[gren737]

I too will echo the sentiments of you might have bit off more than you can chew.

When I give my rookie or intro to FIRST seminars I try to emphasize that teams need to build within their capabilities and maximize what those capabilities are vs. trying to keep up with the Jonses (or in FRC the Thunderchickens).

Practice robots are not for figuring out the design, they are for driver practice and learning where the weak points of design are prior to competition.

In the off-season, preferrably just before the start of the season try making a list of your teams capabilities. Mentors, machining, facilities, budget, student experience (did you graduate alot of seniors last year?) etc. Then determine the best way to utilize those resources with your robot. You can make good decisions and trade offs with those three, no machining but large budget, buy vs. make. Etc.

The main goal of the lesson is, a simpler robot that works well will be much more competitive than a really complicated robot that never works, or doesn't all work at once.

I'll throw out a great example. In 2009 I started a rookie team w/Greg Needel. We had a good sized budget, 2 experienced mentors, NO machining, no programming capabilities and no experienced students at all. We built quite possibly the simplest robot ever. No sensors, 5 motors, that was it. We were the #3 pick at our regional end ended up as finalists (losing to 16 and 71) and won Rookie All Star. At champs we were picked by 1717 (we made the book!) and were Finalists at Champs loosing to 111 who won it all that year. Our robot was very simple, very effective and built by students with no experience in a agriculture shop with a chop saw and drill press. The principal of KISS cannot be overstated enough. It really works. Not to mention that robot never broke down during the season either.

Another big tip, design and build your robot at least .5" smaller than max on all sides you will never miss it, and if you need to have that random bolt head sticking out, you've got room for it without going over.

Oh yeah, and the reason I know all this?? Because we've ALL made these mistakes! The good teams will learn from them and move forward, not repeating the same mistakes twice. Keep doing that over a period of 10 years and see where you end up. I promise it will be a fun journey. You do need to continuously challenge your kids and your team, but small steps each year, building on things you mastered in the previous year is better than an all at once approach.