Rookie Team Support

[Crazyboy]

So I spent a lot of time working with rookie teams at the regionals I've attended this year, and I've made a few realizations. FIRST has super great documentation for electrical systems, with the datasheets and whatnot, and with the rules really spelling some basic stuff out. Programming, for LABview at least, also has great resources. The thing is, they aren't necessarily complied. Making a rookie team guide for these things would be great, IMHO. I know FIRST has the Robot Quick Build (RQB) posted on their site, but I don't know if rookie teams are provided a link to it. Something like that guide, just more in-depth and perhaps providing the "why" about certain steps rather than "just do it because it's the right thing to do" could really help rookie teams. I'll be working on the electrical component, and probably will be able to handle some of the LABview stuff by hunting down local people who know the language.


Now, the reason I'm posting here is because I think something for mechanical needs to be put together. I've worked with two teams to fix there 6-wheel drive train when their middle wheel isn't lowered, and I'm sure there are many more. Rookie teams are going to be making a lot of the same mistakes across the board. Let's make a list of maybe some basic mechanical mistakes and how to fix them. Maybe if you learned how to tap a thread from a wikiHow article, include that too.

TL;DR: Helping rookie teams not make mechanical mistakes


I'll start us off:

1. 6 wheel drive trains are fine, just be sure to offset the middle wheel down to allow the robot to sit on only 4 wheels at once and be able to turn
2. Don't run window motors with Jaguar motor controllers. Sometimes, under certain conditions, the two don't get along.
3. Remember that your robot will be driving on carpet at the competition. Testing your robot on tile flooring in your school's hallway will not tell you how well it will drive in the competition.
4. Certain wheels can not withstand extremely high RPM values. Always be sure to check with the manufacturer to ensure you will not be spinning the wheel too fast.
5. Did you know you can hold weight back from the bagged robot? 30lbs?

[Jimmy Nichols]

# 5 is always the same every year and may not exist from year to year, so be careful there.

I would love to read/proof once you get something going.

[Phyrxes]

1 and 3 can go together, I had a couple of students who helped a team "flip" their drivebase back to the correct orientation between matches this year, that was a crazy hour.

Even if you can only obtain a small section of carpet it is totally worth it as it can catch things like this and how the game objects behaves on carpet if you are doing a pick up..

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by Crazyboy

So I spent a lot of time working with rookie teams at the regionals I've attended this year, and I've made a few realizations. FIRST has super great documentation for electrical systems, with the datasheets and whatnot, and with the rules really spelling some basic stuff out. Programming, for LABview at least, also has great resources. The thing is, they aren't necessarily complied. Making a rookie team guide for these things would be great, IMHO. I know FIRST has the Robot Quick Build (RQB) posted on their site, but I don't know if rookie teams are provided a link to it. Something like that guide, just more in-depth and perhaps providing the "why" about certain steps rather than "just do it because it's the right thing to do" could really help rookie teams. I'll be working on the electrical component, and probably will be able to handle some of the LABview stuff by hunting down local people who know the language.


Now, the reason I'm posting here is because I think something for mechanical needs to be put together. I've worked with two teams to fix there 6-wheel drive train when their middle wheel isn't lowered, and I'm sure there are many more. Rookie teams are going to be making a lot of the same mistakes across the board. Let's make a list of maybe some basic mechanical mistakes and how to fix them. Maybe if you learned how to tap a thread from a wikiHow article, include that too.

TL;DR: Helping rookie teams not make mechanical mistakes


I'll start us off:

1. 6 wheel drive trains are fine, just be sure to offset the middle wheel down to allow the robot to sit on only 4 wheels at once and be able to turn
2. Don't run window motors with Jaguar motor controllers. Sometimes, under certain conditions, the two don't get along.
3. Remember that your robot will be driving on carpet at the competition. Testing your robot on tile flooring in your school's hallway will not tell you how well it will drive in the competition.
4. Certain wheels can not withstand extremely high RPM values. Always be sure to check with the manufacturer to ensure you will not be spinning the wheel too fast.
5. Did you know you can hold weight back from the bagged robot? 30lbs?

I'd add:
6> understand what you are capable of, and more importantly, what you are not capable of... and stay within your capabilities.
7> 6 1/2 weeks is a short time.
8> do not be afraid (or ashamed) to ask for help. We were all rookies at one time.
9> Read the manual. Have a student and mentor become experts on the manual. Always ensure that you are in compliance with the manual (rebuilding at the competition is tough).
10> have fun.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I know that there is a plan in place to bring back the Guidelines, Tips and Good Practices manual from past years. There has been work recently to bring it up to date and present it to FRC.
Al

[Alan Anderson]

Tip #0: When help is offered, accept it. You do not know how much you don't know.

[Bill_B]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Tip #0: When help is offered, accept it. You do not know how much you don't know.

To which I would add for the benefit of those wondering what sort of help to offer: helping someone else do something you already think you know how to do, will cause you to re-assess your own knowledge of the subject. At the very least it will require that you organize your thinking about the subject which is a good thing all by itself.

[Crazyboy]

Originally Posted by Bill_B

To which I would add for the benefit of those wondering what sort of help to offer: helping someone else do something you already think you know how to do, will cause you to re-assess your own knowledge of the subject. At the very least it will require that you organize your thinking about the subject which is a good thing all by itself.

Very, very true.

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Tip #0: When help is offered, accept it. You do not know how much you don't know.

In addition: Do not be afraid to ask older teams for help. Don't be afraid to email another team during build season, to send half of the team running through the regional looking for a very specific bolt, or be afraid to put in parts requests at pit management.

I learned this year, as a rookie, that teams are always delighted to share knowledge and assistance.

[Crazyboy]

Originally Posted by kelseysea

In addition: Do not be afraid to ask older teams for help. Don't be afraid to email another team during build season, to send half of the team running through the regional looking for a very specific bolt, or be afraid to put in parts requests at pit management.

I learned this year, as a rookie, that teams are always delighted to share knowledge and assistance.

Glad you had such a good experience! What regional?