[DonRotolo]

We usually take about a week. All day Saturday, plus a 'think-at-home' day Sunday, to figure out what specific ways the game will be played and won. We compare notes on Monday.

Then 2-3 days to list the specific CAPABILITIES the robot must have. (If you can't start the sentence with "The robot should have the ability to..." then it's probably not a capability). Those we pick are then sorted in order of absolute importance.

Then for a day or 2 we brainstorm MECHANISMS to accomplish the CAPABILITIES we need. Here, we focus on what we are reasonably able to get done - no dreaming here! Folks go off to make sketches and prototypes (wood, pink foam, cardboard & tape, whatever will show the idea).

We do a formal design review on Saturday. Monday starts building the first robot mechanisms in metal, with some teams not starting that until maybe Wednesday - parts take time to arrive.