With Team 359 already on their tenth year of participating in FRC, we presented our 2010 Build Season Video, which was made especially for February's Open House event by the visual media division. This video displayed what Team 359 has been doing throughout this past year and the journey throughout the six weeks. This video requires the latest version of Quicktime 7. To download click here

 

Open House was exactly three hours away when the students of Team 359 started to set up. Heading straight for the cafeteria once school was out, the team was ready to rock and roll! We got to work, setting up all of the tables for the parents, teachers, and guests to sit on throughout the program. As part of the set up crew, we had help from Mr. Greg Hashimoto and Mr. Ryan Ishimoto, whose tasks were to set up the microphones, projector, computer, and sound systems. From walking back and forth from our various work stations, we brought down everything we needed to make the event possible: The playing field and carpet to lay the equipment; programs for guests; banners; and everything else.

For the programming team, they brought the robot and their tools down to the cafeteria, checking to see if the kicker and roller worked. The final touches on the robot were made, giving it one last test drive before the event started. Finalizing everything, all the students checked to see if their areas were clean and organized. Students got ready once everything was set and met in the cafeteria at 4:00 for our meeting and final preparations.

Open House guests started to arrive at around 4:45 pm. Greetings were made, guests checked in, programs handed out, and leis given to special guests. Everyone arrived and the program finally began. For the opening, emcees, Seniors Leia Lendio and Tony Kelly, gave a brief history of their past seasons as members of Team 359. To give everyone a look at what this year’s game challenge was, we showed the 2010 FIRST Robotics competition game video. The next agenda on the program was to take a tour around our facilities. Tour guides were introduced to the audience so that each person knew who their tour leaders were. After separating into groups, the tour was ready to begin! Each sub-team speaker departed from the rest of the group, headed back to their stations, and waited for the oncoming groups. Each group visited the five different stations: Graphics; electronics and programming; visual media; wood shop; auto shop; and the documentation room which housed web-site, Chairman’s Award, and VEX. Parents and guests were given a brief synopsis of each sub-team’s tasks. Some speakers also demonstrated how to use the various tools that they used to get the job done. Having only a limited time at each area, the guests were able to acquire enough information to understand the roles of each team member. Asking questions throughout the tour, students answered them to the best of their ability to ensure that what they wanted to know was clearly understood. Having gone through all of the work areas, it was time to head back to the cafeteria.

 

Next on the program, we presented our team video that was created by Ashley Ford-Ferguson and Torey Nakamura. The team video showed the working progress of the six weeks, building the robot and the various tasks that the other sub-teams did throughout the season. Everyone present at the Open House, guests and team members, all enjoyed the video. Last but not least, it was the moment that we all have been waiting for: the robot demonstration. Moving from their seats, everyone gathered around the playing field, listening as Mr. Lee gave his speech. Finally, the drivers demonstrated how this year’s robot worked. They drove around the field, grabbing a soccer ball with the ball roller, allowing the kicker to kick the ball into the goal as everyone watched in astonishment. After demonstrating the robot a few more times, refreshments were served. Socializing with one another, everyone had a very enjoyable evening. As the guests left, team members put away all of the equipment and cleaned the cafeteria. It was the end to a beautiful evening, a successful event, which is an inspiration to future robotic students.