What Do You Wish You Would Have Known Your Rookie Year?

[Karibou]

Oooo...let's see, what did I learn this past year...

Oh yeah, when machining, ALWAYS stay concentrated. If you're going to look away for a minute and watch someone/something else, turn the machine off.
Not doing so will more than likely result in scars, blood, and fingernails being ripped off (learned, unfortunately, from experience. I have a very lovely scar on my wrist from a drill press...it makes me look suicidal.)

If you want to be on mechanical (or electrical, or design, or marketing, or programming, etc), GO FOR IT! Don't let other people try to decide what you want to do. As a rookie--or even an experienced member--feel free to explore all of the aspects of the team. It doesn't matter if you don't know how to CAD, or how to use a lathe...if you want to learn, someone will always be willing to show you the ropes.

And...your mentors are your friends. If you're not sure of something, they probably know the answer to it, and if they don't, they will point you to someone who does. (I was scared to death of half of my mentors at the beginning of the season, and aren't anymore)

Just watch, as soon as I have to get off the computer, I'll think of half a dozen more.

[tennispro9911]

Ok, Chief Delphi. Amazing resourse, and there is a lot of discussion on different ideas and ways to approach the game after the kickoff.

Mechanical Resources. AndyMark, we didn't know about. T-Slot aluminum.

[AndyB]

One more thing:

Don't waste time complaining about things out of your control. Just work harder.

[Nica F.]

Things that are good to know your rookie year:
-Don't be afraid to ask for help because as a rookie no one expects you to know everything.
-Don't hide mistakes, because someone's gonna find out anyways and they really won't get mad if it's accidental.
(If you mess up on a part for example, don't throw your messed up part where the excess stock is cause they'll find it.. trust me. )
-Meet a lot of people at Robotics competitions because you'll get to meet people you can learn a great deal from or just make good friends. (I feel like I've met a lot of people, but I always wonder how many more I could have met if I took the time to more in my Freshman year)
-Take as much as you can from the program, try somethign new every year. For example you can say something like, "This year, I'm going to learn how to do Pneumatics"

[tennispro9911]

Originally Posted by AndyB

One more thing:

Don't waste time complaining about things out of your control. Just work harder.

But its fun to complain =D.

Seriously, the drive team comment made me think of all the sub-teams that teams should have. Not just mechanical, software, electronics and however teams break it up, but also marketing, fundraising, pit design, button w/e, and things like that. Talk to teams about what will happen at the competitions like handing out buttons, and the importance of safety. How important an efficient cart is, etc.

[ComradeNikolai]

The importance of establishing a drive team. We had more drivers than we could use, so we had to decide who drove at the competition at the cost of getting less practice in for the main drive team (who I still applaud for their efforts).

The importance of reading the rules. We had to change part of our design the Friday before ship (a day off of school thankfully, and the dedicated were all there).

The importance of good mentors / sponsors. In the aforementioned disaster, we managed to get a custom drum for a motor machined by NASA before noon on Friday, as well as a mounting bracket for the motor (we're forever grateful).

[Karibou]

Originally Posted by ComradeNikolai

The importance of reading the rules.

I second that...I found that reading the rulebook came in handy...though I took it to the extreme and read it so much, I had it pretty much memorized by the middle of week two. Because everyone checked with one of the mentors, myself, or the rulebook (in the rare case that they couldn't find any of us) before adding something to the bot, I can't remember us ever being told at competitions that we couldn't use something. Knowing what you can and can't use is a VERY good thing to know at competitions, because you don't always have time to check the actual rulebook to verify the legality of a part. If someone knows the rulebook back to front...