Quantum Quacks
FTC 16072 - "The Quantum Quacks" is a fifth year team composed of 4 girls and 7 boys that all came from successful FLL teams. Our team is composed of students from different schools in the area, including charter schools, public schools, private schools, and home schools. This means we are not eligible for the Donors Choose program which makes fundraising a little more difficult. However, it also means that we get a wide variety of different viewpoints and opinions which we believe makes us a stronger team.
We choose to do things that are new and difficult for us as we enjoy learning new things. We use the robot as an excuse to learn about things we haven't done before.
We have learned how to:
In addition to informal sharing, we actively volunteer both in hosting and leading workshops as well as at FLL scrimmages and tournaments. During the skystone season(2019-2020), we logged over 560 student volunteer hours.
Some examples of workshops that we ran during our Skystone season (2019-2020):
Our team demonstrates what it looks like to help and inspire others. One of the most memorable compliments we have received was from an FLL team, they mentioned how after watching our team, they decided to go help other teams themselves. They then told us about the positive impact that helping other teams had caused, not just for the other teams but for them as well.
This season we expect that we will not only help FLL teams but rookie FTC teams as well. We have been taking notes of the challenges we faced and how we overcome them so we can share them with rookie teams in the future.
We choose to do things that are new and difficult for us as we enjoy learning new things. We use the robot as an excuse to learn about things we haven't done before.
We have learned how to:
- Use CAD (Fusion 360/OnShape)
- Use 3D printers
- Use the laser cutter
- Use Java (programming language)
- Use Computer vision (OpenCV)
- Cut extrusion
- Drill holes
- Bend metal
- Film and edit videos
- Use project management software (ClickUp).
- An engineer from Google that taught us how to effectively use version control (git)
- A leadership coach from Nutanix that taught us about how to help others do their best
- A metals expert from Metal Supermarket that taught us about selecting types of metal for different applications
- A mechanical engineer from John Deere that taught us CAD tricks
- An industrial designer that taught us about design and prototyping.
- A Video production expert from Nutanix that taught us Videography skills
- We have also received help from numerous veteran FTC teams both locally and remote.
In addition to informal sharing, we actively volunteer both in hosting and leading workshops as well as at FLL scrimmages and tournaments. During the skystone season(2019-2020), we logged over 560 student volunteer hours.
Some examples of workshops that we ran during our Skystone season (2019-2020):
- We designed and ran a "champion's workshop" for FLL teams in NC that were advancing to tertiary events.
- When we heard that there were few opportunities for teams on the coast, we organized and ran a workshop in Wilmington, NC for teams there. (Of course, we combined it with a beach afternoon to help with another core value, FUN!).
- We also prepared and presented numerous workshop sessions at our state's FLL kickoff.
Our team demonstrates what it looks like to help and inspire others. One of the most memorable compliments we have received was from an FLL team, they mentioned how after watching our team, they decided to go help other teams themselves. They then told us about the positive impact that helping other teams had caused, not just for the other teams but for them as well.
This season we expect that we will not only help FLL teams but rookie FTC teams as well. We have been taking notes of the challenges we faced and how we overcome them so we can share them with rookie teams in the future.
