OSU FIRST

4/9/2002

What is FIRST?

• For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

• Started in 1992

• Founded by Dean Kamen

• 2002 Stats:– 17 Regional Competitions, 1 National– Nearly 650 teams

More on FIRST

• National Robotics Competition• Corporate sponsors and High Schools• Major corporations:

– NASA– GM – Delphi – Motorola– Proctor & Gamble– Johnson & Johnson

Robot?

• 30” x 36” x 60”• 130 lbs• Approximately 6 weeks to design and build• Given kit of parts: electrical and mechanical • Additional materials: PVC, Al, EMT, etc.• Catalog parts from Small Parts, Inc.

Competition?

• Some of the general game concepts and building materials are pretty standard each year. However, details of the challenge are kept secret until the Kickoff.

• 2002 Zone Zeal Score soccer balls in a 6 foot high goal and move the goal into scoring position

• 2001 Diabolical Dynamics Score 13 inch diameter balls in a 6 foot high goal and balance goals on a tri-stable ramp

• 2000 Co-opertition Score 13 inch diameter balls in a 6 foot high scoring trough and hang from a 5 foot high bar

• 1999 Double Trouble Drive your robot onto the puck and raise your teams floppies (pillow) 8 feet into the air.

Competition

1999

2000

2001

Benefits of FIRST

• Exposes students to engineering as a career path

• Students gain:– Engineering knowledge - mechanics,

electronics, etc.– Hands-on skills - how to use tools, etc.– Self-confidence– List goes on and on………...

OSU-FIRST History

• Started in 1996

• Former partnership with Grandview Heights High School and American Electric Power

• Year-round activities

• Fall - Teach engineering fundamentals

• Winter - Build robot for competition

• Spring – Compete, recruiting labs

Team Goals

• Promote OSU College of Engineering

• Promote women in engineering – women as peers

• Involve high school students in every phase – from design to build

Team Structure

• Ohio State engineering students/advisors:– act as mentors, lead engineering roles, support staff

• Columbus School for Girls - teachers:– act as mentors, “back office” support, act as interface

with school and students• Columbus School for Girls - students:

– Actively participate in fall activities, robot design and build sessions, competitions

• Other volunteers:– Provide support where possible: machining, course build,

finance, fundraising, team dinners, etc.

Organization Structure

Build Lead(OSU)

Integration DesignTeam (CSG)

Component DesignTeam (OSU/CSG)

Chassis/Drive Train

Component DesignTeam (OSU/CSG)

Ball Grabber

Component DesignTeam (OSU/CSG)

Goal Grabber

Component DesignTeam (OSU/CSG)

Controls

Fall Activities

• Engineering Fundamental Labs

• Design project:– Microcontroller based projects

• Prepare for robot build

• Build teamwork

Winter Activities

• Approximately 6 build weeks

• Work in small Component Design Teams

• Work with HS students, engineers, college students, machinists, others

Spring/Summer Activities

• Compete against other teams

• Regional competition – Chicago, IL

• National competition – Orlando, FL

• Spring Labs for recruiting

• State Fair competition

2002 Game

• Work with other teams– 2 robots per alliance

• Try to score points– 3 goals– 60 soccer balls

• Qualification rounds– Winner receives three times loser's score

• Elimination rounds– Winner takes all

2002 Game

Sophie Treker

Competition Results

• Chosen by 4th seeded team as alliance partner

• Advanced to semifinals• Won Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers

Entrepreneurship Award• Won "Most Robot Knowledge" by team 71:

regional champion '01,'02, national champion '01

Competition Video

Funding

• Need to raise $5000 by Dec for registration

• Need to raise at least $5,000 by mid-January for robot activities

• Need to raise additional funds to subsidize travel (travel is at least $20,000, depending on competition site)

Funding

• Where does this money come from?– OSU provides limited support- $2250– AEP - $10,000– Engineers' Council – local donations: banks, grocery stores, etc.– CSG – Prior balance

Funding

• Where does this money go?– Registration– Materials– Tools– Fall activities– T-shirts, trade items– Misc. office expenses– Travel……...

Colleges and FIRST

• 124 Teams sponsored by a college• 28 scholarship sources - $1.6 million • 6 regionals sponsored by a college • Schools include:

MIT Stanford Virginia Tech USC Purdue

Cornell Drexel John Hopkins University of Washington Georgia Tech

COE Vision

• Our education, research, and outreach programs will be regarded as among the best

• Students from diverse backgrounds will be attracted to our programs for the superior value and quality of an Ohio State University education in a friendly environment

• The public will appreciate the role of the College in addressing major societal problems containing substantial technological components

OSU Involvement

• How can OSU/COE help?– Local level

• Help sponsor team 677• Help sponsor new teams• Host local events – kickoff, design reviews...

– National level• Network other university teams• Sponsor scholarships• Host a regional

OSU – Local

• Help sponsor team 677– Monetary support– Machine shop support– Materials– People

• Help sponsor other local teams– Money, machining, materials, and people

OSU – Local

• Host local events– Competition Kickoff

• View satellite downlink of kickoff ceremony

• Allow all local teams (6 currently) to view

– Design review day• Host local teams on campus

• Have panel of professors review designs, look for potential problems

OSU – National

• Network other university sponsored teams– Currently 124 college sponsored teams– Provide technical help– Provide help starting a team– Provide mentoring services– Serve as center of excellence for other college

sponsored teams

OSU – National

• Sponsor scholarships– 26 schools offer scholarships– 65 total awards– $1.6 million in awards– Major, peer institutions

• Georgia Tech

• Purdue

• University of Michigan

OSU – National

• Host a regional– 6 regionals sponsored by a college– Large cost comes from facility rental

• French Field House, St. John are low cost

– Approximately 50 teams ~ 1000 students– Huge recruiting opportunity – FIRST provides most of staff, stage, etc.

OSU – Benefits

• Recruiting

• Promote Women in Engineering, Minorities in Engineering

• Spread college name, reputation

OSU – Recruiting

• Unique opportunity to recruit from 10,000 motivated high school students

• Other colleges do so already

Contact information

• FIRST: http://www.usfirst.org• OSU-FIRST: http://studentorg.eng.ohio-

state.edu/~first• Erik Justen: OSU Lead

– justen.4@osu.edu

– 614-657-4513 • Jeff Radigan: OSU Lead

– radigan.4@osu.eu

• Prof. George Staab: OSU Advisor

– staab.1@osu.edu