RGB LED Light Strips

Many teams are now using Light Strips to decorate their pit area and/or their robot.  These go by various names, and some are slightly different technologies, but they are all based on having LED lights in a shape (usually a strip, sometimes a block or a ring).

Here are some interesting links:
Adafruit: 'NeoPixel Uberguide'
The "NeoPixel" string of LEDs are super, in that they are individually programmable.  A bit pricer, however.  Each LED is individually addressable by a computer signal, enabling each LED to have its own intensity in Red, Green or Blue (RGB).  These can be programmed by Arduinos, among other platforms.

SuperNight LED strip on Amazon
These SuperNight LED strips are cheaper, but, from what I can tell, can only be programmed by the whole string being one color and one color only.  You can make the color different, but it is still one color for all lights on the string at any one time.  And I don't know how to use an Arduino to program it.

Multiple vendors sell these strings.  To get them working, you'll need to read the directions pretty carefully.  I had to do a bit of soldering and a little Arduino programming.  Once I got all the parts in place, it took me about a day to get everything running properly.

Free Books!

Not comic books......Science and Technology type stuff.

Seriously, free digital books.  Mostly on programming, mathematics, software architecture, etc.!!

Electrical Wiring for 2015

As FIRST is introducing a new control system for 2015, we are also going to upgrade some of our electrical procedures.  For starters, we are going to be much more aggressive about using Anderson PowerPoles to wire our motors and other components.

Team electricians should closely read the following pages, so that they understand how to use the Anderson PowerPole system and how the Anderson PowerPoles function.

30 Amp PowerPoles 

Crimper and Manual

PowerPole Distribution Options
Third Party Tutorial on PowerPoles and assembly

Lavery Speech at 2014 Championship in St Louis.

Check out the YouTube video.

Pre-Season 2015: Software Downloads and Training

FIRST supplier Autodesk has released their 2015 software.  We use Autodesk Inventor Professional to design the robot.  Download the software and watch the training videos.

National Instruments has posted their 2014 LabView software for FRC on line.  Download LabView, and watch the training videos.

Pre-Season Training 2015--Second look at old links

For basic technical robotic concepts, these blog posts deserve a second look:
Design Process Resources--In particular, look at Team 234's business plan and business plan templates.
Robotics Tutorials

2015 Pre-Season Training---Lesson One

Firebirds,

Time to start training for the 2015 season. We each must know the fundamentals of the standard components of the FIRST robotics system.  At the very least, we must at least know the names and the basic function of the various standard components.  As the components for 2015 will be different from 2014, all of us need to take a few minutes to familiarize ourselves with the information.

Here is a two page lesson I've written up, with some links to videos and pictures.  Concentrate on the RED links.  Don't worry about memorizing all the details of these documents, just be sure to that you can recognize and name each component and briefly describe (in one sentence) what each component does.

Examples:
The battery is 12V and stores energy for the robot.
The main circuit breaker is the on/off switch for the robot and protects the robot circuits.
A motor controller regulates the power to the motors according to a signal from the robot controller.

We'll get into the systems more as we develop the training program more extensively.

Autodesk Inventor

Mechanical Information

I will use this section to post mechanical resources, especially those that give standard sizes, etc.

Boltdepot.com has a very good collection of fastener information.
SDP-SI has a good collection of belt and gear information.
Pipeline Industries has posted engineering calculations for force associated with latex surgical tubing at various elongations.
Free Technical Charts has...free technical charts!
Gates Belt Theory

Roller Chain measurements

White Paper on CD, belts vs chains


Drive Train Calculator

              

Robotics Tutorials

SparkFun has a lot of useful products, especially sensors.  They also have a lot of good tutorials.  They have just started up a video series on concepts in robots.  A few minutes each, they do a good job of explaining basic concepts.  The first video is a bit of a promo of their series and new products, but later videos concentrate on the concepts more.  I recommend that you go to the intro video, and subscribe.

Robotics 101
Intro
Angular Motion
Linear Motion
Transfer of Motion
Precision Motion
Mechanical Structure
Tools


As always, SparkFun has an extensive Learn section on their website, with tutorials and curricula available.

Related Video:
Mechanical Principles (1930) * by Ralph Steiner
Mechanical Video

Kickoff Links and Announcements for 2014

FRC Blog announcements

Key elements of this announcement

1)  FIRST has released the game manual.  Be sure to read the whole manual.

2)  Computer software, such as the National Instruments LabView program which we will use, are now available for download and installation on your computer.  Download the LabView DVD and the FRC update now.  The authorization code was issued in the Kit of Parts for 2014.

National Instruments has also significantly re-worked much of their training and software pages.

3)  Field tour videos  are posted on the FRC youtube channel.

Robot in 3 Days, 2014 edition.

All told, five teams did five robots in 3 days.  Interesting features of all robots.

Lots of design hints to work from this year.

Reveal videos:
BuildBlitz
Team JVN (Roller) (Base CAD discussion) (Chassis)
Team Copioli (Intake Test)

CAD Files              

Robot in 3 Days
Ri3D 1.0
BoomDone! (1)
BoomDone! (2)    
BoomDone! details
O-Ryon

Good Tips
Budget Manufacturing--O-Ryon
Electrical Wiring--AndyMark

Design Process Resources

Over the years, I have accumulated a few links related to Robot Design.  As the build season is about to start, here are some of them.

Overview of Design Process
Beach City Robotics 294 
Cyber Blue 234 Design Process
Robowranglers (Team 148) Engineering Design Process in Competition Robotics
Robowranglers "How It's Made" video
Effective FIRST Strategies (Team 1114)
MIT PDF Book on Design--use the download link 
How to Build your Everything Really Really Fast (Instructables)
MOE 365 Design Process

Design Concepts Applied to Specific Season
SabreBytes (Team 772) 2012 Robot Design Book
Exploding Bacon (Team 1902) Owner's Manual
Cyber Blue 234 Design Excellence Submission (2011)

Robot Systems
Drive Trains (BCR 294)
Motor Performance (BCR 294)
Mechanisms and Manipulators (BCR 294)

Robot CAD files
Robowranglers (Team 148) 2008 robot "Tumbleweed"
Robowranglers (Team 148) 2009 robot "Tornado"
Robowranglers (Team 148) 2010 robot "Armadillo"
Robowranglers (Team 148) 2011 robot "Raptor"
FRC 973 Multiple Season CAD files (2009-present)

Business Plan Submissions
Cyber Blue 234 2012
Cyber Blue Business Plan Template 

Vendors

Here is a list of vendors for reference.

FIRST specific

AndyMark  (Rev Robotics)

VexPRO (West Coast Products)

BaneBots

Bimba

Cross The Road electronics
Competition Robot Parts (CRP) 

REV Robotics  (Amazon Site)
RoboPromo Promotional (decals, banners) and bumper materials

General Hardware/Materials

McMaster-Carr 

Rankin Automation (8020 suppliers:  great discount to FIRST teams)

Grainger

Instructables

Bolt Depot

ePlastics
OnlineMetals
MetalsDepot
VXB (Bearings of many types.)
Vulcan Spring
Viair (compressors)

General Electronics

DigiKey

Mouser

Allied Electronics

Automation Direct (They have brass fittings, too)
Powerwerx

Mechanical (Gearing, etc.)

Stock Drive Products

BoltDepot

Bumper Supplies

Pool Noodles

Bumper Fabric (Get 1000 Denier Cordura Nylon, red and electric blue.)

Hobby Electronics

SparkFun  Tutorials 

AdaFruit
HobbyKing
DF Robot
16 Hertz
MaxBotix

Misc Robotics 
Innovation First International (IFI) 

Trossen Robotics

The Robot Space

Sensors
US Digital  (Encoders, etc.)
Kauailabs

Pneumatics

Useful Technical Resources

I will use this post to publish links to the more technical FIRST FRC information which has been published on the web.

Team 358 has a very good website for technical information.  Their pneumatic information is particularly good.


FRC Designs.  Submissions from multiple teams from the past several years.


I will update this post from time to time.

Non-Engineers Mentor Organization (NEMO)

One objective for the team is to increase the number of adult mentors working with the team.  Please keep in mind that someone does not need to be an engineer in order to be a huge help to the team!  In fact, there is a whole organization, the Non-Engineering Mentors Organization, NEMO, dedicated to helping and networking non-engineering mentors for FIRST.

You can contact the NEMO leaders for friendly help and advice.

Jim Grove  

Chairman's Award Video Playlist

Compilation of Regional Chairman's Award videos.  Many won their RCA; a few won at Championships.


Again, a lot of videos in this playlist. But it is useful for the team to see the high quality evident in videos, as well as those activities involved to win.

Download the paper just posted to Chief Delphi, The Complete Guide to the FRC Chairman's Award.


Jim Grove

Reveal Videos Playlists

Here is a link to my personal playlists on YouTube of FIRST reveal videos.  Lots of videos....way too many to actually watch in one sitting.  But I put them here so that people might understand some of the mechanical techniques used to solve the FIRST competition challenges.

2014
2013  
2012:  (Reveals and several prototyping videos, too)
2011:
2010:
2009:
2008:
2007:

The playlists from the earlier years don't have many videos.  Still, I think it is interesting to see how other teams solved the challenges in the games.

Here is a comprehensive playlist of video clips produced by various FIRST teams, highlighting teams and their 2013 robots.  There are over 90 of them in the list.

The YouTube channel I've posted for Firebird videos.
https://www.youtube.com/user/Firebirds1915


Jim Grove

2014 Software Downloads and Training

The previous post discussed FIRST specific control system components.  This post will provide links to software downloads and training. 

Autodesk Inventor (Computer Aided Design, or CAD) Download
1) Autodesk Inventor

2)  Click on "Free Software" tab, and follow directions.
3)  Autodesk has multiple software titles that you can download for free.  All of it is great software.  For now, just download Autodesk Inventor Professional 2014.  Warning:  The download is several GIGABITS.  I recommend that you start it up, and simply leave it running for several hours, such as overnight. 
4)  Autodesk provides some training/learning material to get new users familiar with the software.  Utilize them, and be sure to tell your teammates which ones you've found most useful for learning the software.

National Instruments LabView.  For 2014, you can now download the FIRST version of Labview from the internet.  The download is over 5 GB, so let it download overnight.  You will need the authorization code from the KOP, so see a team mentor for that code.
NI Links for Downloads, Training, Forums***** NEW FOR 2014!*****

Other NI LabView training links, not FRC specific:
NI suggested training.
FRC Mastery

Hardware manual for cRIO FRC II.

You probably won't need this hardware manual, but it is listed here to be complete.

Jim Grove
FIRST is not rocket science. But it is like drinking from a fire hose.

2013 Basic FIRST Hardware

This blog is meant to discuss general training items for FIRST robotics teams.  While it is focused primarily on the McKinley Tech Firebirds, it could be useful for anyone.

With the large number of Freshmen on our team for 2014, we need to start with the basics.  FIRST has some training materials on their website, usfirst.org, under FRC, Resources.


While you could look over every link in the system, many of these are step by step directions on how to load software or configure hardware.  (Useful, but confusing to someone not very familiar with the systems.)

Start with the hardware overview.
The hardware overview is very important, because it shows you a picture of every component, and a very brief description of its function.  Every member of the team should know the name and function of all 15 items this overview.

Getting Started with the 2013 Control System 
is training put out by WPI.

Training manual on wiring each component of the FIRST control system.

Technical manual on the status lights of FIRST components
These lights tell you something about what the control component/system is doing, and can give important clues for troubleshooting.

Some interesting items, which could help the team troubleshoot drive system problems!

A good manual on Pneumatics

The three documents I mention above are an excellent place to start learning about FIRST.   In future potst, I plan to cover how to get Autodesk Inventor, a very good Computer Aided Design program, on your computer, and some very good tutorials from National Instruments on programming the FIRST control system in LabView.  I plan to include object detection and identification using a camera and the LabView software.

Jim Grove