Chairman’s Award
Team members get together and compose all of our information, such as community outreach, fundraising, and other activities outside the team, and create a presentation using this information. The requirements to earn a Chairman’s Award are an essay about the team, and a short video displaying the team’s outreach as well. This team creates each of these, and send them in to FIRST judges for review.
Software
Software designs and codes programs used in controlling the robot. They also program the robot’s actions used during the autonomous phase during FRC tournaments. They use a program called National Instruments LabView 8.6 to code the robot’s control systems and autonomous modes. They also assist the Mechanical team by modeling parts for them to build using the AutoCAD program, Inventor 2010.
Mechanical
The mechanical team members are the ones who create, assemble, and test the separate parts of the robot. They plan out their designs on Inventor 2010 (with assistance from software), cut out different parts from aluminum or other different metals using those guidelines, and then finally build the main body of the robot. This team is one of the most popular, consisting of at least 30% of members. This usually leads to smaller sub-subteams on this team, for organization.
Electrical
Electrical team design and wire the circuitry for the robot. They utilize motors, circuit boards, and on-board CPU’s to make sure the robot can actually run. They’re what make the robot’s wheels turn, gears spin, and engines rev. They’re also in a very dangerous environment. Not recommended for noobs.
Spirit
Spirit team deals with the advertisements of the team, as well as keeping the team on track and motivated. Their advertisement role is crucial to the team’s sponsors. They also have a hands-on job with crafts and spirit wear, such as medals, confetti, and t-shirts. At competitions, they play the role of the team’s mascot, sport the costume, and cheer to their hearts’ content for all to hear!
Demonstrations
This team focuses exactly on what the team is called: demonstrations. They write the plans for demos for when we take the robot out for shows. They write speeches for those who may need to give them, and also create PowerPoint’s for educational demos.
Procurement
This team ensures that the teams have the materials that they need to complete their tasks. They have these shipped directly to the school for use by mechanical and electrical. Procurement also looks into getting materials for spirit team.