HomeForumsGalleryCalendarGHXBlogFIRST

• »What Is FIRST?
• »What We Do (and How)
  • »Website
  • »Prototype and Build
  • »Strategy
  • »Program Management
  • »Control Systems
  • »Image Management
  • »Gearhead Crossing
  • »Design and Engineering
• »Team 1189
• »The Yellow Diamond
• »Safety
• »Videos
• »Sponsors
• »Resources
• »Community Service
• »Become A Team Member
• »2007 Website
• »Contact The Gearheads

Design and Engineering

The Design and Engineering Group's responsibility is to convert the strategies the Strategy Group provides into realities the Build and Prototype Group can construct. The design members conduct necessary calculations and analyses as well as create math models and schematics.

The design team started out with various workshops in the fall of 2007, they were meant to identify interested students in CAD and to introduce resources to them such as Chief Delphi, IFI Robotics, IGUS, McMaster Carr and the FIRST CAD library. One notable workshop was the robotics basics workshop where fundamentals such as the design process, robot stability, free body diagrams, motors selection, transmission fundamentals, and fastener options were introduced. Another notable workshop was the creative problem-solving workshop; an engineer from GM introduced a 4-step process to the team where all possible solutions to a problem are explored. The workshop helped introduce team members to the first step in the engineering process: brainstorming.

The Design and Engineering Group has grown exponentially in the last two years. In 2006, it was almost nonexistent, but in 2007 it came out of nowhere with the help of two GM engineering mentors. Since then the FRC robot has been designed fully on Autodesk Inventor Professional 11 and 2008. Today we have 5 active students working on the Design Group, all of which are well versed in the program.

The most interesting design project this year would have to be the hexagonal axle drive train. This system is much more reliable and easy to assemble than a 1/8 in. keyway system. The hexagonal axles rest inside ¾ in. diameter anodized aluminum shafting, which rotate inside an IGUS Iglide polymer bearing. Mounted on these axles are the 8 in. Andy Marks performance wheels and a sprocket “sandwich” or hub. Each hub can hold two sprockets and transfers rotational force among the 6 wheels through number 35 chain.

The Design and Engineering Group is growing fast and it has high hopes for next year. We’ll see you at the regionals!