[Andrew Schuetze]

Thanks for all the helpful posts from the community that is FIRST. I did post in the KOP thread by the same OP that I'll be contacting this team ASAP.

I did not look at all of the quality resource links already provided in other posts but here are a few of my suggestions:

For Teams by Teams
The 2007 President’s Circle has selected resources that are particularly useful for helping start new teams. Our goal was to provide a substantial directory of useful resources, while not including everything available from the FIRST Community.
Resources

• Top Team Manuals for New FIRST Teams
• Top Web Sites for New FIRST Teams
• “Must Have” Resources for New FIRST Teams
• Where to Find Financial Support for New FIRST Teams

FRC Mentors Resources Library
The contents of the FRC Mentor Resources Connection have been accumulated and categorized through the efforts of many FRC Team Mentors and FIRST Senior Mentors. It is an exercise in Mentors helping Mentors. Their insight and contribution make this offering possible. FIRST would like to thank all of these dedicated volunteers for their time and support of this project.


I would say that in today's FIRST competition, a critical mentor/coach is someone who can program in C++/JAVA or use LabView as the mechanical end of things can be easier to achieve basic robot functions but nothing happens if one doesn't put in some code. We didn't need much of an autonomous mode or have to write much code back in 2001 when the control system was a BASIC Stamp robot controller and operator interface with just speed controllers and relays. Things are still a bit plug n play in that regard but setting up the wifi connection between the robot and laptop ... does require some skill but a good techie student might be able to read and follow the manuel to get things up and running.


As an additional FYI for other posters to this thread, FRC in Texas has been exploding in the last three years and these kinds of situations will be more of the norm. Corpus Christi, Texas did not have any FRC teams until the 2009 season so the local college scene is only going to have a few FRC veteran students with one or two years of FIRST experience. We will need a lot more of the virtual and tele-mentoring resources.