Innovation Project — Project Plans
How we stay on track
We use Gantt charts, a detailed project plan, meeting notes and a team chat to stay organized, and to stay ahead of our deadlines.
Key milestones
Our season, date by date.
Target dates from our detailed project plan.
Sept 9
Team introductions: returning members plus two new teammates. Research on problems affecting biodiversity begins; we start learning Python.
Sept 14
Expert interview: Marc Cadotte.
Sept 18
Robots Noodle and Toodle built and finalized, with attachments tested.
Sept 23
Expert interview: Michelle Letourneau, in person.
Sept 28
Expert interview: Roger Santiago.
Oct 9
Team-building day at the Toronto Zoo. Research on why demi-lunes get destroyed in storms.
Oct 14
Team vote: we chose the Demi-Lune. Robot game missions planned.
Oct 21–28
Expert interviews: Jenny Aker, then Gjalt van der Hem.
Nov 11
Finish coding all robot missions.
Nov 18
Innovation and robot presentation scripts finalized.
Nov 23
Presentation boards finished; Noodle and Toodle costumes ready.
Nov 25
Presentation booklet done; final practice for the Regional competition.
Schedules
Gantt charts.
Innovation project schedule
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Understand the theme and the rules; brainstorm ideas
Decide on the problem and the solution
Do research
Design and build our innovation project: geotextiles
Test the solution and seek feedback from subject experts
Iterate and change our innovation based on expert feedback
Create presentation slides and presentation boards
Practice the presentation and Q&A
Robot design schedule
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Understand the mission models, the rules and the missions our robot will do
Design and build our robots: Noodle & Toodle
Design and build attachments for our robots
Code and program our robots
Iterate and practice our runs
Final robot practice runs
Next: the robot game