Communication
Nov
01
01
2009
Written By:
Makayla Team 1013 has been getting a little behind schedule as the year is progressing. Several members of our team, mentors included, have been looking for a better way to manage their time and do what needs to be done. Currently, communication (or lack thereof) is the biggest obstacle, even with resources such as the discussion board and weekly meetings. A proposed solution that would build up communication throughout the entire team is to simply hear from each committee at club meetings, and briefly discuss their accomplishments and get advice on how to work through setbacks. As for communication within committees, members who are not checking up on the discussion board regularly are being urged to do so, and phone numbers and email addresses are being exchanged. With a little effort, we can get back on track and become a closer, more efficient team.
Grants
Oct
29
29
2009
Written By:
Makayla The month of October has brought Team 1013 a nice surprise: we were awarded two grants, earning us a total of $8,000. To our disappointment, the Stardust grant only gave us $2,000. However, that money will cover our entrance fees for Arizona Regionals in March. The remaining $6,000 came from the NASA grant, and that money will be used for Las Vegas Regionals. We are waiting to see if the leftover cash from the NASA grant can pay for our travel fees to AZ Regionals.
We are also applying for two additional grants from JC Penney’s and Honda. The JC Penney grant will be worth $2,000, which may be used for travel fees to AZ Regionals if NASA falls through. If we are lucky and can use NASA to pay for travel, we will apply the JCP money towards San Diego Regionals. We are stoked for the Honda grant, because if we are awarded it, we can get anywhere from $20,000 to $60,000 – which could possibly pay for our entire budget. The only downside to this grant is the fact that we cannot use this money until next year. Even so, it is good to plan ahead, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed!
September
Sep
28
28
2009
Written By:
Alex The F.L.L team is made up at this time with a total of ten seventh and eighth graders. They are split into two groups, one being all the seventh graders and the other of the eighth graders. This team is an amazing group, they are all very eager to work, learn and build. They use impeccable teamwork skills and have fun while they build. These kids interact with their mentors by feeling comfortable enough to ask questions and by asking for guidance. Their mentors interact with the kids by treating them like one of them and making sure that everyone is having fun while working. This group is full of talented builders; each team is given task instructions and their fields they are to follow these directions and as a team must build their given duties. The work atmosphere is remarkable once they start working they are immediately communicating on who will do what and how things will be assembled and built. Many mentioned that this year was more hands on and than the previous years. They also felt that this year they learned more as well. One can not stress how amazing the environment of this team feels they bring s much joy and willingness to learn and achieve that it is the perfect example of what F.L.L is about.
Up Up And Away
Feb
20
20
2009
Written By:
KG After six weeks of long and hard work, the QCHS FRC Team 1013 completed their robot with flying colors! It is now officially shipped off to the first regional competition in Phoenix, Arizona, where it will compete in the game of "Lunacy" on the 19th-21st of March. The entire team is very proud of the dedicated programming and build teams and gives their deepest gratitude for all their time and effort put into creating this brilliant machine. Now all there is to do is to sit back and wait for March 19th to come around!!
Weight Loss Programs
Feb
13
13
2009
Written By:
KG 
Despite careful planning to keep this year’s robot from being overweight, the scale betrayed Team 1013. It said that the robot weighed in at 122 pounds, which is two pounds over weight. Two weight loss programs were induced in response to this problem. The first one consisted of losing three air tanks called reservoirs that weigh a pound each. Also, an electrical panel was removed along with several cross pieces for the front of the robot. The second weight loss program included replacing a huge mounting plate, used to dump the contents of the hopper, with beams. Another design-modification was putting thin bars in place of the metal side plates. In addition, YESCO ( the company that cut the sheet metal to cover the frame of the robot) tailored the aluminum sheets by strategically punching out triangular holes so the metal retains its strength and function while deleting a few extra pounds. After all these adjustments, the robot now only weighs in at 112 pounds, thus, allowing the Lexan (the material in which the robot’s graphic design will be placed) to be added without being a cause for worry about weight overage.
Programming the Robot
Feb
13
13
2009
Written By:
KG Over the weeks since the Kick Off, the QCHS FRC Robotics Club members who volunteered to program the robot have been diligently working on making this year's robot as smart as can be. So far, they have accomplished much. They have mastered the drive system and gotten the pneumatics to work. Also, they taught the camera to recognize the colors (pink and green) that differentiate between both allied and enemy robots out on the field. No matter how strong our robot is, it's nothing without its brains!!
Robot Build Team
Feb
13
13
2009
Written By:
KG After lots of hard work, the QCHS FRC Robot Built Team completed the prototype of the 2009 robot. The dilemma of how to lift the game pieces into the hopper at the top of the robot was solved with a small piece of brilliance. They designed a conveyer belt, like the ones at a grocery store, except vertical, to carry the Moon Rocks and Empty Cells into the hopper. The pieces are squeezed between the belt and a flat sheet of metal. The conveyer belt rolls the balls up from the bottom of the robot to the top, releasing them into the hopper. With that obstacle out of the way, the team set to work welding the frame for the actual machine. Unfortunately, there was a week where progress proved impossible because they were lacking all the parts to continue working on the robot. On Wednesday, January 28, though, the parts were delivered and the team's back to work!