Need advices from veterans!

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by EricH

Actually, the West Coast drive is a 6WD "drop" ("rocker") drive. Typically, the true West Coast drive has small (6" max) cantilevered custom wheels, while the larger 6WD class can have any one of a number of differences.

Oh, and "meccum" is actually "mecanum". It's an omni-directional drive.

There's also the rarely-used tank treads, and the occasional 3WD, 2WD, or manyWD. (And for further confusion: the swerve. I still don't quite know what the difference is between crab and swerve, other than the way the steering modules are linked.)

OK, off the drives now...

You really don't want to try to learn everything in one year. Start with one general area, say mechanical. Learn all you want to know about that area, or until you know enough to know that you don't want to know more. Then learn another. And another. Learn CAD along the way somewhere. A good place to start might be drivetrain--it's the most key element of a robot, and it's the easiest to get a working knowledge of and the hardest to master. Yeah, you get one in the KOP. Is that one the one you really want? Maybe not... If not, then let the fun and games begin.

Thanks EricH, i messed up the drives a bit. THE KOP CHASSIS UH???

[EricH]

Originally Posted by rc_cola1323

THE KOP CHASSIS UH???

Actually, I was referring to the KOP gearboxes. Some types of drive virtually require a custom gearbox, while others do just fine with the KOP one. (My team used four Toughboxes in a mecanum drive last year. We probably should have taken out the second reduction.)

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by EricH

Actually, I was referring to the KOP gearboxes. Some types of drive virtually require a custom gearbox, while others do just fine with the KOP one. (My team used four Toughboxes in a mecanum drive last year. We probably should have taken out the second reduction.)

Starting with hardest ehh , have fun with that one.

[Akash Rastogi]

Also some great resources are available on 1114's website. Awesome powerpoints. Also, Greg Needel has the best powerpoints to train members.

http://www.simbotics.org/workshops

Hope that helps. Other than just finding and researching information like this, its all learning by doing. Go look at your past robots (if you have them still) or go to some off seasons and learn how each robot was built in a step by step fashion. I suggest you start with mechanical design first for this year. Next year if you really want, move into CAD.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by rc_cola1323

Starting with hardest ehh , have fun with that one.

We did... I think the best we did was 4 laps, after changing sprockets at the event.

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by EricH

We did... I think the best we did was 4 laps, after changing sprockets at the event.

What were the ratios and were you guys hurdlers.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by rc_cola1323

What were the ratios and were you guys hurdlers.

Standard toughbox inside; I recall we ended up with about a 1:1 (after a 1:3 was too slow) from there to the wheels. We weren't hurdlers; we would have liked to be, but we had a variety of issues that had to be fixed.

[Liz Smith]

My advice is to be at a lot of meetings, listen, and watch. Ask questions about something until you're able to explain that thing to someone else.

Looking at successful robots is a great way to learn about the different options there are for building a robot. I would suggest also looking at some of the less successful robots as well. Figure out why robot A is more successful than robot B. Maybe they decided to use acrylic sheets instead of lexan to protect components, but quickly realized upon impact it shatters all over the field. You can learn from their mistakes without actually making the mistake yourself.

Don't be afraid to ask your mentors and teammates questions. At competition, don't be afraid to ask other teams questions, most are more than willing to explain components.

[Vikesrock]

There's a lot of good advice here but there is one key resource I don't see being mentioned. The mentors and veteran students on your team are some of if not the best resources for learning about the process.

I agree with the sentiment that it is best to start out by being an expert in one system. Do to the way our team formed I did not have that luxury, but I wish I had. Select a system, then find a vet or mentor on your team that worked on that system last year. Have them go through last year's 'bot with you and explain how that system works. ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS! Have them explain to you how it was made from an idea in someones head all the way to it's final form.

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by Vikesrock

ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS! Have them explain to you how it was made from an idea in someones head all the way to it's final form.

This is extremely important and feel to ask anyone, FIRST participants and Mentors would love to help.