FRC Team 4150 FRobotics

Today, our team conducted our annual workshop safety training night at 7 PM at the FRobotics Workshop. This workshop training is required annually for all members in order to participate in the team’s workshop nights during the build season. We had a large turnout, with a majority of the team’s members and mentors in attendance to learn about the tools in the workshop, how to operate them, and workshop safety techniques. Experienced team members and mentors hosted individual stations, where they demonstrated their respective tool, how to operate it safely, and explained what it is used for. Stations included the soldering iron, the hacksaw, the drill press, and the sanding machine, among others. Overall, it was a very successful night, with team members getting the opportunity to get the workshop training they need and a chance to get to know and socialize with fellow team members and mentors afterward. The team is eagerly anticipating the start of the build season in two months!

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FRC and FRobotics

FIRST Robotics Team 4150 “FRobotics” is Franklin Regional Senior High’s very own FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team. FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting STEM through its four K-12 robotics competitions – FIRST Lego League Jr. (FLL Jr.), FIRST Lego League (FLL), FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), and the one our team participates in, the FIRST Robotics Competition, or FRC.
The students on our team learn invaluable skills by participating in FRC.
FRC is a real world high school robotics competition where students are given an objective to build a functioning robot that must meet specific requirements while being able to accomplish multiple tasks. We are totally responsible to develop and manage a budget, design and build a robot, while gaining invaluable analytical and leadership skills related to engineering, software development, and business.
For further information on FIRST® and FRC®, check out the FRC Penultimate Manual here.
FRobotics is open to anyone and everyone in FRHS. No matter what you can or cannot do, you are a valuable member of the team.

Organization and Communication

Our team is divided into subteams, each of which do different tasks. Each subteam is essential to the functioning of FRobotics as a whole.
- Team Support and Communications – Manages the team’s communications, public relations, branding, and administration.
  - Communication
  - Outreach
  - Relations
  - Team Development
  - Technology
  - Awards and Media/Branding
- Robot Build and Design – Actually designs and builds the robot.
  - Build
  - Wiring
  - Programming
  - CAD
  - Safety
  - Strategy and Scouting
- Sponsors and Finance – Gets money for us to build the robot and run the team.
  - Fundraising
  - Marketing
  - Finance

Expectations of Team Members

We expect that all team members are active within the team and helping out to the best of their ability.
We expect you to participate on the team – You signed up for it and agreed to make the time commitment.
We will be holding fundraising and outreach events – you will be expected to attend most if you can.
You will also be expected to attend at least 60% of all team meetings and/or team training sessions.
You must be an active member (attend meetings, workshop, training and contribute) to be allowed to attend competition.
However, we still believe in having fun while doing all of this!

Communication

We operate a Google Group for email purposes.
- To join, send a blank email to frobotics+subscribe@googlegroups.com
- You need to check this often!
- If you are a parent or a mentor, join the froboticsparents and froboticsmentors Google Groups!
We also have a Slack for other communication.
- To join, go to bit.ly/4150slack (If it is not working, contact Michael Cao)
- We send daily updates and communicate with each other using this. Check it often!
You need to fill out the Member Application.
- Yes, even old members.
- To fill it out, visit bit.ly/frobotics
- This is so we have your contact information and a little more information.
Our team blog: team4150.wordpress.com
- Check this for team updates!
- Our team calendar is there, too.
Twitter/Facebook
- Go follow them! We post about outreach and fundraising there.
- facebook.com/team4150 and twitter.com/team4150

Team Events and Outreach

Our team does a lot of fundraising events and outreach throughout the year.
Events that we have demoed at or participated in:
- The Mahoning Valley Robotics Competition
  - This is an offseason robotics competition we participated in this year.
- Franklin Regional Relay For Life
  - We usually have a team here and lead the first lap of the Relay.
- Science Nights
  - We usually do a demo at the Science Nights.
- Maker Faire: Pittsburgh
- Boyce Park Movie Night
- Paintball
  - This is more of a social event than anything else.
- Bonfire
  - We usually have a booth at the bonfire to raise some money.
- Corn Maze
  - This is also a team social event.
- Library Computer Take Apart @ Murrysville Library
  - This is an example of community outreach.
- Library Demos
  - This is also community outreach and spreading the word about FRobotics.
FIRST Lego League Mentors
- We help mentor a FIRST Lego League team.