1/13/25-1/18/25
Our Team
Following a productive first week of Build Season, the team has been continuing our efforts as we prepare for our first competition. Robot side has been bringing their prototypes to life, while Logistics side has been creating content for our social media, planning outreach events, and drafting the robot’s autonomous and teleop routes during matches.

Design
Design finished their block framework (physical blocks which all of the robot components fit into), ensuring that the robot is constructed in a successful manner. They sent out the drivetrain drawings to other sub-teams, so they can begin the robot’s construction. Additionally, they have finalized their ideas for specific subsystem designs within each block, including the climber, Algae intake, coral end effector, wrist, and elevator. Next week, they will begin the logistics of the Algae Intake-End Effector hand-off, which will determine how the robot’s arm will score Algae. Furthermore, they will continue calculating the gear ratios for the elevator and coral intake.

Mechanical
This week, Mechanical started producing wooden “1403” numbers for the Spirit Committee, which will be used for an LED sign. They also finished their coral MDF prototypes to test different wheel sizes for the coral intake system. Additionally, they completed construction of MK4i swerve modules, which are the systems that control the robot’s ability to drive and turn. Compared to last year’s model, the motors will be on the bottom of the drivetrain, rather than the top. This is beneficial because it alleviates spatial constraints and gives the Design Subteam more flexibility with the sizes of their subsystems. Along with this, they started to build the game’s field, which will be needed for our Montgomery District Competition in March. Over the next week, Mechanical hopes to finish the wooden numbers and finish the drivetrain. Furthermore, they hope to begin constructing robot subsystems like the intake, climber, and elevator, utilizing drawings from Design.

Electrical
Electrical’s tasks this week included fixing the 2023 robot’s electrical components and planning the robot’s bellypan, which is the metal sheet that covers the bottom-side of the robot. Members also worked on testing the sub-team’s new battery chargers and distance sensors, the latter of which will allow the Drive Team to more effectively maneuver the robot. Additionally, they’ve worked with Programming to finalize a list of sensors and electrical components needed for this year’s robot. Next week, they aim to finalize the robot’s bellypan and begin wiring the Spirit Committee sign. Furthermore, they’ll plan the wiring for the 2025 robot, and work with Design to determine the location of each electrical component on the robot.

Programming
This week, Programming has finished rewriting the 2024 robot’s code with the updated 2025 libraries. Additionally, they have been testing the newly purchased Limelight 3 camera’s AprilTags detection capability, ensuring that the robot will be able to pinpoint its location from the tags during matches. Programming has also been analyzing the Trunk or Treat robot to test the elevator system due to its similarities to the one planned for our 2025 robot. Finally, Programming has updated the 2023 robot’s code for the arm and wrist, as they will function similarly to this year’s design. Next week, Programming will continue testing Limelight 3 and the 2023 robot in order to further improve the arm’s stability.

Audio/Visual
A/V has started working on the Impact video. The video will detail our efforts to spread the mission of FIRST and make the largest impact possible within our community. A/V has also restarted the TCA (The Compass Alliance) Reels to provide engineering and business resources to rookie and veteran FRC teams alike. A/V will also continue to take daily build season footage, showcasing the hard work of all our team members, which will be utilized in the Week #2 Build Season Reel and other team-related media. In the next few weeks, A/V will continue working on the Impact videos, the TCA Reels, and taking footage. They aim to consistently post Build Season reels every week.

Business/Communications
The Business/Communications subteam has been working on finishing the business plan and writing newsletters. B/C has also worked along with the Outreach subteam to progress the first draft of the executive summary for the FIRST Impact Award. Additionally, B/C has been updating sections of the team’s website (team1403.com) by adding information on this year’s kickoff, publishing newly written newsletters, and updating out of date pages. In the upcoming weeks, B/C aims to complete the business plan, keep the website updated, and increase the team’s social media presence.

Outreach
Outreach has been working on the Executive Summary, which is a component of the team’s Impact Award submission. They have also been planning numerous outreach initiatives, such as a Water STEM Challenge event that introduces kids to the importance of safe drinking water and filtration. Additionally, Outreach will continue hosting their Cub Classes, which provides engineering challenges to kids 9-11. Other future events include the Lego SPIKE Golf event, where kids will be challenged to engineer and program SPIKE robots in mini-golf-related challenges. In the coming weeks, they will continue hosting and planning events, as well as creating write-ups and working on the Impact Award submissions.

Strategy
Strategy has created a plan to configure a new app that will allow us to more effectively match scout. They have created a Reefscape Point Calculator, which will allow our team to analyze the most effective routes and scoring methods for our robot. Additionally, they’re in the process of creating a presentation introducing the team to the new Scouting app, alongside a presentation that’ll detail the robot’s Teleop route. They’ve also been simulating the game, using team members to represent robots, to better understand how the robots will interact with each other and the game pieces. This will be useful in order to find theoretical cycle times for the robot. They aim to finish and share their Scouting and Teleop Presentations.
