Rookie team in need of a lot of help

[Sunshine]

Hang in there! this is supposed to be fun

I would forgo the animation and CAD for now. I'm not saying that you shouldn't have a design but it is not a requirement to submit a CAD and/or animation solution. You may be taking on more than you can handle.

Your number one goal should be to get a robot moving with joystick control. If you can drive the robot around the track, you can compete this year and get some points. After you have a robot that is drivable consider another step like herding. You can design and attach an apparatus to you existing robot to do this. Just do not take on too much. This can be your learning season building up to next year. Take baby steps and do not burn people out because you are trying to do too much.

I agree that you should burden team1625. That's why they are there and that's what FIRST is all about. Burden us too! Ask specific questions and I'm sure that you will get answers.

Scour this web site. Almost all that you need to know is here or is only a click away. As an example, there is a thread where others posted programming that will get you started.

The chassis in the Kit is very usable and friendly to assemble.

Regardless of the impression that you get here from people building with parts they order, you can build a stellar robot with everything supplied in the Kit of Parts.

If you have no pneumatic experience or experts, don't use it. You'll survive without it.

Above all, have fun.

I see that you are 100 miles away from us. If things get desperate let me know. I would be willing to drive out to try and help and give advise. I may be able to persuade one or two mentors to come with me.