Team 5571
Team Biography
Our team was officially formed in August, 2014.
Prior to then, two students from Bearden High School were members of Team 3140 (Flagship) based out of Farragut High School. They realized that their Bearden, known for its diverse student body and academic success, should have its own team. Thus, Team 5571 was formed. We call ourselves Robotics Assembly Team Creating Hugely Exciting Technology, or R.A.T.C.H.E.T., to capture our team's enthusiasm to be a part of FRC.
Our team has two captains. One is in charge of the business side of the team, including team sponsors, our team website, marketing, and communication with other teams. The other one manages the technical aspects of the team: the programming, electrical, and mechanical components. In addition, we have a safety captain to ensure that we are working efficiently, effectively, and – most importantly – safely.
Our team members are in one of four subgroups, each with its own leader: electrical, mechanical, programming, and business. The Electrical group focuses on the electrical wiring and circuit board on the robot. The Mechanical group works on the drive train and other moving components. The Programming group works on programming the robot and setting up control systems. The Business group finds sponsors, works on branding, and fundraises. The subgroup structure helps students focus and work together based on interests. All team members will be expected to have a basic knowledge of CAD and how it works. Team members can download Autodesk Inventor Pro, a CAD software, on their personal computers. They will also have access to Inventor on a few school-owned computers.
Currently, we have 30 members, and we meet on Fridays from 3:40 to 4:30. We are trying to involve underclassmen on the team for sustainability and growth. To raise awareness for our team, we are an active part of our school community. We have sent representatives to meetings of the inter-club council at our school, participated in Spirit Night activities (which raised money for Second Harvest Food Bank and our team), and chose representatives for the homecoming court.
Our team strives to make a positive impact in our school and community. Consistent with our mission, we would like to develop student interest and skills in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, business, marketing, design, communication and leadership. We believe students will carry these skills with them into their college and professional lives. Developing this interest and skills will also enable us to recruit and train new members. We would also like to promote the values of FIRST. “Gracious Professionalism” and “Coopertition” (cooperation and competition) are part of the ethos of FIRST. Gracious Professionalism is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. Coopertition is displaying unqualified kindness and respect in the face of fierce competition. To this end, we would like to build relationships with mentors and other local FIRST teams while maintaining a sustainable team.
Finally, we would like to have fun!
What We Do
Our team competes in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) program. During the fall, we have been meeting weekly on Friday afternoons from 3:40 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. to learn and plan for our robot. As a rookie team, most of our members are being trained “from the ground up.” We have used the last few months to learn about FIRST, the design process, basic circuitry, simple machines, coding, and CAD (computer-aided design). In the next two months (November and December), we will continue to learn CAD, complete training on electrical and mechanical aspects of the robot, and learn programming skills. Training as of October, 2014, has been student-led, although team members are encouraged to practice CAD and coding skills outside of meetings.
On January 3, 2015, we will learn what type of a robot we will be building for the 2014-2015 season and the competition objectives. The announcement will be made via webcast. All teams worldwide will find out the mission of their robot at the same time! We will then have six (6) weeks, known as “build season,” to build a fully functional robot.
After the 2015 FRC Kickoff webcast, every member of our team will participate in a brainstorming session about what our robot should be designed to do and what our game strategy should be. From there, we will make two or three designs in CAD and begin prototyping. By the start of Week Three, we should decide which prototype we liked best and then make its CAD model more detailed. Then, working from the CAD model, the mechanical team will start building. When they finish, the electrical team will add a circuit board and connect the components. Then, the programming team will begin programming. Once they are done, we will practice controlling the robot to determine who is most qualified to be on our drive team. Throughout the entire build season, business team members will continue contacting potential sponsors and raise money for the team. They will also plan for competitions by making a plan for our team Pit (including storage, banners, etc.), ordering team T-shirt or uniforms, setting up travel, lodging, and dining plans, and buying buttons and/or trinkets with our team logo on them. Business team members may help out on the technical side if they have completed training in technical areas.
Six (6) weeks of regional competitions begin in late February. We registered to attend the Smoky Mountain Regional Competition (April 1-4) in Knoxville, Tennessee. We are sheduled to go to St. Louis from April 22nd through April 25th. At the end of the year (April or May), we will make an End-of-Year/Patron Advertising booklet listing our team’s accomplishments and our sponsors.
Our team members are excited to be able to explore their potential and learn new skills through FIRST. We are grateful to have a chance to learn more about science, technology, and engineering.
About FRC
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams of 25 high school students or more are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program a robot to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. Professional mentors volunteer their time and talents to guide each team. Competitions are held regionally, nationally and internationally. Students learn to use sophisticated hardware and software, and work alongside professional engineers. In doing so, they develop design, project management, programming, teamwork, and strategic thinking skills. Watch their promotional video here.