Bill You said it all well!! Looking forward to seeing you again soon!! Amit On Tue, Oct 8, 2019, 8:31 AM Robot Bill <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > I apologize and may have inadvertently stepped on a few toes and upset > some of the coaches on this listserve in my recent posting. Let me be > clear, my comments were *generic* advice and sincerely not intended to > accuse anyone of wrong doing. If anybody took my comments in that manner, > that was not my intention. I was using this particular topic as a generic > example (which may not have been the best approach in retrospect). Perhaps > I should have had a few more caffeinated beverages before hitting <send>. > Mea Culpa. > > If you read my posting initially as an accusation, I request you read it > again with a positive spin on it. My intention was to encourage > facilitation and mentoring by coaches. > > Bill > > On Tue, Oct 8, 2019 at 6:51 AM Robot Bill <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > >> If you will allow me, I would like to get up on my virtual soapbox for a >> few moments and provide some generic advice. Some of you know me, some of >> you don't. Let's just say, I have been associated with FIRST and FLL for a >> while. >> >> As I see some of the dialog on this listserve, I am secretly hoping that >> all of the coaches and mentors are using this information to *teach *their >> FLL teams. These are wonderful teaching opportunities for your teams. How >> you interact with your teams makes all the difference. Using this thread as >> an example, on one end of the spectrum, you can take the lessons learned >> from the other coaches and just tell the team, "the way to fix the wheel >> slipping is to do XYZ". If you do that, you will certainly shorten the team >> meeting and get closer to a better working robot. On the far end of the >> spectrum, you can mentor and facilitate the team, by leading them through a >> series of questions: "how is it slipping?", "how long is it slipping?". You >> can help them to do some research online to investigate the physics of >> friction. What are the factors that influence friction? What modifications >> can you do to the robot to reduce the probability of friction occurring >> (ensure the wheels are clean, increase the surface area by using more or >> different wheels, increase the weight directly over the wheels)? I am an >> engineer and we do this all the time. You will be, without you knowing it, >> teaching the children the basics of failure reporting and corrective action >> (FRACA). Rarely does any engineering project work initially. There is >> always an iterative process by which the product is incrementally improved >> (OBTW, take a look a the Robot Design rubric: >> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__firstinspiresst01.blob.core.windows.net_fll_2020_first-2Dlego-2Dleague-2Drubrics.pdf&d=DwIFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=k6Oa5GxfBPFMgGjb2r5QIoEOeBZs9xbNIpA0kLw_kFQ&m=zN_rE54KDbMHlsiPBQD_pumOh3PPKMZmjdNKHmuAqs0&s=Sdlq5ZE_Zj5iImESgy-beJIuW9rXfhP0-FK3_POZtNY&e= >> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__firstinspiresst01.blob.core.windows.net_fll_2020_first-2Dlego-2Dleague-2Drubrics.pdf&d=DwMFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=k6Oa5GxfBPFMgGjb2r5QIoEOeBZs9xbNIpA0kLw_kFQ&m=Tp57f4vD6NGXAL7wD-6sLmBTzTeRnmjWT9re8JnXy5c&s=kFH2YZoW0XD9I3uN8bPdHtl3QykMa22eZFQlvjoX6EE&e=>). >> Notice "design process"?) >> >> If your only goal as a coach is to win a FLL tournament, just go purchase >> a trophy, get a cake and have a party now. If your goal is to develop your >> team members (and I hope it is), use these learning moments to discuss with >> your teams what is going on. If you are a rookie coach and not and >> engineer, don't fret. It is OK to be vulnerable and tell the team you do >> not know. Show them how to find the answers, do the research together. Give >> them homework do do between meetings (I did this as a coach to get my team >> to learn line following). >> >> I have always told coaches that the main part of FLL is during the season >> as you prepare for a tournament. The tournament should be a celebration of >> what your teams have accomplished over the season. Please capture these >> moments and use them to educate and develop your team members. What part >> this teaching spectrum you choose will make a big difference in what your >> team members will take away from your coaching. >> >> <Getting off soapbox now> >> >> Thank you for volunteering and have a great season! >> >> Bill >> >> >> On Mon, Oct 7, 2019 at 10:21 PM Jeff Borek <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >> >>> Last year, my team had luck improving consistency in a similar situation >>> by making sure the wheels were wiped clean (just with a dry rag) each time >>> before a run. Turned them into a little bit obsessive with the cleaning >>> but definitely improved consistent start, turn, stop. >>> >>> On Mon, Oct 7, 2019 at 10:01 PM Amy Nichols <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >>> >>>> This actually seems to be problem with the mat, I believe. We’ve run >>>> the same robot on multiple mats...and then other robots on this board. The >>>> robots run on this board skid and slip along the mat mainly when the robot >>>> turns...but who knows? Very time is a surprise. :) It really seems to be a >>>> problem with the quality of the mat. At first, we thought it had to do with >>>> how much it was used - possibly newer mats still had a glossy film on it or >>>> something. But that doesn’t seem to be the case, as we ran the same robots >>>> on a mat right out of the box without any of these issues. So...we don’t >>>> know and were just wondering if it’s our sole mat or if others were having >>>> trouble as well? >>>> >>>> Weird. >>>> >>>> Thanks much, >>>> Amy >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>> On Oct 7, 2019, at 9:02 PM, Skip Morrow <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >>>> >>>> First, verify that you have wheel slip. Film it in slo motion. Does it >>>> happen every time? Does setting a slower speed help? Going from zero to 100 >>>> in a blink is pretty much always going to cause some slip. Especially if >>>> you have big wheels. Also, is your robot balanced? Maybe you have a heavy >>>> attachment on one side? That can throw things off by taking a lot of weight >>>> off of one wheel which can cause it to slip more easily. Finally, for a >>>> really advanced solution you can try and write an acceleration myblock. >>>> Otherwise, the only solutions are to ensure your robot is balanced, and use >>>> slower speeds. >>>> >>>> >>>> On Mon, Oct 7, 2019 at 8:26 PM Alicia A. Strahan <[log in to unmask]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Accelerating from start. Wheels spin but it doesn’t grip on the mat. >>>>> Doesn’t happen every time but throws off the robot just enough to mess up >>>>> the mission. >>>>> >>>>> Get Outlook for iOS >>>>> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__aka.ms_o0ukef&d=DwMFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=k6Oa5GxfBPFMgGjb2r5QIoEOeBZs9xbNIpA0kLw_kFQ&m=thvGt952Yyu0iqagWEo60249q5tBHIFX2KClcuP3KmM&s=zmPPxGnUtUwh1QX3eM52aiobdS7XvXBlMYeN07OknQI&e=> >>>>> ------------------------------ >>>>> *From:* Skip Morrow <[log in to unmask]> >>>>> *Sent:* Monday, October 7, 2019 8:04:22 PM >>>>> *To:* Alicia A. Strahan <[log in to unmask]> >>>>> *Cc:* [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> >>>>> *Subject:* Re: [VADCFLL-L] Robot skidding on board >>>>> >>>>> What do you guys mean by "skidding"? When I think of skidding, I think >>>>> of putting on the brakes, locking up my tires, and screeching to a stop. >>>>> That obviously doesn't apply here. >>>>> >>>>> Are you talking about a general loss of traction, leading to robot >>>>> inaccuracy? If so, are we talking mostly during turns? Or accelerating from >>>>> a dead stop? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Mon, Oct 7, 2019 at 3:22 PM Alicia A. Strahan <[log in to unmask]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> We have noticed a problem as well. It does not happen every time and >>>>>> does not happen when we run the code on a different surface like the >>>>>> floor. >>>>>> >>>>>> *Alicia Strahan* >>>>>> STEM Lab Teacher >>>>>> Rosa Parks Elementary School >>>>>> >>>>>> ------------------------------ >>>>>> *From:* First Lego League in Virginia and DC < >>>>>> [log in to unmask]> on behalf of Alina Marston < >>>>>> [log in to unmask]> >>>>>> *Sent:* Monday, October 7, 2019 3:01 PM >>>>>> *To:* [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> >>>>>> *Subject:* [VADCFLL-L] Robot skidding on board >>>>>> >>>>>> Hi everyone, >>>>>> >>>>>> My team is having trouble with our robot wheels skidding on our >>>>>> board. My team has tested their robot on two other boards and the robot's >>>>>> wheels do not skid when turning on the other two boards, but they do skid >>>>>> when they turn on ours. We had another team test their robot and programs >>>>>> on our board last week and their wheels skidded also when running on our >>>>>> board. In all, we've tested three other robots on the other two boards and >>>>>> none of them skid like on ours at home. Has anyone else had this problem? >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks! >>>>>> Alina Marston >>>>>> The Magically Energized Lightning Waffle Bunnies >>>>>> >>>>>> -- To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit >>>>>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or >>>>>> leave the list". >>>>>> >>>>>> -- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via >>>>>> VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit >>>>>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-ANNOUNCEMENTS-l.html to >>>>>> subscribe. >>>>>> ------------------------------ >>>>>> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit >>>>>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or >>>>>> leave the list". >>>>>> VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via >>>>>> VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit >>>>>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to >>>>>> subscribe. >>>>> >>>>> ------------------------------ >>>> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit >>>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or >>>> leave the list". >>>> VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via >>>> VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit >>>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to >>>> subscribe. >>>> >>>> ------------------------------ >>>> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit >>>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or >>>> leave the list". >>>> VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via >>>> VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit >>>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to >>>> subscribe. >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit >>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or >>> leave the list". >>> VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via >>> VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit >>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to >>> subscribe. >> >> ------------------------------ > To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit > https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or > leave the list". > VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. > Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to > subscribe. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list". -- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-ANNOUNCEMENTS-l.html to subscribe.