Who built your robot?

[Katie Reynolds]

Originally posted by PyroPhin
how can you learn if you dont get your hands dirty?

Yes, I agree that FIRST is not about actually building a robot, but how can you learn and get inspired about technology if you are sitting on the sidelines?

As long as a student comes out of FIRST inspired about science and technology, the team has been successful. I used to have the same mentality - "how can you be inspired if you aren't doing anything?" I've come to realize that while I need to get my hands dirty and actually work on something to learn about it, some people can learn by just 'sitting on the sidelines' and watching. I know of a few students on my team who just watch people. They don't do too much mechanically, but they learn a lot just by watching.

On my team, almost everything is done 100% by students. Strategy, robot concepts, choosing a design, building the robot, machining the parts, wiring, programming, testing, debugging - even things like the BOM, ordering parts, animations, Chairman's, fund raising ideas, printing t-shirts, ordering swappables ... it's all student done. Our engineers and teachers are wonderful - they let us make mistakes, so we learn from them. They help us out with the design (letting us know what concepts are feasible and what concepts could probably be refined), and make sure we stay on track. I don't think my team could function any other way.

- Katie