Apprentice
39 requirements
Apprentice
Build smarter. Solve bigger problems.
At the Apprentice level, participants strengthen their technical skills and begin taking on meaningful roles. They fabricate parts, measure and build accurately, explore robot mechanisms, and contribute actively at competitions. Problem-solving, improvement, and learning from experience are key themes.
Requirements
What you'll do
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Your Progress
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Competition
4 items
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1a Since joining Scouting Robotics, participate in at least five separate Lab/Team events that include people from outside your Lab. Of these events, at least one must be an official tournament where your Team competes with your robot against other teams. These events do not include Lab or Team meetings.
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1b Hold a position of responsibility at a tournament (e.g. drive team member, pit crew member, scout/strategy, presenter). Before the tournament, explain to your leader what your responsibilities will be and what you have done to prepare for that role. After the tournament, meet again with the same leader to reflect on your experience, including lessons learned for future improvement.
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1c In the spirit of Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition, initiate a conversation with a member of a team from outside your Lab at one of these events. Discuss an element of their robot design that differs from yours. Report your findings back to your Team at the next Team meeting.
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1d Explain how your Team recognizes and celebrates individual and team accomplishments. Explain how your Team takes responsibility for failures.
Fabrication
5 items
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2a Demonstrate safe and proper use of the following tools; explain the purpose of all the controls on each tool; explain when it is appropriate to use each tool: cordless hand drill; drill press.
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2b Open a CAD model provided by your leader showing the location and diameter of a hole in a part. Using appropriate measurement, marking, and machine tools, demonstrate the following skills on a piece of metal: locate and mark the center of the hole according to the dimensions in the CAD model; drill the hole to the specified diameter; clean and debur the part; measure the finished part to ensure features are within tolerance.
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2c Use a 3D printer OR laser cutter to fabricate a part. You may design the part yourself, or you can use a part designed by somebody else. Before using the machine, explain precautions for its safe operation.
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2d Explain when/why a machinist would use the following tools: Milling machine; Lathe; CNC Router OR waterjet cutter; Arbor Press; Sheet metal shear and brake; Any other machine tools your Lab/Team has access to.
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2e Explain the concepts of Design for Manufacturing, Design for Assembly, and Design for Maintainability.
Measurement
2 items
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3a Demonstrate the proper use of a self-retracting metal tape measure: demonstrate how to extend, lock, unlock, and safely retract; identify the measurement scale(s) present; identify the smallest increment; measure the length and width of a rectangular object; measure and mark a distance specified by your leader; explain the design features of the hook at the end.
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3b Describe at least four devices that your robot could use to measure or sense its environment.
Electricity
1 items
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4 Explain the following electrical terms: voltage, current, resistance, power, circuit, short circuit, circuit breaker, brownout, wire gauge.
Programming
3 items
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5a Ask a leader to tell you the primary programming language your Team uses.
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5b Identify the comparison operators used in the language from 5a and explain what each means.
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5c Explain what a loop is; explain the difference between a FOR loop and a WHILE loop, and show the syntax for each type of loop in the language from 5a.
First Aid
5 items
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6a Demonstrate first aid for the following: Object in the eye; Puncture wounds from a splinter, nail, and drill bit; Serious burns (partial thickness, or second-degree); Heat exhaustion; Shock; Heatstroke, dehydration, hypothermia, and hyperventilation; blunt trauma/crushing injury.
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6b Show what to do for "hurry" cases of stopped breathing, stroke, severe bleeding, and ingested poisoning.
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6c Tell what you can do while working in the shop to prevent or reduce the occurrence of the injuries listed in Apprentice requirements 6a and 6b.
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6d Explain what to do in case of accidents that require emergency response in the home and shop. Explain what constitutes an emergency and what information you will need to provide to a responder.
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6e Tell how you should respond if you come upon the scene of a vehicular accident.
Robot Mechanisms
4 items
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7a Research at least three mechanisms that a robot could use to pick up a small object off the floor. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of each.
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7b Research at least three wheel types and/or arrangements for a robot to drive around the competition field. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of each.
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7c Mount a wheel on a shaft so that the wheel is fixed to the shaft (rotates with the shaft and can't slide off). Then mount a wheel to a shaft so that the wheel spins freely on the shaft (but still can't slide off).
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7d Research the difference between motors and servos. Explain when you would use each.
Lifestyle Fitness
4 items
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8a Research the effects of caffeine, insufficient sleep, and screen time on the adolescent brain. Keep track of your caffeine intake, sleep schedule, academic screen time, and recreational screen time every day for four weeks.
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8b Share your challenges and successes in completing Apprentice requirement 8a. Set goals for continuing healthy caffeine intake, sleep schedule, and screen time as part of your daily life.
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8c Participate in a school, community, or troop program on the dangers of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and other practices that could be harmful to your health. Discuss your participation in the program with your family, and explain the dangers of substance addictions. Report to your Scoutmaster or other adult leader about which parts of the Scout Oath and Scout Law relate to what you learned.
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8d Share your challenges and successes in following the physical fitness plan and meeting the goals you created in Novice requirement 6b as part of your daily life.
Financial Literacy
5 items
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9a Review your Team budget to understand how your Team is funded and how it spends money.
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9b Explain which vendors or suppliers your Team uses to procure robot parts and tools. Show how to use their catalogs or websites to find the parts you need. Look up the prices of five components on your robot.
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9c With your parents or guardian, decide on an amount of money that you would like to earn, based on the cost of a specific item you would like to purchase. Develop a written plan to earn the amount agreed upon and follow that plan; it is acceptable to make changes to your plan along the way. Discuss any changes made to your original plan and whether you met your goal.
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9d At a minimum of three locations, compare the cost of the item for which you are saving to determine the best place to purchase it. After completing Apprentice requirement 9c, decide if you will use the amount that you earned as originally intended, save all or part of it, or use it for another purpose.
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9e Participate in two hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. Tell how your service to others relates to the Scout Oath.
Personal Safety
2 items
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10a Explain the three R's of personal safety & protection (Recognize, Respond, Report).
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10b Describe bullying; tell what the appropriate response is to someone who is bullying you or another person.
Scout Spirit and Advancement
4 items
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11a Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how you have lived four different points of the Scout Law (not to include those used for Novice requirement 9) in your everyday life.
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11b Demonstrate Gracious Professionalism by living the FIRST Core Values. Tell how you have lived two of the FIRST Core Values (not to include those used for Novice requirement 9) in your work on your Team.
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12 While working toward the Apprentice rank, and after completing Novice requirement 10, participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
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13 Successfully complete your board of review for the Apprentice rank.
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