We are Aluminati Industries, FTC team 8798. Our team has been a member of FIRST since 2014 where we have competed in multiple competitions and won various awards both for robot performance and our Notebook. This is able to be accomplished as a result of our team’s structure as well as the adaptability it holds as we gain and lose members.
Structure
Our team is composed of four main sections, each of which have their own unique role in our team.
Build
The build section of our team encompasses much of what people think of when they hear “robotics.” Members on this section of the team use the engineering design process to develop an idea for the robot and craft it. They often have to pay close attention to game rules as well as required tasks to ensure the robot can perform to the best of its abilities. However, while this section does do much of the physical construction, design ideas can come from any section of the team. Often times, we will open the season by having a large session in which everyone works together to come up with possible design ideas for the robot.
Coding
Members in the coding section of our team focus on the programming of the robot using OnBot Java. They not only have to provide a means for the robot to be controlled with a remote, but also have to program an autonomous portion which relies on precise, pre-programmed movements and sensors to achieve certain goals. This section of the team works very closely with the builders as they need to know what motors or sensors need to be programmed. They also have to communicate about the goals of the robot so the proper measures can be taken to achieve them.
Notebook
Our notebook section works on aspects of FIRST that are not typically recognized by most people when they hear the word “robotics.” They keep a record of every meeting, competition, and outreach event the team participates in as well as overall progress of the team. Members of this section log any changes made to the robot, code, or team structure; keep track of successes and failures; record goals of the team; and ultimately put every aspect of our team into written words. These records, logs, and documents are then condensed into a 15 page portfolio to be presented to judges at our county championship.
Public Relations/PR
The PR section of our team does exactly what the name suggests; they handle public relations. This includes aspects such as maintaining social media accounts, organizing outreach/ fundraising events, and obtaining sponsors for our team. They play a large role in presenting our team to the public and allowing us to become a larger part of our community, whether that be in our school, or outside. However, our PR team would not be complete without our team mascot, Cashflow. Cashflow is a lovable teddy bear who represents our team through his attire and reminds everyone to wear safety glasses both during competitions and in our weekly meetings. So, a special thanks to Cashflow for keeping our spirits high and our eyes safe from damage!
FTC Team 8798 