The Book Of Knowledge The Book of Knowledge: An Insider’s Guide to FRC Competitions By: Neehar Banerjee, Wyatt Beito, Ryan Berglund, Alissa Bible, Rachel Geroux, Ishaan Govindarajan, Isaac Gullickson, Bridger Herman, Eric Mallmann, Jenna Meyer, Benjamin Mroz, Elizabeth Mroz, Peter Torzewski, Zachary Zielinski, Sunny Zheng Publishing Company Press 12/22/2015 Page 2 of 132 The Book Of Knowledge Copyright ©2015 FRC Team 2530 Inconceivable, LLC ALL RIGHTS ARE RESERVRED. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the Copyright owner. Originally published by: Groupribarpublishing Press 370 Tanager Drive Grafton, WI 53024-1764 DISCLAIMER AND/OR LEGAL NOTICES: While all attempts have been made to verify the information provided in this publication, neither the authors nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions. Any slights of people or organizations are unintentional. This publication is not intended for use as a source of legal or accounting advice. The publisher wants to stress that the information contained herein may be subject to varying state and/or local laws or regulations. All users are encouraged to retain competent counsel to determine what state and/or local laws or regulations may apply to the user’s own particular business situation. The purchaser or reader of this publication assumes responsibility for the use of these materials and information. Adherence to all applicable laws and regulations, both advertising and all aspects of doing business in the United States and any other jurisdiction is the sole responsibility of the purchaser or reader of these materials and information. The author and publisher assume no responsibility or liability whatsoever on behalf of any purchaser or reader of these materials. 12/22/2015 Page 3 of 132 The Book Of Knowledge Acknowledgements The students of Team 2530 would like to acknowledge the inconceivable contributions of our mentors and sponsors. Our mentors invest hours of time and energy into this team, guiding us and teaching us real life skills, and for that, we could not be more grateful. Each of the following individuals has helped shape our team and make all of our endeavors more successful: Thomas Beito, Gerard Betz, Lawrence Berglund, Beth Burton, Nathaniel Davidson, Leland Day, Stephen Mroz, Mark Pottorff, Ron Randall, Ellen Sassenberg, Tim Torzewski, Geroge Van Leeuwen, Vince Wagner and Jocelyn Woog. We are also grateful for the support of the sponsors who make our team’s efforts possible. Our Sponsors “Miracle Max” Diamond Tier 12/22/2015 Page 4 of 132 The Book Of Knowledge “Inconceivable!” Platinum Tier “As You Wish” Gold Tier 12/22/2015 Page 5 of 132 The Book Of Knowledge Table of Contents About the Authors Forward Chapters 1. Team 2530 Mission Statement 2. Mentors/Captains 3. 2014 Game Explanation 4. Business 5. CAD 6. Programming 7. Mechanical 8. Electrical 9. Drive Team 10. Scouting 11. Safety 12. Webmaster 13. Photographer 14. Photography 15. Robotics Terms Appendix How to Contact The Authors 12/22/2015 Page 6 of 132 The Book Of Knowledge About The Authors Neehar Banerjee Mayo High School (Grade 11) Team Member since 2012, Treasurer & Head Scout 2013- 2014, Captain 2014-2015 I am currently a junior, and this is my third year on Team 2530. As a member of this FIRST team, I have gained an incredible amount of knowledge in fields from mechanical engineering to programming to business management. I appreciate that FIRST includes STEM disciplines and also encompasses other important skills such as financing, communication, and professionalism. After becoming a team captain in 2014, I helped facilitate several projects including drafting a Chairman’s Award submission, writing grants, and publishing the Book of Knowledge. In my spare time, I also participate in several other activities including Science Olympiad, STEM Society, National Honors Society, Spanish National Honors Society, and Mayo Clinic Young Volunteers. plan to attend a university with strong science and engineering programs and to work towards a degree in some field of engineering or computer science. Through my involvement with Team 2530, I have been able to discern a path for my future, develop the skills necessary for a successful career, and form innumerable lifelong friendships. 12/22/2015 Page 7 of 132 The Book Of Knowledge Wyatt Beito Lourdes High School (Grade 12) Team Member since 2011, Head of Pit Team 2012-2015, Captain 2014-2015 I am a senior at Rochester Lourdes High School. This is my third year as a member of the Rochester FIRST Robotics Competition Team 2530, Inconceivable. I am currently one of our team’s captains, and I have been leader of the pit crew and a member of the electrical and mechanical subgroups. Regional and State competitions are my favorite part of FRC. The Coopertition atmosphere and the idea that every team is there to help other teams and have fun as opposed to beat one another in the competition is my idea of the perfect work environment. Being on Team 2530 has really helped me develop my interest in STEM, and I intend to pursue a career in Aerospace Engineering through college and beyond. FIRST Robotics has given me valuable experience in the field of engineering and prepared me for my career. I want to become an Aerospace Engineer working for a company that operates in space. With the leadership experience and design knowledge that FIRST has given me the opportunity to absorb, I know that I am much more prepared to work in the engineering field than most others entering college along with me. I love to be involved in my community, and I play on my high school’s golf and debate teams. My other hobbies are hunting, fishing, cross country and downhill skiing, and lifeguarding. I am also a proud Eagle Scout of Troop 110. 12/22/2015 Page 8 of 132 The Book Of Knowledge Ryan Berglund Mayo High School (Grade 11) Team Member since 2012, Team Photographer 2012-2015 For my whole life I have been in love with machines of all sorts. I was first exposed to engineering at a young age due to my dad’s job and by my older brother’s science fair and robotics participation. I soon had a growing passion for engineering. In 9th grade a fellow student and I worked with the Mayo Clinic developing alternative methods of making neuro-regenerative scaffolds. In doing this we designed and built a micro CNC machine and successfully made scaffolds with the alternate method. We won our category at the regional science fair and second at the state level. Since then CNC has become a passion of mine. My brother and I built a 3 axis mill that I use for parts manufacturing for robotics and other CNCs. I rebuilt a 2 axis lathe at my school, designed and built a 4 axis desktop CNC, and I have begun work on a 5 axis CNC mill. The information that I have learned and my experiences from these machines is invaluable in FRC as well. When I’m not involved in Robotics I actively participate in the high school’s theater program, designing the lights and sound for the fall and spring shows. I also participate on the Science Olympiad team, designing and building devices to compete with teams all around the Midwest. I enjoy photography and wish I had more time to pursue it. However, by far my favorite pastime is mountain biking, and for the last 3 years I have competed in the Minnesota High School Cycling League, and last year raced varsity at the state level. 12/22/2015 Page 9 of 132 The Book Of Knowledge Alissa Bible Century High School (Grade 12) Team Member since 2012, Drive Team Member 2014-2015 This season is my third with FRC Team 2530, and having been around for a while now, I feel relatively confident saying that the choice to join FRC, although I had no idea what it would be like at the time, was one of the best decisions I have made to date. Since then, I’ve learned so much, and a surprising amount of it isn’t really about robots: it’s about the value of attentiveness, being open to new solutions as well as new problems, and, fundamentally, it’s about being a good person. I’ve done just about everything with the team, including working in the Business, CAD, Mechanical, Electrical, and Strategy subgroups. I helped write and edit this season’s Chairman’s essay submission, and I’ve drafted, designed, and edited various documents describing FRC, Team 2530, and our robots. I’ve also given business presentations, volunteered at all of the team’s major events, and been in the pits doing what I can since the 2012-2013 season. Essentially, what I do is whatever I think I can do, and with this as my guide, I’ve come to realize that, with a little effort, I can do most everything. Believing that one can do whatever one pleases is not entirely a blessing, though; it makes it difficult to choose. I, for one, don’t know where I’m going or why, but I’ll head off to whatever college accepts me this fall, and there I hope to study engineering, architecture, chemistry, and philosophy until they let me out with a fancy sheet of paper and a funny hat. That sounds alright to me. 12/22/2015 Page 10 of 132 The Book Of Knowledge Rachel Geroux Century High School (Grade 12) Team Member since 2013, Captain 2014-2015 Throughout my Robotics experience, I have had numerous positive experiences.