Past projects 21
External Battery and Lap Desk for Scouting
Funded Feb 21, 2018I want to begin by thanking you for your incredibly generous gift to our project. Your support is treasured.
One of the most important teams during a competition is the scouting team; although, it is the most lackluster teams. Seven team members sat and watched every match and perform up to 684 individual evaluations on every robots' performance. The scouting leader entered the collected data into a spreadsheet. Sitting in the stands for 8 plus hours can drain a laptop's battery very quickly. The external battery that your donation secured for the team extends the time for all of the data to be completely entered.
The lap desk allowed the computer to be used without fatiguing the scouting leader and overheating the computer.
Your donation is greatly appreciated.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Johnson
This classroom project was brought to life by Bosch and 2 other donors.Gears and Talons for Championship
Funded Mar 27, 2018I want to begin by thanking you for your incredibly generous gift to our project. Your support is treasured.
The team wanted a more robust drivetrain. After researching the various options available, the mechanical team determined that the Decimate motors would be a more efficient substitute for our current four CIM motors. After receiving the motors, the team prepped them and installed them into our robot. The robots "pushing' power increased significantly. The drive team was surprised how quickly the motors responded to the controls. However, the drain on the battery was too great for us to use the motors during competition. After a pushing match with another robot, our robot didn't have enough battery power to perform the other tasks required by the game.
The entire team learned an excellent lesson in engineering practice – that testing is an essential part of any robotics program. The students were amazed that what looked wonderful on paper didn't perform as predicted.
Your donation is greatly appreciated.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Johnson
Portfolios for Multiple Presentations
Funded Feb 8, 2018FIRST Robotics (the governing body for robotics competitions) expects a presentation stressing the team's STEM outreach efforts. In the past, we've had to use a foam board presentation boards. These foam boards are very similar what you would see in an elementary school's science fair. They are not a presentation that culminates several years' worth of dedicated work of outreach. At least one judge every year has commented on the unprofessional and tired appearance of our presentation.
Upon receiving the display boards, the media team immediately began to plan this year's presentation for FIRST Robotics. They were excited how easily it is to alter the configuration to accommodate different arrangements of our materials. They also came to the realization that the presentations can be tailored for our various demonstrations and outreach functions.
The media team is very excited to show-off their new and approved presentation during our upcoming competition. Thank you for your generous donation!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Johnson
This classroom project was brought to life by Bosch.A Camera For The Memories!
Funded Dec 6, 2017Allow me to thank you again for your gift of a digital camera. Your donation is a wonderful addition to our media team's set of tools. Prior to your donation, we relied upon camera phones (which can have varied results).
We immediately put the camera to use. The photos that we've uploaded to our Facebook and Twitter accounts are nicer than previous photos and have an air of professionalism. Additionally, we cannot wait to get our "Press Pass" for the Regional Competitions and take photos of the action "Up Close and Personal".
We are still learning all of the features of our new Canon Powershot and hope that we are able to employ all of them during the year.
Again, thank you for the wonderful donation.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Johnson
This classroom project was brought to life by Bosch.Webcams to Drive a Robot.
Funded Dec 6, 2017I want to begin by thanking you for your generous gift. We use webcams on our robot when we can't see our robot; it can happen more often than not. This year's game elements – it is doubtful that the drive team will be able to keep track of the robot's actions. With the four cameras that your donation made possible, we are able to have a 360° view of this year's robot (which is still being constructed). Our team's programmers are writing code that will automatically change view automatically, depending upon the direction the robot is moving. The images are transmitted in real-time to the drive station laptop (technology that electronically coordinates the driver's input and the robot's responses). The cameras are an integral part of a competitive robot.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Johnson
This classroom project was brought to life by Bosch.Joysticks for the win!
Funded Dec 3, 2017Thank you for your very generous donation. Most of our donations come the friends, family members, or corporate sponsors. However, your donations are very special to the team. Without any additional information or knowledge of the team besides what was revealed in The Inoculation Project, many of you gave generously to a small robotics team in South Carolina.
Every year we must replace old joysticks. You wouldn't think that controllers would receive that much wear and tear from a bunch of "nerds". However, the joysticks must go through Drive Team tryouts. Approximately half of the team auditions for the two most coveted positions on the drive team: driver and controller. After the drive team is finalized, they must practice, practice, and practice. After weeks of practice comes the actual competition. At the end of a single season, a joystick is near the end of its life.
The joysticks that your donation made possible arrive as blank pages. Each function of the joystick (such as turning left, moving forward, controlling the arm that throws a ball, to activate the motor that allows the robot to climb an obstacle) must be programmed by a small team of students. The button controls are often customized for each drive team.
The entire team was excited to receive four new joysticks. The programmers immediately began to program basic motion (forward, reverse, left, right, etc.). The other controls will be programmed once the season begins on January 6, 2018.
Our robotics team is very grateful for your very generous donation.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Johnson
Saw Stand..The Final Cut
Funded Dec 14, 2017Thank you for your very generous donation. At first glance, a table saw stand doesn't seem to be that awesome of a gift. Prior to your donation, we've had to place the table saw on the ground, or use clamps to secure it to a workbench (which made the saw too high for most of our members to use. The stand not only places the saw at a proper and usable height for most users, it also provides folds to an orientation for convenient storage. We've been using the saw to cut wood for the field elements for this year's robotics game.
In addition to the say stand, your donation also provided the team with two batteries and a monitor. The additional batteries are a must during competition. A single charge will last at least two matches. However, during elimination matches, there isn't enough time to recharge a battery between matches. The batteries that your donation provided will ensure that our robot has enough power to see the matches to the end.
The monitor will be used in the creation of a unique and distinctive drive station (the console that contains all of the controllers, computer, and monitors). We hope to create a stylized old-school arcade control panel.
Your gift is much appreciated, thank you.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Johnson
This classroom project was brought to life by Bosch and one other donor.Calipers or Calypso...Let's Go with Calipers
Funded Nov 21, 2017I want to begin by thanking you for your incredibly generous gift to our project. Your support is very appreciated.
When the 4 digital calipers arrived in our robotics lab, the mechanical team thought that they would receive only 1. As the first one was removed from the shipping box a few students applauded. With each subsequent caliper revealed, the excited rose. The final caliper received a rousing cheer! This may appear to be an exaggeration, or team members being overly dramatic; however, it has been years since the team received any new tools. Additionally, our old digital calipers required three hands to operate – two hands to measure with the calipers and a third to hold the battery in place.
Although our build season begins on January 6, 2018, we've already begun to use the calipers. As old prototypes are disassembled, we need to segregate old bolts in preparation of the new build. Some bolts are easily sized; however, when discerning a 5mm bolt from a 6mm bolt, it sometimes takes more than just "eye-balling" it.
Our robotics team is very grateful for your very generous donation.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Johnson
This classroom project was brought to life by Bosch.We need Allen's Keys
Funded Dec 4, 2017Thank you for your very generous donation.
Four sets of Allen wrenches may appear to be "no big deal". However, when you consider that every motor mount, every gear box assembly, every sensor mount requires a hex bolt, and then our team's excitement becomes understandable.
The mechanical team was beaming as they pulled the T-handled Allen wrenches from the shipping box. "It's one continuous length of metal...no more stripped handles!" exclaimed one of the members. Then came the puns of Allen wrenches and hex keys (one of the mentor's name is Alan).
In addition to the Allen wrenches, your donation included two rivet guns. Having two rivet guns has become a necessity, especially since we've changed from a welded frame to a riveted frame. The mechanical team, especially those who riveted last year's frame, was thrilled with receiving TWO rivet guns.
Your thoughtful donation is greatly appreciated!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Johnson
This classroom project was brought to life by Bosch.Velcro and Batteries: Stick with Me
Funded Dec 6, 2017Thank you for your very generous donation.
When it comes to robot parts Velcro doesn't seem to be very glamorous. It is far from being as sophisticated as an infrared sensor; however, without a manner of securing a battery, the robot is dead as a match begins. Quick battery changes are essential, especially during elimination matches leading up to the final matches of a regional. Metal straps that fasten with bolts do not afford quick changes.
The team was grateful to receive the Velcro. After pulling the rolls from the shipping package, the mechanical team began cutting the Velcro into the required lengths. We replaced worn-out Velcro from our older robots and prepped other lengths for our current robot.
Your gift is greatly appreciated!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Johnson
This classroom project was brought to life by Bosch and 2 other donors.