Training the Technologists of
Tomorrow
NASA, Girl Scouts and the FIRST Robotics Competition
Team 1868: The Space Cookies
2006 Robotics
Competition
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics
Deliverables for Sponsors
• 3 paragraph email outlining who we are and what we're
looking for from the recipient, perhaps a team photo from
the regionals
• A Powerpoint presentation that conveys the excitement of
the endeavor and asks for what we want
• A 1-page leave behind (double sided) tri-fold brochure for
attendees
• Ideally, a basic 2-4 page web site with robot photos, links,
lessons learned and tips for newcomers to robotics
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics
Agenda
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Purpose of visit
Team 1868 – The Space Cookies
The FIRST Robotics competition
How we won the regional competition
Support, Donations & Sponsorship
Giving back
Q&A
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics
Purpose of Visit
• All-Girls Robotics Team seeking to raise at least
$10,000 for next round of events
– Use of funds
• Travel & Lodging for National Competition in Atlanta, GA
• To perform community outreach
– Placed as “Rookie All-Star” and won “Highest Seed
Rookie” in FIRST Silicon Valley Regional Competition in
early March 2006
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics
Team 1868 – The Space Cookies
• All girls team
• Twelve high schoolers from all
over the Bay Area
– Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors
– Range of interests and
motivations
• Sponsored by NASA and Girl
Scouts
• Few of team had any
engineering or robotics
experience
• Mentored by experienced team
and individual mentors
• Started in December 2005
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics
FIRST Robotics Competition
(For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)
• Founded by Dean Kamen
• Purpose is to inspire an
interest in science and
technology in youth
• Builds self-confidence,
knowledge and life-skills
“We need to show kids it’s more fun to
design and create a video game than it is
to play one”
– Dean Kamen
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics
FIRST Robotics Rules
1. Six weeks to design a robot that can play
on a field the size of a basketball court as
part of a 3 vs. 3 robot competition.
2. At each end there are 3 goals
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One high goal basketball style goal
Two low soccer style goal
30 Seconds in autonomous mode
3 minutes on offense, defense and freefor-all in driver mode
3. All teams get the same basic parts
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CPU, motors, sensors, pneumatics.
Choices, choices, choices
• Arms or no arms?
• Treads or wheels
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Some constraints
• Weight
• Dimensions
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics
Picking a Strategy
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Choices, choices…
― Block or Score
― Score in the high goal, or score
in the low goal.
― Gather balls or pre-load only
― At the end, your robot needs to
get back on your platform for
extra points
We have a fairly simple robot but
quite effective. We focused on:
– Ball gathering
– Scoring in the low goal
– Built low for stability
– Built for speed
– Getting up the ramp
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics
Hands-On Work
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Design
Machining
Assembly
Electronics
Mechanics
Software
Practice, Practice, Practice
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics
Mentors
• Guided by mentors but built and operated by team
• Thanks to
– NASA & Girl Scouts
– The Cheesy Poofs (Bellarmine Prep) – Legendary FIRST team
– Individual Volunteer Mentors
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Project Management
Electronics
Software
Design
– Parents
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics
FIRST Silicon Valley Regionals
• Space Cookies won big!
Click above to Play Movie
FIRST Awards
Highest Seeded Rookie Team
Rookie All-Star Team
Awarded to The Space Cookies
March 2006
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics
Milestones
Dec 2005 – Call for participation, Initial meeting
Jan 7 2006 – Challenge announced
Jan 7 2006 – Agreed on 3 goals (go for low goal only, be strong enough to push other robots around, be able to get
onto ramp)
Jan 2006
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Brush pick-up, tried and then discarded for roller pick up seen in previous FIRST game
Roller pickup prototype built and tested
28 Inch front changed to 38” front, major discussion over whether to have robot regurgitate balls by reversing motors, or
have separate system to spit them out the back
Initial design and strategy decided
Course corrections
Prototype mechanisms
Final Design
First Assembly of Robot
Feb 10-15 2006 – Repeated Assembly of Robot, pile of parts as of Feb 4
Feb 12 2006 - Troubleshooting night
Feb 20 2006 - All-Nighter
Feb 21 2006 - Ship date!!!
Mar 16-18 2006 - FIRST Silicon Valley Regionals Rookie All Stars!
April 26-29 2006 - FIRST National Competition, Atlanta, GA
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics
Press Coverage
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NBC11 Nightly News
San Jose Mercury News
CNET
Local Papers
– Los Altos Town Crier
• Various other media
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics
Support & Current Sponsors
• Space Cookies required to cover costs of travel to
Atlanta for FIRST National Championship
• Doing cookie sales, car washes
• NASA Ames Office of Education & FAA are
contributing towards part of the expenses
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics
Estimated Minimum Budget
Item
Amount
Hotel
Airfare
3600
6400
TOTAL
10,000
Notes
Community outreach will cost
additonal dollars
• Assumptions
• Twelve girls, three mentors
• Food and recreation is personally funded
• Parents traveling on their own budget
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics
Sponsor a Worthy Cause
• Allows team to travel to Atlanta and show what girls can do
in science and technology
• Supports community outreach
– San Jose East Side High Educational Festival participation
– Girls Go Tech Event (Encourage girls into STEM – Science
Technology, Engineering and Math)
– Participation in Tech Museum Exhibit for ages 6-12
– Adopted Brownie Troop 990 to mentor girls for First Lego League
– Other events planned
• Web Site to publicize team’s efforts and successes
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics
Sponsorship Opportunities
• $ 5000 Gold sponsorship
– $2500 Silver Sponsorship also available
– $1000 Bronze Sponsorship
• Sponsorship considerations:
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Space Cookies present at event of your choice [Gold]
Sponsor name on robot, banner, T-Shirt [Gold]
Written report about Nationals in Atlanta [Silver & Bronze]
Sponsor name on banner [Silver]
Sponsor name on t-shirt [Bronze]
Space Cookies will be eternally grateful…
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics
Questions
• Contact Information
– Dr. Jeannice Fairrer Samani
• [email protected]
• (650) 575-9260
– Rajiv Dholakia
• [email protected] ; [email protected]
• (650) 400-2958 (mobile)
– Smita Joshi
• [email protected]
• 650 494-1005
March 2006
Space Cookies Robotics