Sketchup?
 

While a majority of First teams will be using autodesk, is there any restriction regarding other programs?
I prefer (personal preference, not my team) to use google sketchup. If possible I would use it instead.

Re: Sketchup?
 

I've been using sketchup since I joined, and have helped the team by building the robot parallel to the mechanical team and going one step ahead of them to see what would happen. Also that is how the design teams at the beginning of the season get their ideas in 3D.

Another thing- Sketchyphysics can help, dispite its obvious lack of accuracy.

Re: Sketchup?
 

Anything is fine for whatever you do, its just the rules that you can only submit animations using 3ds max, and for the Autodesk award only Inventor designs will be submitted.
anything for any other purpose is fine.

hehehe 1323 post ^_^

Re: Sketchup?
 

If you use sketchup to model certain elements in your animation that is fine. Just make sure you bring the models over to 3ds max and complete your animation in there. Creating the entire animation in Sketchup is a no no.

I look at it this way. If the Bulk of your work is done in 3ds max. Then its fine. Heck, if your a very good 2D animator and want to make a 2D animation and want to use 3ds max only to flip the frames using a series of planes, that should be fine. I've used 3ds max like a 2D animation program before You can get interesting results.

Plus 3ds max is a bad at making textures. Especially if you have a character you want to paint the texture on him. Photoshop should be allowed.

and remember animation is about expressing emotion, You don't need complex environment or realistic environments to have good animation.