Skunk Zone (Document Sharing)

As part of Skunkworks Robotics effort to help other robotics teams, we have created the Skunk Zone. It is a place where the Skunks can post documents for the expressed purpose of making them available to others. You are welcome to reuse these documents. If you find any errors or have suggestions, please let us know.

Operating Materials

Below are our team operating documents compiled by students with help from our mentors. Most documents are 2011 versions, some may still be 2010 but are marked.

Safety and Health Plan
The Skunks know how to have fun for sure, but they are even more knowledgeable about staying safe, as getting hurt is no fun at all. We take safety and security very seriously. Our safety team has compiled a Safety Presentation in addition to our Safety Plan, that goes over the many things we do to keep ourselves in good health, as well as emphasizing how important safety is to the team.

Business Plan
Our team is always growing and improving. Our business plan tells how we gain experience and pass it on to our new team members. You can read about our overall objective, our fundraising, and a brief history of the team.

Management Plan
This document was first put together in 2010 to help organize the team. It describes how the team is structured, in terms of sub-team organization, outreach, and fundraising.

Scouting Plan (2010)
Scouting is the process of analyzing and documenting robot performance during gameplay for the use of generating a game strategy. Our scouting team does this task by researching teams before regionals, visiting the pits during competitions, and analyzing game play. This was our plan in 2010 and it is changed each year depending on the game.

Rapid Prototyping
(2011 season) We use the Rapid Prototyping system of analyzing the game during the first week of build season. We split into groups and brainstorm what will be important in the game and how we can accomplish these goals. This directly leads into prototyping different robot systems over the next few days until we start building the actual robot.

Training Materials

Tool Kit
Robots can be made in an infinite number of ways. The tool kit describes our concept designs and past competition designs with details and strategies. We try to build robots that best suit the strategies we create and the game that is going to be played.

Fundraising
We don't go to our regional competitions and championships for free. We also don't get those robot parts for free. We need quite a bit of money for these requirements. So where do we get that cash? Fundraising and sponsorship! We have several wonderful supporters and we hold fundraisers all year long.

The Build Season
Each season starts with the FRC Kickoff. Teams from all over the nation must learn the new game, create a strategy, and build a competition robot in only six weeks. This time period is the Build Season. The skunks meet almost every day during this time in order to finish strategizing and building.

Skunkworks Design Process 2011
We recorded our design process in 2011 from rapid prototyping to digital design visualization to final product. We use this to reflect on and improve our process for future years. Other teams may use this as a model for their own organization.