OHS Robotics

History from 2007-2008 Season

This year's strategic game of "Overdrive" required patience from our mentors and cooperation our whole robotics team. Since our team's genesis in 2006, we have had a unique bond with our mentors. Mentors have volunteered their time to help us create a robot, and as a result, our friendships with the mentors have grown stronger with every meeting. Mentors have also instilled us with an interest for the field of technology. Over the past two years, many members from our previous robotics teams have decided to major in engineering in college. Some of those former members have also come back to help as mentors. Last year a former robotics team member assisted the team with the mechanical requirements. This year another former member helped with the software requirements. Alumni members have been hired as summer interns at Lockheed Martin due to their association with robotics. One reason that previous team members decide to become mentors is the positive atmosphere the mentors provide.
The issue the mentors emphasize the most is to let the "students create the robot." The point of robotics is not to create a "mentor-bot," but to feel rewarded for making the robot. Even more rewarding is sharing the robot with others who did not have a chance to work on the project. One way that the team connected with the community was by presenting our previous two robots at Camp Eagle, which is a science camp for elementary school students. Camp Eagle was held on a Saturday at Osbourn High School and was a great opportunity to teach the kids about the background of creating a robot. They were in awe of the robots and even helped in the repair when a breakdown would occur.
After all of our hard work during our rookie year of 2006, the school board invited our team to the town hall meeting that spring. We presented the robot in front of the town council and expressed our gratitude for the enormous support they provided throughout the robotics season. In 2007 we brought the robot to Lockheed Martin for their annual "Take Your Child to Work" Day. The children of the Lockheed Martin employees were able to see and drive the robot, as well as learn about the process of making the robot. This year, during Osbourn's freshman and AP/Honors orientation, we attempted to recruit interested students to work on next year's robot.
Throughout the entire robotics season, Osbourn students have displayed gracious professionalism. Each time we have worked on the robot, we have exemplified teamwork. Our team also exhibits a drive and determination to improve the robot. Our team consisted of students who were accustomed to thinking analytically and respecting the contributions of others. Consideration of others has enabled the Seniors on the team to appreciate and embrace the efforts and ideas of our younger members. Together we were able to work on many aspects of the robot and compromise on our ideas to create one solid proposal. Unlike the past two seasons, we developed a strategy that will involve the participation of other teams. During the competitions, it is going to be imperative to devise a plan in which the three teams can adapt to each other so they are in the best position to succeed. If we advance to the finals, it will also be important to document the other teams' strategies so we will know who to choose for an alliance. We decided to build a small, fast robot that could carry the ball around the court and play defense by removing balls from the six foot rack. We decided not to go for the glory of the six foot score but to design the robot with a team alliance in mind. The planning at the competition goes beyond the robot, great thought was given to our "giveaways" which are smiley faced bouncy balls which symbolize the friendly and fun nature of our team. Another strategy which will come into play with this year's game is to keep the robot from being an obstruction by getting in our opponents way of path.
Partnership is what has driven our robotics program the past few years. That partnership has evolved into a long-lasting friendship with many different supporters. Lockheed Martin, who approached us with the FIRST idea back in 2005, has given us the utmost support in our findings. The mentors have become friends of ours, and it is as if we are becoming more of an extended family. Lockheed further strengthened this relationship by welcoming minority students from Osbourn to Lockheed for their first annual "Minorities in Engineering Day" in 2007. Another company that we have a strong relationship with is Micron. They have supported us from the beginning, and continue to help us on a daily basis. Many students from our school, especially from our robotics program, have submitted entries to Micron's yearly science and technology scholarships. In addition, the City of Manassas Education Foundation has given grants to our team, which has helped make our successes possible.
In return for all of the help we have received from our mentors and the community, we have been active in our efforts to get kids involved in robotics. One way is the eventual involvement with developing LEGO league teams in our elementary schools. We hope to activate this program this spring. We have tremendous support from our parents. Throughout the long nights and weekends of working on the robot, our parents would bring us refreshments. Many act as mentors and chaperones. Our evening meetings were relief from the classes we had attended earlier that day, and the accompaniment of our peers made the work fun. New friendships were formed between people who did not know each other. Robotics was also an escape from everyday stress, and our meetings were productive and relaxing.
We have been very enthusiastic about spreading the FIRST message. FIRST represents the "inspiration and recognition in the field of science and technology." What is not included in the acronym, but is implied in every aspect of FIRST, is the focus on becoming better people. We have best exemplified FIRST in the way we live each and every day with character, which is the "first" aspect of robotics we strive to spread. When we talk to children, we emphasize the importance of sportsmanship and acting gracious to others. When we present our robot to the community, we explain the true lessons of robotics, including that becoming a better person is more important than building a robot. During competition week, we put up posters and banners with the FIRST trademark, and wear shirts that show the FIRST logo. We explain to classmates that robotics is not the creation of "battle bots," but a club in which students diligently create their own robot. FIRST has become a vital part of our lives, and we will continue to pass on the values of FIRST to everyone we meet.

This year's strategic game of "Overdrive" required patience from our mentors and cooperation our whole robotics team. Since our team's genesis in 2006, we have had a unique bond with our mentors. Mentors have volunteered their time to help us create a robot, and as a result, our friendships with the mentors have grown stronger with every meeting. Mentors have also instilled us with an interest for the field of technology. Over the past two years, many members from our previous robotics teams have decided to major in engineering in college. Some of those former members have also come back to help as mentors. Last year an alumni robotics team member assisted with the mechanical requirements. This year another former member helped with the software programming. Alumni members have been hired as summer interns at Lockheed Martin due to their association with robotics. One reason that previous team members come back to help is the positive atmosphere the professional engineering mentors provide.
The issue the mentors emphasize the most is to let the "students create the robot." The point of robotics is not to create a "mentor-bot," but to feel rewarded for making a TEAM robot. Even more rewarding is sharing the robot with others who did not have a chance to work on the project. One way that the team connected with the community was by presenting our previous two robots at Camp Eagle, which is a science camp for elementary school students. Camp Eagle was held on a Saturday at Osbourn High School and was a great opportunity to teach the kids about the background of creating a robot. They were in awe of the robots and even helped in the repair when a breakdown would occur.
After all of our hard work during our rookie year of 2006, the school board invited our team to the town hall meeting that spring. We presented the robot in front of the town council and expressed our gratitude for the enormous support they provided throughout the robotics season. In 2007 we brought the robot to Lockheed Martin for their annual "Take Your Child to Work" Day. The children of the Lockheed Martin employees were able to see and drive the robot, as well as learn about the process of making the robot. This year, during Osbourn's freshman and AP/Honors orientation, we attempted to recruit interested students to work on next year's robot by setting up a display using last year's robot and banner.
Throughout the entire robotics season, Osbourn students have displayed gracious professionalism. Each time we have worked on the robot, we have exemplified teamwork. Our team also exhibits a drive and determination to improve the robot. Our team consisted of students who were accustomed to thinking analytically and respecting the contributions of others. Consideration of others has enabled the Seniors on the team to appreciate and embrace the efforts and ideas of our younger members. Together we were able to work on many aspects of the robot and compromise on our ideas to create one solid proposal. Unlike the past two seasons, we developed a strategy that will involve the participation of other teams. During the competitions, it is going to be imperative to devise a plan in which the three teams can adapt to each other so they are in the best position to succeed. If we advance to the finals, it will also be important to document the other teams' strategies so we will know who to choose for an alliance. We decided to build a small, fast robot that could carry the ball around the court and play defense by removing balls from the six foot rack. We decided not to go for the glory of the six foot score but to design the robot with a team alliance in mind. The planning at the competition goes beyond the robot, great thought was given to our "giveaways" which are smiley faced bouncy balls which symbolize the friendly and fun nature of our team.
Partnership is what has driven our robotics program the past few years. That partnership has evolved into a long-lasting friendship with many different supporters. Lockheed Martin, who approached us with the FIRST idea back in 2005, has given us the utmost support in our program. The mentors have become friends of ours, and it is as if we are becoming more of an extended family. Lockheed further strengthened this relationship by welcoming minority students from Osbourn to Lockheed for their first annual "Minorities in Engineering Day" in 2007. Another company that we have a strong relationship with is Micron. They have supported us from the beginning, and continue to help us on a daily basis. Many students from our school, especially from our robotics program, have submitted entries to Micron's yearly science and technology scholarships and have participated in their Women in Engineering Program. In addition, the City of Manassas Education Foundation has given grants to our team and have done fundraising, which has helped make our program possible.
In return for all of the help we have received from our mentors and the community, we have been active in our efforts to get kids involved in robotics. One way is the eventual involvement with developing LEGO league teams in our elementary schools. We hope to activate this program this spring. We have tremendous support from our parents. Throughout the long nights and weekends of working on the robot, our parents would bring us refreshments. Many act as mentors and chaperones. Our evening meetings were relief from the classes we had attended earlier that day, and the accompaniment of our peers made the work fun. New friendships were formed between people who did not know each other. Robotics was also an escape from everyday stress, and our meetings were productive and relaxing.
We have been very enthusiastic about spreading the FIRST message. FIRST represents the "inspiration and recognition in the field of science and technology." What is not included in the acronym, but is implied in every aspect of FIRST, is the focus on becoming better people. We have best exemplified FIRST in the way we live each and every day with character, which is the "first" aspect of robotics we strive to spread. When we talk to children, we emphasize the importance of sportsmanship and acting gracious to others. When we present our robot to the community, we explain the true lessons of robotics, including that becoming a better person is more important than building a robot. During competition week, we put up posters and banners with the FIRST trademark, and wear shirts that show the FIRST logo. We explain to classmates that robotics is not the creation of "battle bots," but a club in which students diligently create their own robot. FIRST has become a vital part of our lives, and we will continue to pass on the values of FIRST to everyone we meet.

Thanks to all of our sponsors, without them we wouldn't be possible!