Back after a very successful summer, when we were part of the winning alliance at the Indiana Robotics Invitational, the AdamBots started the year with one of our biggest teams ever, and quickly started to prepare for the 2012 OCCRA game: Goal Roll.

The game revolves around getting balls into towers, some of which are stationary and some of which can be moved around the field. We have created a robot that has an extendable mechanism to transfer the balls and that can collect and score efficiently.

Designing and building the robot was, as always, a difficult and interesting process, but the build, programming and CAD teams were able to work together and create a winning design for our OCCRA robot.

Dozens of AdamBots collaborated to construct our bot, and in the process students, both veteran and new, learned a lot about engineering and strategy. Also, the many new students (making a 90+ student team!) participated, on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the build season, in workshops that deal with all aspects of engineering.

Sub-team leaders and veterans have also worked to educate each other on the different responsibilities and processes that their sub-teams have.

In the programming subteam, for example, the many students interested in learning what programming is about, both new and old to the team, have been learning what programming is and how to do it. This includes asking and answering questions within the group and going over notes about different concepts in programming (for example, control structures). As OCCRA requires very little programming, the programming team is currently looking ahead to establishing what’s necessary for the FIRST season. An outline of the robot’s software design is being drafted to this end. This will aid in keeping organized once programming picks up during the FIRST season. Right now a general design has been sketched, which will be discussed in more detail in future meetings.

Other teams have been hard at work, as well. In the weeks leading up to our first OCCRA competition, which we hosted at Stoney Creek high school on Saturday, October 20, the build, CAD, marketing, business plan, photography, and animation teams worked endlessly to create, update, improve, and finalize their work.

Non-engineering teams such as the marketing and business plan teams have been tirelessly working on promoting the message of the Adambots and robotics in general. This Tuesday, October 16, during our weekly team meeting, the business plan team presented their OCCRA business plan to the entire team. In short, it covered their organizational, operational, marketing, and financial plans for this season. After the business plan presentation the team was shown a PowerPoint on how competitions work. The presentation covered how to act during the competition, how to talk properly to a judge, what kinds of awards your team can earn during a competition, and what judges look for in the team to earn those awards. The sub-team also worked on small meetings with the principals at Adams High School and Stoney Creek High School to talk about the team, the contributions it provides, and some things the schools can do to help out the team. It was a great experience and helped strengthen the bond between the team and the schools.

The marketing team have also been spreading the message through other methods. They made sure flyers, brochures, and buttons were distributed at Adams and Stoney Creek for students and staff to see. They also updated our posters by changing the photos and quotes. We also focused on making sure there was an administrator that would be representing our team for our first OCCRA competition at Stoney Creek. Altogether, we were fully prepared for our team to be represented at the competition.

As well as helping spread the cause of our team, the Adambots have also been working at outreach activities throughout the Rochester area. On Sunday, October 14, the AdamBots participated in the 2012 Crop Walk for hunger at Rochester Municipal Park at 2:00pm. Thirty five of our team members were able to come along with four of our mentors and five additional members from Team 33, the Killer Bees, from Notre Dame Preparatory High School. We also helped with parking and with cheering on walkers at the Step Up for Down’s Syndrome at the Palace of Auburn Hills on September 29. Our third outreach event will be tonight, and we will be helping clean up at the Halloween Hoot at Dinosaur Hill.

Overall the Adambots have gotten off to a great start for the year. The teams, while facing many tasks and problems, have worked together and are ready for a great OCCRA season.

FIRST, FRC, FTC, FLL, JR.FLL, COOPERTITION, GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM, RAPID REACT, INFINITE RECHARGE, DEEP SPACE, POWER UP, STEAMWORKS, STRONGHOLD, RECYCLE RUSH, AERIAL ASSIST, ULTIMATE ASCENT, REBOUND RUMBLE, LOGOMOTION, BREAKAWAY, LUNACY, FIRST OVERDRIVE, RACK N ROLL, AIM HIGH, TRIPLE PLAY, FIRST FRENZY: RAISING THE BAR, STACK ATTACK, ZONE ZEAL, DIABOLICAL DYNAMICS, CO-OPERTITION FIRST, and DOUBLE TROUBLE are registered trademarks of United States Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology AKA US FIRST CORPORATION NEW HAMPSHIRE 200 Bedford Street Manchester NEW HAMPSHIRE 03101. USFIRST trademarks and logos used with permission as a USFIRST team.