Every FRC team has free access to the autodesk products for different awards, prototyping, and much more. You can make a login here:
http://students7.autodesk.com/?nd=first_home&lbon=1
You can download the products, but i would recommend inventor for prototyping. It is a very in-depth program, but it is very useful. If you create your whole robot on this program to these specification you can also win an award at one of the competitions, if yours is the best.
http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles...sk%20Award.pdf
Category one is the inventor award. 3d animation uses a program called 3ds max, an animation program. It is similar to the programs used by pixar. That is the animation award, also on that .pdf.
If you have any questions please pm me.