation time. Several mentors lived here as well. • 3512 (Orcutt) mentored us throughout the season • 973 (Atascadero) mentored us after Central Valley regional • 1717 (DP) gave us the initial tour of their facility

13. Goals vs. Outcome Goal Outcome >$35,000 Built 2 robots (one for competition second for practice) Invited to World Championships Placed 2nd at championships Selected by veteran teams World class robot, highly reliable 1000+ donated hours Hardest fun ever! • Fund Raising • Functioning robot • Participate in competition • Not catch fire • Mentor support • Learn

14. Goals for next year • Use successful rookie year to attract more students • Attract more mentors • Engineering, Business, Marketing, • Build world class robot • Use proven real world engineering practices • Requirements based design • Attend 2 regional competitions • Reach finals of competition • Promote “gracious professionalism” of team 5136 within Santa Ynez and tri county area

15. Questions?