Benson Robotics Club, Benson
Polytechnic High School
Coach/Mentor Job Description
Where: Benson Polytechnic High School, 546 NE 12th Portland, OR. 97232
Room K2 (in basement by the kitchen)
Who: Benson Robotics Club
Kevin Burns is club president – bensonrobotics@gmail.com.
John DeLacy is one of the advisors
(former Tektronix engineer) – 503 774 7017.
The Benson Robotics Web site is www.bensonrobotics.org.
When: Tuesday or Friday, 3:15-5 PM (subject to change
based on member availability); October through March (school holidays observed,
e.g. no meeting on Mon., Presidents’ Day), one-day per week commitment. We understand that coaches and mentors have
business and vacation commitments; we understand many cannot make meetings
every week.
Why: Coaches and Mentors are needed because
skilled technical help is beyond what a high school staff can provide.
What: Coaches and Mentors needed in the following
areas:
Provide instruction and mentoring in
developing software to run robots. Languages used are LabView and C++
for FRC and RobotC for FTC.
Provide instruction and mentoring in
assembling mechanical hardware (both kit based and free-form robots) and
designing and constructing electronic circuits.
Provide instruction and mentoring
in communications/media, grant writing, organization and structure, and help with Wi-Fi and BlueTooth
for computer/robot communication.
Robotics Club: Approximately
30 Benson students in grades 9 through 12 are involved with Robotics
competitions. The competitions are
sponsored by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology),
an international student competition for grades K through 12.
What are the different
types of Robots? (see www.us.first.org)
FRC – FIRST Robotics
Competition –Benson has 1 team. These are large robots that cost $6,000 for the
kit, and an additional $1,000 for parts.
Last year was Benson’s first year in this competition.
FTC – FIRST
Technical Challenge – Benson has 2 teams.
These are small robots that cost $1000 for each kit, and perhaps an
additional $300 for parts. In 2009, Benson
made it to the semi-finals. Since the
program’s inception in Oregon, in 2006, the team has twice gone to the final
competition and has won numerous first- and second-place awards. In 2008, the students were invited to attend a
showcase demonstration in Atlanta at the world championship tournament. The showcase featured 4 college/professional
and 8 high school teams from throughout the U.S.