[ROUS]

Hi, so I'm a former FIRST team member (animation, oddly enough) and I've just begun mentoring a team for the 2016 build season.

My primary skill set rests in fabrication and mechanical, however I have past experience with electronics and programming. I'd like to acquire a working knowledge of the communication/control system so that I might be of more use to the team. I haven't been on a FIRST robotics team since I was in high school (think 2001) so I'm a little out-of-the-loop, technology-wise.

Where does one start learning about Talons and LabView and C++, and making them all work together? Is there an inexpensive starter kit I can buy to tinker with at home, and learn how to write code to control a simple robot?