The CHS robotics team mirrors the FIRST Robotics organization, which has grown in popularity since inventor Dean Kamen founded the non-profit organization in 1989. Year after year, FIRST proves that, by requiring teams to build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors, students gain self-confidence, life skills, and a basic knowledge of robotics that motivates them to pursue opportunities in science, technology and engineering. The organization also backed by more than 200 Fortune 500 companies, celebrity endorsed, and provides approximately $16 million in college scholarships.
Cherokee's 30-member strong,Pocket kitchen accessories supplies high quality and reasonable price of best folding utility knife, 2014 team is not only larger and more diverse than previous years, but organizational efforts by Hobbs, fellow coaches Dewey Ferguson and Bob Edens,Computer-aided design has resulted in exceptional strength-to-weight ratios and extreme flexibility, giving the Tank truck hose excellent handling characteristics. parent volunteers, and veteran team members have transformed 'The Springs' into a streamlined, no-nonsense group of talented students, willing to eat, sleep, and breathe FIRST robotics from January 4, when the official FRC theme is announced, until the regional competition on March 27-29 at Knoxville Convention Center.
To participate in FIRST, the "Springs" must maintain a C-or-higher GPA and report directly to Hobbs' classroom afterschool to finish homework before practice. Team members must be willing to devote all free time to preparing for competition, as illustrated by last year's team, who racked up a total of 3,440 hours at practice during the six-week 'build season,' before competition. To ensure that team members enjoy nutritious evening meals during late-night build sessions, veteran team moms Darlene Lee and Melissa Nelson coordinate an online-based meal sign-up system for parents, who are required to provide three or four meals each season. Hobbs uses the Remind101 texting service to simplify communication for team members and parents.
"We are given a couple of totes filled with completely unknown parts," Hobbs said. "We get on the Web and Google the part number and manufacturer to find a sales page, which states, for example, a motor's rpm and voltage. We gather the data and read the rulebook to determine how many of these motors we can have. This lets us know that the motor is going to be our drive motor this year. We might decide we need two more of the motors to make the bot shoot, so we research the best prices and fastest shipping." "There are a lot of intentional unknowns so these kids learn to do the research. They gobble up the information. When you put them in a challenging environment, they will go to it," he continued.
According to Hobbs and Nelson, FIRST changes people. Those who have witnessed the team's progress attest to the fact that a few years in FIRST Robotics produces students more focused and driven than their peers. Former "Springs" members say that the team changed their lives,This easy-to-use pull stud screws onto the threaded end of the mill spindle. and some have even chosen to serve as mentors to current members. Unlike a traditional sports team, FIRST encourages "Gracious Professionalism," and "Coopertition" to emphasize respect for fellow teammates and cooperation with other teams, via Internet, throughout the build and in-person at competition.