Name of Organization

The name of this organization is the Mills Robotics Team

Purpose of Organization

The purpose of this organization is to provide engineering-related opportunities for Mills High School Students. Through the organization, members will learn about the 'Engineering Process' which involves the following:

1) Team Environment

• Working within a corporate-type hierarchy
  • Working to complete a task by a specific deadline
  • Leadership roles in Robot Construction and Design, Animation, and Public Relations
  • Time-pressured problem solving
• Solving tasks using a team-environment
  • Consider overall cost, materials, design efficiency, and practicality
  • Delegating large tasks to other team members effectively
  • Working with engineers from sponsoring corporations
• Effectively communicating ideas in a group
  • Illustrating ideas on paper
  • Constructing simple prototypes to convey key ideas
  • Simple but organized presentations to team

2) Design

• Design using Computer Aided Design and Prototyping
  • Using Computer Aided Design software to design an idea
  • Utilizing CAD models in construction
  • Cost, material, weight, size, and strength considerations
  • Allow flexibility by changing and updating models
  • Small scale models
• Conceptual problem-solving
  • Work within groups under time constraints
  • Deal with problems efficiently and timely (and there are always plenty to deal with)
  • Predict future problems that may arise
  • Once change is decided, effectively communicate with all areas affected by the change

3) Construction

• Utilize machine tools effectively
• Gain a detailed understanding of a standard metal shop
• Fabricate and assemble off of CAD print-outs
• Keep cost down by planning before making

4) Public Relations

• Effectively promote the Mills Robotics Team through posters, flyers, cards, or any other promotional material
• Manage an allocated budget when designing and printing promotional materials
• Document the Mills Robotics Team's progress using video and still-image capture
• Utilize video editing equipment
• Create and maintain a consistently-updated web site

5) Computer Animation

• Modeling simple and complex shapes using modeling software
• Use lighting and materials to create a realistic portrayal of the target scene
• Use animation tools to realistically portray movement in the scene

List offices, terms of office, conditions of office and qualifications

Mills Robotics Team is organized using a specific hierarchy of positions. The terms of office are not specific and are dictated by the management team, which may change each year. Qualification for membership is based on an application that all newly applying students must submit. A team of students will review and select members based on those applications.

Time, methods and procedures for nomination and election of officers

Management Team

There are four management positions. Each position is nominally the same. Procedure for appointing a management team is as follows:

1. The current management team will select at least six potential individuals to fill the four positions in the future Management Team. The other two persons, aside from the four needed, will serve as back-up choices, in case one of the top four chosen declines or is not able to take the position. The selections will be made at the end of the school year prior to the following year's competition in which the future Management Team will be active. Criteria that will guide the selection process are:
   • Student must be a Mills High School Student (teachers, advisors, or engineers may not fill any of these four positions)
   • Student must have a 2.0 GPA or above to qualify
   • Student must have at least one year of experience being a part of the Mills Robotics Team
   • The individual must be appointed by the current management team
   • The team member should not have so many other responsibilities (extra-curricular or otherwise) that it would conflict with their role as a manager. Good judgment on character and time-management abilities should be exercised here.
   • Leadership, responsibility, organization, voice, and positive character should be considerations in most cases
2. Once the current Management Team has selected six individuals, they will chose four of these individuals to be on the Management Team. Each of the four individuals will be given the option of whether they accept the position or not.
3. If one of the individuals does not wish to be on the future Management team, the current Management Team will select another individual from the remaining two. If it happens that more than two of the top four individuals decline the offer, two more individuals will then be chosen to take their places.

Group Heads

There is an undefined number of Group Heads. According to the hierarchy specified in Article III, there are seven Group Heads for the 1999 Competition Team Structure. The procedure for appointing Group Head is as follows:

1. The current management team will select at least one individual to fill the office of Group Head per each available position. The selections will be made at the end of the school year prior to the following year's competition in which the future Head will be active. Criteria that will guide the selection process are:
   • Student must be a Mills High School Student (teachers, advisors, or engineers may not fill this position)
   • Student must have a 2.0 GPA or above to qualify
   • Student must have at least one year of experience being a part of the Mills Robotics Team
   • The individual must be appointed by the current management team and at least two advisors
   • The team member should not have so many other responsibilities (extra-curricular or otherwise) that it would conflict with their role as a manager. Good judgment on character and time-management abilities should be exercised here.
   • Leadership, responsibility, organization, voice, and positive character will be considerations
2. If there is more than one selection for the position of Group Head, then the current Management Team will select the best-qualified individual. Once the current Management Team has selected one individual for Group Head, the individual will have the option of whether they will serve as that specific Group Head or not. If they accept, then they will serve as Group Head for the next year's competition.
3. If the individual does not wish to be the future Group Head, the current Management Team will select another individual from the selections already made. If the current Management team has only selected one individual to begin with, then they will need to select at least one more

Assistant Group Heads

It is a specific Group Head's responsibility to select their Assistant Group Head. They will use their own discretion regarding qualifications, responsibility, etc.

Standard meeting days, places, and times

Since it is not efficient to plan regular meetings, meetings will be called on an as-needed basis. A Group Head may call meetings when necessary and appropriate. Meetings may be held on or off campus at any time within reason and regulation by school administration.

List the qualifications for membership in the organization

The qualifications for membership into The Mills Robotics Club are:

1. Applicant must fill out a new student application
2. Applicant must maintain a 2.0 GPA or above
3. Applicant must be willing to contribute a minimum number of hours in any area within the entire project
4. Applicant must not have any "D's" in any one or more of their classes for the duration of the project
5. Applicant must observe the safety rules specified when working with or around machinery or any other dangerous environments
6. Applicant must attend all meetings deemed mandatory, with exceptions based on extenuating circumstances.

Past activities of the group (if any)

The Mills Robotics Team (teamThemis) participated in the FIRST National Robotics Competition in 1998. General activities of the team last year included:

1. fund raising / managing a budget
2. planning and organizing all preliminary tasks
3. designing a robot
4. prototyping certain parts
5. constructing a robot / troubleshooting
6. competing at the Epcot Center in Orlando, Florida
7. attending other sponsored events / mock competitions

Planned activities

The Mills Robotics Club has plans to:

1. fundraise through corporate sponsorships
2. promote our project in a positive and effective way to our school, sponsors, and community
3. design, prototype, and construct a robot for the FIRST competition using school and outside resources
4. compete in the FIRST National Robotics Competition
5. complete a 3D animation of our robot
6. document all aspects of our project
7. possibly participate in a regional or any other FIRST-related events

Duties and responsibilities of Officers and Members

Management team members

• Make sure tasks are being completed in a timely and efficient manner
• Coordinate different parts of the project
• Keep every aspect of the project on schedule
• Manage the budget and distribution of money with advisors
• Resolve conflicts between groups or group members
• resolve any other problems or obstacles

Robot team members

• ensure the safety of the team members
• complete all tasks involved in the design and construction of the robot

Public Relations team members

• promote the project in a positive and effective way to the school, sponsors, and community through any media available

Computer Animation team members

• learn CAD software
• learn 3D modeling and animation software
• complete all tasks involved in creating a 30 second animation under the guidelines of the Autodesk Competition

Finance team members

• Experience and practice public oration
• Raise money efficiently, effectively, and professionally

Signature of Approval by faculty advisor