We have cash to burn...or do we?

[Chris is me]

Mentors, get them if you can.

After Kickoff, read the entire Manual.

Design your robot based on your game strategy, not the other way around.

Keep your robot as simple as you can and always keep weight in mind.

[Cory]

Another robot tip: make it an inch undersize in all dimensions. You don't want a sizing box "oh $*@^" moment where you figure out that your welded frame is sticking outside the box a quarter of an inch with no easy way to fix it.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Cory

Another robot tip: make it an inch undersize in all dimensions. You don't want a sizing box "oh $*@^" moment where you figure out that your welded frame is sticking outside the box a quarter of an inch with no easy way to fix it.

I've seen that happen to rookies before. Fortunately it was a steel frame, so a grinder took care of it. But those bolt heads sticking outside the frame can really add up.

Here is my list of hints for rookies (and veterans who need the reminder):
--Read The Manual. Sections 1-5 (non-game-specific) are already available. The rest of the Manual (game-specific) will be released in a heavily encrypted form shortly before Kickoff; download and be ready when the password is released at the end of Kickoff. Read Sections 6, 7, and 8 immediately; Sections 9 and 10 can wait a day or so. (Sections referenced: Arena, Game, Robot, Tournament, Kit of Parts, respectively, at least in the last few Manuals.)

--Before you begin building, strategize. What is going to win the game? What is the sacrifice to do X? Is there a way to avoid the sacrifice? No strategy is not a good plan.

--Manage your weight. This bites more teams than anything else (except not reading the Manual). In the past, you get 120 lbs without battery and bumpers. If you were 120.1 lb on weigh-in (next to sizing), then you had to find a way to lose that 0.1 lb. If you were 150 lb on weigh-in, you had to start removing functionality. I'd find a scale that can handle that kind of weight and fit the entire robot.

--The kit drivetrain is fairly solid. It's a great system to get running quickly, say in the first couple of days, so you can do some testing.

--Find a pre-ship event near you--and show up with your robot. Often, there will be an unofficial inspection. I'm going to emphasize the "unofficial" here--I inspected a robot last year that had passed that inspection at a pre-ship. The mentor gave the "But we passed at X event" reasoning. The Lead Robot Inspector sided with my no-pass ruling--they had to rework the non-compliant system a bit to pass. But on the other hand, those unofficial inspections can catch stuff like a rotated regulator, the team number not showing up on the display, and other stuff of that nature--and they'll help you fix it at the event, or let you know what you need to work on in the shop. The competitions are great for pre-strategizing and testing out the robot.

[dag0620]

Originally Posted by Kdabr

Thanks for all of the insight, FIRSTers!

Now that the whole organizational aspect of the business plan has been brought up, I think it could be a very good idea. Of course, we'd also include financial planning in there too. I'll see if I cant get some of my teammates help me put one together in the next few weeks!

Do you guys have any additional hints for a first year team? For me personally as a leader of a first year team?

Besides the other great tips listed:

- Make sure besided the robot, you get people working on some other stuff that needs to be done, (busniess, chairmains, a crate if your going to a Trad.)
- Rest up now! Buildseason will be hectic, and robotics will be your life during those weeks
- Of course have fun and enjoy the whole process.

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Kdabr

Do you guys have any additional hints for a first year team? For me personally as a leader of a first year team?

Have an adult mentor (could be a parent) join NEMO.
http://www.firstnemo.org/index.htm

[IndySam]

Use the kit chassis and try and find a veteran team that's not going to uses theirs so you can have two. Get your drivers practicing ASAP! Only think about simple upgrades like wheels.

Buy extra batteries. Minimum of two more, four more will be better. You can never have enough batteries.

As stated by Eric: Have a weight budget. Start a spreadsheet, Buy a good scale and weigh every part and mechanism. Keep updating it as you go. Teams that follow that practice don't have to spend all Thursday at comp trying to make weight instead of practicing.

Six weeks go by fast, plan to have your first robot done in 4. That way if your are a week late you still have a week for break/fix, programming and practice.

Don't forget to have fun!

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by IndySam

Six weeks go by fast, plan to have your first robot done in 4. That way if your are a week late you still have a week for break/fix, programming and practice.

2 years in BEST should help with this. The team knows the drill regarding the build deadline. Aspects of it, such as ship/bag and tag, will be new but the basic understanding should be there.

Aside: That's one good thing for any rookie FRC teams that have participated in BEST. It is a demanding competition in its own right and requires a lot of thought/strategic planning in how to play the game each year. FRC is a bigger robot and presents different challenges but teams who have participated in other robotic events already know that they enjoy problem solving and competing.
--
Kdabr - one thing that is very different is the mentor/student opportunity to build and compete together. BEST can encourage teams to think about being student centric and student driven. FRC offers the opportunity to understand that working along side skilled technical mentors and non-technical mentors makes a huge impact on the team both on and off the field and that it is a good thing. Take some time to talk with each other about those differences. The FIRST website can help with that and it provides valuable resources.

Also, keeping up with the Jones is not something you want to focus on as a rookie - you want to focus on: who is 3626, not who is 3626 compared to others. Determine your team's strengths and weaknesses and work on them. Build on the strengths and strengthen the weaknesses, realistically and with a common sense approach.

Jane

[JamesCH95]

Originally Posted by Kdabr

Thanks for the advice, guys.

We already have a laptop and a shop full of basic tools, so it sounds like we'll be fine.

Should we be equipped to weld? Or will nuts and bolts be fine for that?

Buy an extra cRio.

While you don't need to be able to weld, it will open up many doors to you. I am biased I admit, but I would definitely get a TIG welder.

[Ether]

Originally Posted by JamesCH95

Buy an extra cRio.

... and do it before the end of the year:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...8&postcount=22

[Carol]

Having run a BEST team, you do have a good start at team dynamics and project management, both equally as important to a good team as the proper tools and engineering skills. But also check out the rookie resources out there, such as MOEmentum (of course, I have to put that first) and Team in a Box.

http://moe365.org/moementum/moementum.php
http://www.team341.com/tiab/

Also look around at the FIRST web site, particularly this link for new teams:

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...t.aspx?id=5504

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by JamesCH95

Buy an extra cRio.

Second, that is what my rookie team is doing with some of the extra funds since we would like to have a practice robot and keep our first robot alive!

One recommendation is to always have a simple fall back plan in case your main, extravagant design is not working as expected or you know you won't finish in time. Something simple that will still play a portion of the game effectively and take minimal time to execute.

Getting your drivers behind the wheel sooner into the build season rather than later/practice day of your competition is a great idea.

Good luck 3626!

[Chris is me]

If you don't feel you can afford a cRIO and just want a test bed to drive some motors around (i.e. not programming after ship) you can use a Vex PIC with Victors. Saves you a few hundred dollars that way.

[Kdabr]

How many Jaguars should we order?

[Chris is me]

You should wait to order them until Build season, when you know how many you will need.

(in general, 4 for the drivetrain, several more for manipulators)

[Kdabr]

Shouldn't we order a few before everyone accross america starts buying them like mad?

Also, Im interested in learning how to program with the camera included in the KOP. Is there some sort of FIRSTer friendly "quick start guide" or tutorial about
A. Using this camera with the cRIO
B. Generally interpreting the output of a camera