What Kinds of Mentors are Needed?
FIRST teams need a broad range of skills, and most successful teams are run like small businesses. Nearly every area of expertise is useful, and this list is not comprehensive:
Engineering and Design
· Mechanical
· Electrical
· CAD (Autodesk Inventor, PTC ProEngineer and Creo)
· Control Systems and Software (LabVIEW, Java, C++)
Fabrication
· Machining, Milling, Welding
· Electrical Layout and Wiring
· Pneumatics layout and hookup
· Assembly and Testing
Administration
Project Management
Business Systems
· PR/Marketing – development of materials, preparing press releases
· Long-Range Planning
· Finance
· Human Resources and Volunteer Management
· Travel and Logistics Coordination
· Documentation and Record-keeping
Sample Season Calendar (FIRST Robotics Competition)
October – December Team introductions and team building (varies), Website design, Development of marketing materials, fundraising, travel planning, logistical planning and scheduling, trip permits, releases and health history forms completed
Week 1 Game Strategy and Design Development, Drive Train Fabrication, Sketching, Fabrication of Mock Field Elements and Set Up of Practice Area
Week 2 Fabrication of rough frame, Modeling and Simulation of Specific Features, Design and Drafting of parts to be machined, Building of test boards, T-shirt design, Logistics planning for transportation, travel and food
Week 3 Fabrication of custom parts, Assembly of final frame, Mount and test major systems, Deadlines for most major awards
Week 4 Mechanical assembly, Final wiring, Fabrication of control system, Programming, Painting and decoration, Testing of mechanical and electrical systems
Week 5 Final assembly of all systems, Finishing and testing, Debugging and re-writing of software
Week 6 Testing and finessing, driver practice, preparation for shipping (may include building a crate), local scrimmages.
For more information, contact Dee Tomzcak at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or sign up to be a mentor or volunteer here.