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Below are presentations and other downloads from past four FIRSTFares and other venues.

2011 FIRSTFare 2010 FIRSTFare 2009 FIRSTFare 2008 FIRSTFare
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2011

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  • Autodesk Inventor for Rookies
    See what all this Inventor fuss is all about. This breezy introduction will give you a sense for what the program can do and, hopefully, inspire you to try it for designing parts of your robot. Presenters: Paul Normand & George Cook from Autodesk.

    Presentation: Not yet available

  • Autodesk Inventor – Special Techniques
    Special techniques in Inventor of particular interest to FRC teams. Presenters Paul Normand, George Cook from Autodesk.

    Presentation: Not yet available

  • Chairman’s Award
    The Chairman’s Award is the highest award bestowed to a FIRST Robotics team at the Regional and Championship competitions. It is based off of how a team demonstrates FIRST’s ideals through community service, recruitment, mentoring, and gracious professionalism, along with other great team attributes. Discussion will include an introduction to the award, activities teams do to win the award, essay writing style, presentation tips, and sample questions. Presenters: Team 1510, winners of the 2011 Chairman’s Award at the Autodesk Oregon Regional.

    Presentation: Not yet available

  • College Admission for FRC Students
    Select Colleges and Universities around the country are providing scholarships and admission preference to students with a FIRST robotics background. This session will help you leverage your FIRST experience to get into the best school for you. Presenter: Jodi Walder-Biesanz, College Admission Coach.

    Presentations: FIRSTFare 2011-College Engineering Admissions
    FIRSTFare 2011-Engineered to Succeed

  • Public Relations  - Working with the Press
    Advice on how to work with the press. Presenter: Jodi Walder-Biesanz, PR Executive.

    Presentations:  FIRSTFare 2011-Robotics and the Media

  • Competitive Intelligence & Modern Technologies
    See how team 2811, Stormbots does competitive analysis at the competitions. This system consists HTML SQL and Excel parts. The HTML is an actual website displayed on the galaxy pads, SQL sorts the data, and the Excel displayed it so informed decisions can be made. Presenter: Sara Ashback of team 2811.

    Presentation: Not yet available

  • Control Systems for FIRST Robotics
    An introduction to the control system both from a hardware and conceptual standpoint. Learn what the Input and Output capabilities of the cRIO are. Learn how all this stuff is wired and best practices. Presenter: Tim Bennington-Davis Mentor of Team 1425 and Woodie Flowers winner 2011.

    Presentation: FRC2011-Overview of Electronics

  • Drive Trains for FIRST Robots
    The drive train is the most important part of your robot yet many teams make some basic mistakes in their design and construction. This session compares 2 wheel, 4 wheel, 6 wheel, Mecanums, treads, and some of the unusual ones. We’ll look at the various transmissions and motors available to FIRST Teams. Vendors such as IFI, Skyway, and AndyMark will be discussed and audience members will share their experiences. Presenter: Dale Yocum. Robotics Program Director, Catlin Gabel School Team 1540.

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2011-Drive Trains

  • Fundraising
    Learn how to create your team image and story so that your fundraising efforts are successful. Included will be tips on how to partner with industry, tactics for getting students in front of an audience plus giving an effective presentation. Topics will include messaging, marketing materials, elevator pitch, budget clarity and how to find sponsors as well as grants. Deb Mumm-Hill, FIRST Regional Director

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2011-Fundraising

  • Girls Generation
    Team 1540 will be hosting the second annual Girls’ Generation scrimmage on Oct. 29, where teams will play last year’s game (Logomotion), but with a major change – only girls form the drive team and pit crew. Join this session to get the latest details about the event and meet the other girls who will be involved. If there aren’t enough girls on your team for a full drive team and pit crew, you can connect with girls from other FRC teams and make cooperation arrangements. Marina Dimitrov, co-captain of Team 1540, will be leading the presentation and discussion.

    Presentation: Not yet available

  • Java – Introduction
    If you’ve never programmed in Java before or need a refresher, this session will give you a high level idea of what the language looks like and what this object orientation stuff is all about. Andrew Merrill, Computer Science Instructor at Catlin Gabel School and software mentor for team 1540.

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2011-FRC-Java-Introduction

  • Java for FRC
    Assuming you know the basics of Java, how does it apply to FRC? Find out from Andrew Merrill, Computer Science Instructor at Catlin Gabel School and software mentor for team 1540.

    Presentation: Not yet available 

  • LabVIEW Introduction
    For those who want to know more about the programming language LabVIEW, this presentation offers an overview. It will discuss the salient features of the language which includes its being a graphical interface, its ability to create virtual world that can surround code to test that code, and that it is self-documenting. Also discussed is the fact that it is one of the very few “dataflow” languages which significantly aids in preventing ambiguous instruction paths which leads to efficient and rapid programming. By Dennis Erickson, 1510 Mentor.

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2011-LabVIEW Overview

  • LabVIEW for FRC
    Building on the introductory session, this seminar explores how LabVIEW is used for FRC robots. By Dennis Erickson, 1510 Mentor.

    Presentations: FIRSTFare 2011-Creating Custom Dashboards with LabVIEW
    FIRSTFare 2011-Effectively Using the Camera
    FIRSTFare 2011-Sensors for FRC Robots

  • Manipulators for FIRST Robots
    Compilation of approaches used for FIRST robotics game piece manipulating systems. Will briefly discuss pro’s, con’s and design trade offs for a number of different manipulator designs. Presented by Bruce Whitefield, shop and design mentor for Team 2471, Team Mean Machine. Director of Manufacturing Quality at ON Semiconductor.

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2011-Manipulators.pdf

  • New Coach Essentials
    This pre-session is designed for coaches and student leaders new to FRC though anyone is welcome. We’ll cover team organization, logistics, mentor roles, sample build schedules, budgets, facilities, tools, strategy, and much more. Presenter: Dale Yocum, Head Coach Team 1540, Oregon regional volunteer of the Year 2011. FIRSTForce Metro coordinator.

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2011-New Coach Workshop
    FIRSTFare 2011-Suppliers

  • People Management
    There’s little more important than effective management and leadership of your team and its departments. This talk focuses on how to get the most from people, have them feel their time was well spent, and make it fun being involved. For student leaders and mentors. Bob Hendel, 1510 Head Coach and Woodie Flowers award winner in 2010.

    Presentation: Not yet available

  • Pneumatics for FIRST Robots
    An introduction to the pneumatic parts used on FRC robots, engineering challenges and possible solutions. Calculations related to pressure, cylinder, compressor and force and torque needs will be introduced Presenter: Tim Bennington-Davis, 1425 mentor and Woodie Flowers winner in 2011.

    Presentation: FRC2011-Overview of Pneumatics

  • Project Management
    A discussion of basic tools that mentors and team leaders can use to establish a proper project scope, manage resources, track progress, and deliver results on time. Tools discussed include: Skills Matrix, Resource Loading Diagram, Design Review, Work Breakdown Structure, Functional Efficiency Technique, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis, Gantt Chart Presenter: Jason Marr and Jean Oh, Boeing Corporation.

    Presentation: FIRST Fare2011-Project Management

  • Tool Design and Safety
    Faster, easier and better quality work is done by using the right tool for the right job. It also significantly reduces the amount of blood and skin needed to be cleaned off of your robot parts. This presentation is focused on WHY tools are designed the way they are and HOW this affects safety. Although this presentation is intended for everyone with less than 20 years of experience using tools; Safety Captains, mentors and parent volunteers supervising students, and newer team members, will especially get value from attending. Presenter: Matt Driggers, Mechanical Engineer and mentor for team 2517, the Green Wrenches. Matt has been known to demonstrate his topic in gory, noisy or messy ways so beware.

    Presentation: See this video on youtube, provided by David Dean of David’s OnSite IT/Video Consulting.

  • Website User Interfaces
    Get the word out about your team in a high impact way. This session s looks at the way website design affects the user experience. Teams planning on creating award winning websites, no matter their technology, will want to pay close attention. See what website judges are looking for. Presenter: Bob Goetz, webmaster for www.oregonfirst.org.

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2011-Website Design for FRC Teams

  • Websites Using WordPress
    An overview of the WordPress Content Management System and its application for creating full blown websites for FRC teams. Presenter: Bob Goetz, webmaster for www.oregonfirst.org.

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2011-Website 101 for FRC Teams

2010

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  • Drive Trains for FIRST Robots
    The drive train is the most important part of your robot yet many teams make some basic mistakes in their design and construction.  This session compares 2 wheel, 4 wheel, 6 wheel, Mecanums, treads, and some of the unusual ones.  We’ll look at the various transmissions and motors available to FIRST Teams.  Vendors such as IFI, Skyway, and AndyMark will be discussed and audience members will share their experiences.  Presenter: Dale Yocum.  Robotics Program Director, Catlin Gabel School Team 1540.

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2010-Drive Trains

  • Project Management
    Project management is the organization, planning and management of group resources toward a specific, time-based goal; a discipline which many organizations fail to use effectively.  Project leaders will learn to use concepts employed by Project Managers such as work breakdown structure, task dependencies and critical path.  Following these and other concepts will not only allow teams more time and energy to complete the design and build process, but will allow a greater share of resources for necessary support functions like fundraising, sponsor relations, community outreach and earning awards.  Presenters: Ejvin Berry & Chris Imondi  Boeing Corporation.

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2010-Project_Management

  • Pneumatics for FIRST Robots
    An introduction to the pneumatic parts used on FRC robots, engineering challenges and possible solutions.  Calculations related to pressure, cylinder, compressor and force and torque needs will be introduced   Presenter: Craig Boezwinkle, Mechanical Engineer, Western Integrated Technologies and mentor to team 2811.  WIT is a distributor, manufacturer, and integrator of Pneumatic and Hydraulic systems.

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2010-Pneumatics Presentation

  • LabVIEW Overview
    For those who want to know more about the programming language LabVIEW, this presentation offers an overview. It will discuss the salient features of the language which includes its being a graphical interface, its ability to create virtual world that can surround code to test that code, and that it is self-documenting. Also discussed is the fact that it is one of the very few “dataflow” languages which significantly aids in preventing ambiguous instruction paths which leads to efficient and rapid programming.  By Dennis Erickson, 1510/2898 Mentor.

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2010-LabVIEW Overview

  • Sensors for FRC Robots
    It seems that each year the use of sensors on the robot brings more to the game including the experience gained by students in integrating them. Working with the wide variety of sensors available becomes easier due to the ability to test and calibrate them using charts and graphs that is intrinsic with LabVIEW programming. Couple this with the ability to transfer real-time data to the dashboard, allows for a more realistic view of real world robotics.  Daniel Bramblett, 1510 Student Programmer.

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2010-LabVIEW Sensors for FRC Robots

  • Effectively Using the FRC Camera
    Using the camera both in the Autonomous and the TeleOp modes is becoming more exiting each year due to the relative ease in programming and managing video cameras. This presentation will review the last two year’s video approaches including masking (capturing a scene and displaying only the target and its characteristics) and pattern recognition (viewing a scene and identifying a predefined mathematical object) using LabVIEW. Both approaches would return the distance the target is away, its direction relative to the robot and how many targets are in the camera’s view.  Amy Wiegand, 2915 Student Programmer.

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2010-LabVIEW Effectively Using the Camera

  • Creating Custom Dashboards
    The real-time dashboard in LabVIEW is one of the most exciting features to be included in the game. It provides status information on the robot itself as well as returns any or all sensor data for use in enhancing the driver’s ability to make decisions during the game. With the inclusion of a video feed to the dashboard, the driver can have ‘”eyes” just in front (or back) of the robot to help guide or in special cases have the robot seek on its own during the Autonomous or even in TeleOp sessions.  Dennis Erickson, 1510/2898 Mentor

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2010-LabVIEW Creating Custom Dashboards

  • Website 101 for FRC Teams
    Get the word out about your team in a high impact way. See what you need to do to win a FIRST Web Site award, basic design principles and how to setup and manage a website.   Some of the talk will focus on general website design and some will concern the use of WordPress as a content management system.  Presenter: Bob Goetz, webmaster for www.oregonfirst.org.

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2010-Website 101 for FRC Teams

  • Chairman’s Award
    The Chairman’s Award is the highest award bestowed to a FIRST Robotics team at the Regional and Championship competitions. It is based off of how a team demonstrates FIRST’s ideals through community service, recruitment, mentoring, and gracious professionalism, along with other great team attributes. Discussion will include an introduction to the award, activities teams do to win the award, essay writing style, presentation tips, and sample questions. Rohisha Adke, Team 1540′s Chairman’s Manager. Team 1540 won the Chairman’s award in 2010 and 2007, and the Engineering Inspiration award in 2008 and 2009.

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2010-Chairman’s Award

  • Scouting & Competitive Analysis
    Scouting can make or break a competition. It can propel a team to victory, and can also spell defeat for an otherwise strong alliance. Regardless of your robot’s performance, competitive analysis and strategy development are key for the success of any robotics program.  This talk will cover the basics including: system development, management at the competition, strategy development and data interpretation, as well as the basic scouting resources that all teams should know. Following that, we’ll explore more advanced topics like Offensive Power Rankings and more formulaic ranking systems.  Henry Gordon, Competitive Analysis Manager and 2010 Dean’s List Finalist, Team 1540

    Presentation:  FIRSTFare 2010-Competitive Analysis and Scouting

  • FRC Radios and Communication
    This presentation will explore how the robot talks to the field during a match. We’ll talk about tech specifics on the game adapters, the network communications as we understand them, how to avoid some common problems, and troubleshooting utilities.  Faith Baynes, Catlin Gabel School System Administrator, FRC Field Admin.

    Presentation:  FIRSTFare 2010-Field Connectivity

  • Marketing Your Team for Successful  Fundraising
    Learn how to create your team image and story so that your fundraising efforts are successful.  Included will be tips on how to partner with industry, tactics for getting students in front of an audience plus giving an effective presentation.   Topics will include messaging, marketing materials, elevator pitch, budget clarity and how to find sponsors as well as grants.   Deb Mumm-Hill, FIRST Regional Director

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2010-FIRST Fundraising Toolkit

  • Grant Writing Tips
    Everything you need to know about writing grant applications to NASA, Platt and how to look for other grant opportunities.  Deb Mumm-Hill, FIRST Regional Director

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2010-FIRST Team Grant strategies

  • Introduction to Java
    If you’ve never programmed in Java before or need a refresher, this session will give you a high level idea of what the language looks like and what this object orientation stuff is all about.  This is a 1.5 hour talk followed by the latest on the Java Beta.  Andrew Merrill, Computer Science Instructor at Catlin Gabel School and software mentor for team 1540.

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2010-Java-Introduction

  • Java Beta Update
    Team 1540, was chosen as the NW team to beta test Java this year.  Hear their insights about this new version of the language and what they’ve found so far.  30 minutes.  Presenters:  Andrew Merrill, Computer Science Instructor for Catlin Gabel School and mentor team 1540.

    Presentation: FIRSTFare 2010-Java-Beta-2011

2009

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2008

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Other Presentations

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