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Mastering FIRST Robotics: Strategies for Competition and Awards Success

This guide offers essential strategies for preparing for the Long Island FIRST Robotics Conference, focusing on pre-match tactics, scouting techniques, and successful award submissions. Teams will learn about battery management, driver station setup, and the importance of a pre-match checklist. The emphasis on scouting highlights the need for quantitative and qualitative analysis to enhance alliance selection and match strategy. Additionally, tips on community involvement, fundraising, and creating impactful presentations for awards will empower teams to showcase their achievements effectively.

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Mastering FIRST Robotics: Strategies for Competition and Awards Success

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  1. FIRST Strategies: The Competition & Awards Long Island FIRST Robotics Conference

  2. Pre-match • Use scouting to develop a strategy • Battery management • Driver Station & Robot • Do not change code with no test time • Pre-match check list

  3. Scouting • Pit Scouting • Match Scouting • Quantitative vs. Qualitative • Expected Values • Make it Fun! • OPR • 2/3 of Your Alliance

  4. Alliance Selection • Look for combinations • A 28 team pick list • A “Do Not Pick List” • Declining? • Breaking up an alliance? • Send a confident student • Risk: Reliable vs. One Hit Wonders

  5. Match Strategy • Too late to change robot….. • Set time limits • Abandon failed objectives • Have fail safe plans • Winning comes first! • Showcase comes second • Use your coach (tunnel vision) • Don’t fear damage…..don’t be stupid • Slow and steady

  6. Awards • Pick an award and strive for it! • Create an awards sub-team

  7. Judges • Have someone on hand to handle interviews • Get a feel for what they are asking • Pick features that make you stand out • ……and HIGHLIGHT them • Choose words wisely! • Use key words (robust, industrial, repeatable, sturdy) • They will watch the field! • Be nice…VERY NICE!

  8. Engineering Inspiration Award • Winner is eligible for championships • Awarded for spreading word of FIRST • Previous winners have: • Been involved with FLL teams • Run engineering/robotics camps • Brought robot to elementary schools • Started robotics courses in high school • Contacted politicians about importance of FIRST

  9. Fundraisers • Look for events that are “Double-Good” • Raise money and awareness • Try to draw funds from the outside • Avoid hitting parents for cash continually • Avoid conflicts with other school clubs • Balance time, cost, and profit • Go for the unique factor!

  10. Parent Booster Club • HUGE help with distributing work load!!!! • Help organize travel plans • Work with mentors from school • Promote fundraising • Parent Booster clubs are big financial helps • Help organize events and sales • Provide money to for fundraiser initial costs • Work with students to find grants

  11. Communication • Everyone must be on the same page for events and fundraisers! • Twitter • Updates straight to phones • Parents can follow with no account • Facebook groups • Most frequently checked/last minute changes • Email • Good for parents, mentors, and sponsors • Newsletter

  12. The Awards • Find the list online • There is a award reachable for every team • Robot awards vs. Non-robot awards • Know the awards, know the criteria • Normally receive two copies • Team/School • Team/Sponsor • Team/Grandma’s House

  13. The Chairman’s Award • Most prestigious of all FIRST awards • Given to the team that best embodies the “spirit of FIRST” • In other words….Best All Around! • EVERY TEAM should go for this award • Why? • It will make your team better • Robotics aside, it will make you do good things!

  14. To Win: • You will need: • A good robot • A great team structure • A great relationship with the community • A great relationship with industry/school • To be good role-models • For other teams • For “future engineers” (young kids)

  15. The Submittal • Submit online, meet the STRICT deadline • Must pick a regional to submit to • Pick a few passionate kids to write it • It’s ok to talk about previous years • Make the IMPACT of FIRST clear • Impact on you • Impact on community • Impact on school • Explain important team activities

  16. The Photos • Usually 4 photos • Should represent your team! • Not set picture types • I recommend one of each: • 1- Working photo • 1- Learning/teaching photo • 1- Fun team photo w/ robot • 1- Special events/inspiring others photos

  17. The Video • FIRST has a list of suggested shots • Team t-shirts should be very clear • Use a theme • Use interviews • Have the person restate the question in the response • Watch other videos on YouTube • Tell a story • Follow all rules!!! • Issues are common with music rights • 3 minutes

  18. The Presentation • Who to bring? • Up to three people • Students or mentors • Just an opinion… • Bring one younger student (a future leader) • The judges have very good memories • What to bring? • Letters of reference • Newspaper articles • Photo collage • Team handbooks • Props are OK

  19. The Presentation • PRESENT your team • You get 5 minutes, they get 5 minutes • Don’t be afraid! • Be convinced the last two years were the best your team has ever had • Know who is saying what and when • Have a game plan!

  20. One last piece of advice…

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