ANDYMARK, INC 1

Strategic DesignFROM THE GAME TO CONCEPT

DANNY BLAU

ANDYMARK, INC 2

Background•Started in FLL in 2002 – City Sights

• Started in FRC in 2004 – FIRST Frenzy

•Drove for alumni team in ‘07 and ’08

•Mentored various teams in Milwaukee and Minneapolis 2009-2012

•Lead mentor for 3184 in 2013 – Ultimate Assent

•Rocket Scientist (day job) 2012-13

•Lead technical mentor for 1529 starting 2014 – Ariel Assist

•Design Engineer (day job) for AndyMark, Inc. starting in 2013

•Years in FIRST: 13 / Age: 25 = 52%

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From A to B The Game

•The FIRST Manual

•FIRST technical documents

•CAD Of the field

Design Concept

•A one sentence description of the concept

•A ranked priority list for the design

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Where to begin•Read The FIRST Manual (RTFM)

•Understand the ranking system• A major reason 234 seeded so well

•Examine every possible way to score

•Examine every possible way to prevent your opponent from scoring

•Map out where points start on the field

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Field map

RC: 48pt delta each

RC: 48pt delta each

Land Fill Totes: 18ptsHP Totes: 60pts

Noodles: 60pts (40pts)

Auto RC: 12ptsStack RC: 24pts

Auto Totes: 20ptsCo-op Totes: 40pts

Land Fill Totes: 18pts

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Cycle Games•How many cycles per match

•How many game pieces per cycle

•Accuracy of each scoring opportunity

•Therefore: point potential per match

•FRC 2015 early• Cycles per match: 1• Game pieces per cycle: 6t + 1RC + 1n• Accuracy of each opportunity: 90%• Points per match: 42

•FRC 2015 late• Cycles per match: 3• Game pieces per cycle: 6t + 1RC + 1n (or less)• Accuracy of each opportunity:??% (very high)• Points per match: 126

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Aside: Game Breakers•Strategies that when executed guarantees victories, no matter what!

•These will be hard to find

•Harder to execute

•FIRST works hard to eliminate them from the game

•FRC 2002, Controlling all of the goals• Team 71, built the Flop Bot

•FRC 2003, Lifting all the bins

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Walk throughs•Play the game as people

•Limit your abilities to ‘robot’ levels and speeds

•Don’t under or estimate • Look to old games• Number of cycles• Accuracy of each element in a cycle

•Questions:• How hard is it to get game pieces• How do game pieces enter the field• Totes: face planted straight out of the chute

•What is your Driver’s Margin of Error (MoE)

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Driver Margin of Error•How does the size of the goal compare to the size of the game piece?

Team 1519, 2007 Team 2169, 2011 Team 95, 2006 Team lots, 2013

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Cost-Benefit•Weight all options against their total costs• Build times• Competition points• Financial cost• Complexity• Weight• Motor allotment• Total energy required

•The best tasks have the highest return for the smallest input

•Denying your opponents 10pts may be just as good as scoring 10pts yourself

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Requirements1. Create a list of all the things the robot has

to do

2. Rank the list• Based on cost benefit• Overall season goals• Sequence of events

•Items do not discus how but simply what

•Be hyper specific

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Example List 1529 in 2015

1. Your team must be able to build it• Your build plan, your materials and tooling,

your resources

2. The robot must pass inspection• Read the manual• Check for updates

3. It must move!

4. Game specific things

5. Etc…

1. We must be able to build this:• Kit chassis (Am14U2)• Sheet metal parts from sponsor• REV extrusion for elevator

2. Must pass inspection

3. It must move:• Nominal driving distance: >8ft• Robot speed: ~8.5ft/sec• Wheel size: 4” HiGrip and DuraOmni• Kit simplicity, don’t go sideways over the bump

4. Grab 2 RC at the point where we know the most about their position

5. Make a stack of 6 from the Human Load Chute

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Aside: Trade-ables & ScopeTrade-ables

•Speed Vs Torque

•Height of reach Vs Low CG

•DoF Vs Stability at end effector

•Drivers robot Vs process robot

•Our role Vs teammates roles

Scope

•How many systems/components can your team build?

•Do you have a triage option?

•Is your design segment-able?

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Aside – Systems Engineering•Mercedes 2014 F1 Engine• Total departure from convention• Totally epic performance• 18 of 19 pole positions• 16 of 19 race wins• 701 points (2nd place team 405)

• 2 F1 world titles

This cutaway drawing is courtesy of Paolo D'Alessio.

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Thank You! Questions? I’m sure you have questions, please ask

Unless I’ve ran out of time then this slide just signifies the end…

Danny Blau

Danny@andymark.com

@dannyblau