Mega FIRST How-to Book

[Leon Machado IV]

I just had this thought about writing a Giant How-to book. Literally on everything and anything a new team could want advice about. How to program, animate, wire, IM, email, etc. I'm wondering if anyone would want to contribute by writing articles? Perhaps we could give this on CD (if those are able to contain it) to new teams as they join FIRST. So any thought on this?

[Joe Ross]

Leon, have you looked at FIRSTWiki? It makes it easy for anyone to contribute, and they've already started some of the things you mention.

[capnrmorgan]

Excellent Idea as I am a pre rookie team looking to get started !!!

Rich Morgan
VEX Think Award Nominee
Team #21
2005 National Championships-VEX Division

[Ian Curtis]

You mean like team #341's Team in a Box? (a two disc DVD set which is really really cool (filled with interviews and other useful stuff))

[Leon Machado IV]

Originally Posted by Joe Ross

Leon, have you looked at FIRSTWiki? It makes it easy for anyone to contribute, and they've already started some of the things you mention.

I have looked into it and noticed it hasn't been updated officially in over a year. They still have the 2003-2004 game on the main page. I am going to try and contact whoever runs that site and see what they're plan is as they do have recent stuff on Triple Play within it. Thanks Joe.

[Leon Machado IV]

Originally Posted by iCurtis

You mean like team #341's Team in a Box? (a two disc DVD set which is really really cool (filled with interviews and other useful stuff))

I was thinking more of better use instruction booklets, from people who have been through the programs and really know how to use them, instead of the companies generic insert tab A in insert B type of instruction booklet.

[Bharat Nain]

Originally Posted by Leon Machado IV

I was thinking more of better use instruction booklets, from people who have been through the programs and really know how to use them, instead of the companies generic insert tab A in insert B type of instruction booklet.

I have thought of something similar many times, but never expressed. I don't know why. I think over the summer I will make something of that sort. Maybe a personalized, searhable blog where mentors can post about their ideas anonymously or with their name in it. Based on those experiences. MOE also has a section of their website dedicated to guiding rookies through their year - It is definitely a good resource. A collaboration effort in making a Mega FIRST How-to book is definitely a good idea.

[OZ_341]

Originally Posted by iCurtis

You mean like team #341's Team in a Box? (a two disc DVD set which is really really cool (filled with interviews and other useful stuff))

Thanks for the boost!!

We are already updating "Team in a Box" for the 2005-2006 season. It will have interviews with everyone from Dean Kamen to famous FIRST Mentors. It also includes a CD which has whitepapers, reusable documents for new mentors, and an instant website for rookie teams.

We plan to keep updating it every year, increasing its usefulness over time. If you would like a copy, please click on the "Team in a Box" banner at www.team341.com .

Best of luck to all in the off-season!!

[team222badbrad]

The best book I have found already on the market is "Kickin' Bot" by Grant Imahara. From the small amount of text in his book I have read so far he was once on a FIRST team.

I found it about a month ago at Barnes & Noble only to come home and find it on Amazon.com for $10 cheaper.

I was going to post on this book sooner, but I have not really had much time to do so.

I have only had time to flip through it, but there are many diagrams and great tips.

It appears to cover everything from tapping threads to drivetrains; however, this book was made for battle robots, but most of the same principals and ideas apply to FIRST robots!

If anyone is intersted here are some links:

Price: $16.46

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846


www.kickinbot.com

[sanddrag]

Even better than any of this stuff is simply becoming an active member of the Chief Delphi forums. Where do you think I got everything I know?

[KathieK]

Please reference the white papers section of Chief Delphi, where there are many papers written expressly for rookie teams. NEMO has several papers there as well, and will try and organize workshops for rookie or veteran teams if requested.

[Denman]

Originally Posted by Leon Machado IV

I have looked into it and noticed it hasn't been updated officially in over a year. They still have the 2003-2004 game on the main page. I am going to try and contact whoever runs that site and see what they're plan is as they do have recent stuff on Triple Play within it. Thanks Joe.

i believe its max lobovsky (can't spell)
However it is constantly being update, look at the recent changes, there is usually 50 odd updates a day.... you can contribute too!
The 2003-2004 on the main page is the current featured article, which gets changed every now and then , and there is a voting page for the next featured article

Also, if you want some stuff not from there, just ask me and i'll help about anything that I can do (and that is quick/easyish, 15 odd Exams over next month....)

[Kyle]

Originally Posted by Bharat Nain

I have thought of something similar many times, but never expressed. I don't know why. I think over the summer I will make something of that sort. Maybe a personalized, searhable blog where mentors can post about their ideas anonymously or with their name in it. Based on those experiences. MOE also has a section of their website dedicated to guiding rookies through their year - It is definitely a good resource. A collaboration effort in making a Mega FIRST How-to book is definitely a good idea.

Thanks.

I think that it would be a great idea to help out all teams not just rookies.

Here is the link to MOEmentum FYI (First Year Info base)
http://www.moe365.org/moementum.php This is a data base with info for every week of build and competition's and I think soon to come off season advise.

[LPaton716]

We had a similar idea on the way back from one of our regionals. It's a good idea especially if there were a separate mini manual just for introducing rookies to FIRST ( FIRST in a nutshell sort of thing).

An all about FIRST manual could encorporate FIRSTwikis, threads from Chief Delphi, and team information.

However all of this may not be necessary considering most of it is online. Still, I think that an introductory booklet would be very beneficial.

[Crazy Carl]

i think you should make the book kind of like volumes instead of one big book. so then you would be able to get only the volume you need instead of getting a lot of what you don't.