Rookie Team Trying to Gain Experience

[Razer0901]

Hello Everyone,

My team and I are starting a FRC rookie team and have been trying to gain experience in every way possible. However, things are just not going our way. Since we are a rookie team, we have no parts. I am trying to get some motors and speed controllers to play with before we get thrown into the 6 week build season, but with the new updated roboRIO and new speed controllers coming out, all of the other speed controllers on Andymark, and VexPro are all out of stock. None of the new ones are out yet so we can't test the new or old speed controllers. Motors, gearboxes, and wheels are easier to source and since the roboRIO is new and no one has them, I will play around with an arduino controlling everything.

I am wondering if anyone knows of another source to get speed controllers since that seems to be the most important part to drive the chassis and isn't substitutable by another product. Or if anyone is willing to sell their old Talons SRs, or Victors or even the Jaguars at a reasonable price. I am willing to take them if they can get to me soon.

Thanks!
-Razer0901

P.S. This is my first post on the forums so I am sorry if I did something wrong.

[Joe G.]

In a pinch, you could make do with some of these. Definitely wouldn't run these in anything near a competition environment, but for teaching purposes, they should be pretty similar.

http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-2521.htm

Wish we could help out more directly, but we're in the same boat.

[Razer0901]

Thanks for the quick response. One question though, do all ESCs work the same? Can I use those ESC like how I would with a Talon or Victor? Meaning if I use those, can I just pull them out and install Talons and expect the chassis to work? Also could I just get any 40A ESC like things for RC models?

Sorry for all the questions!
Thanks in advance!

-Razer0901

[75vs1885]

First off, Congrats on your new team!!!
With your first season you'll experience a lot of "problems" like these, but if you keep in contact and ask other teams for help then you'll be fine. I would call AndyMark and First and ask them if you can get hold of any because you are a rookie team, I'm sure they can work something out. As of right now, I would use the most modern stuff that you can get, if you can get hold of jags, use them, I see teams use them at competitions a lot.

If you are really desperate, ask another team if you can buy parts, even if they're from last years bot, you can use them for testing.
As of right now, I would see if there is an offseason event near you, if there is, then I would go there and talk to teams and see how they make their robots. Within this upcoming season you'll learn a lot and have a lot of fun!!

best of luck!!

Feel free to tweet at me if you need any advice or help!!!
@stephenhill178

Your post is fine BTW!!

[mwtidd]

Razer,

I'm not sure what your team's plans are for next weekend, but my team (319) is holding an offseason event on Saturday.

http://www.frc319.com/#!battleofthebay/aboutPage

We're going to have a couple teams with the new control system up there.

We are also going to have a basic bot set up explicitly for rookie teams to compete with. It would probably be a great hands on experience working with it through the event.

Also, are you a student or mentor? I work in Framingham, and live in Allston so Wayland isn't too far out of my way home. If you guys are looking for a hand I'd be happy to help out. I may have to get my CORI certification updated (I mentored the Hopkinton Lego League team a couple years back, but it may have expired since).

Cheers,
Mike

[EricH]

Originally Posted by lineskier

Razer,

I'm not sure what your team's plans are for next weekend, but my team (319) is holding an offseason event on Saturday.

http://www.frc319.com/#!battleofthebay/aboutPage

We're going to have a couple teams with the new control system up there.

We are also going to have a basic bot set up explicitly for rookie teams to compete with. It would probably be a great hands on experience working with it through the event.

Razer, I think your team just got some plans for that weekend. I can't recommend going to an offseason event before your rookie year enough. There's nothing quite like the competition environment. As a bonus, you'll be able to meet up with a bunch of folks who will make it their business to help you guys succeed. Even if the team can't make it as a team, whoever can make it should try to make it.

[kstl99]

Offseason events are great. You do not sound like a rookie but I would bring as many rookies as possible so they can get a clue as to what the competition is all about. There will be around 20 teams that are usually happy to help a new team. You can stop by the 1922 pit and ask for Kevin and I will help where I can and introduce you to some of the people I know.

Have you registered yet? Do you have a team number? Have you signed up for any district events yet? Just curious...

[Jon Stratis]

The best thing you can do right now: search out local teams in your area. Use: http://www3.usfirst.org/whats-going-on

With that, you can find some of your nearest teams and try to get in touch with them. Ask if they are meeting during the fall, and if they are ask if your team could attend a couple of meetings to get an idea of whats going on. Many, many teams out there will jump at the chance to have you come over. They'll take the time to introduce you to all the parts, show you how things get hooked up, and help you get up to speed. If asked by a local team, my team would also box up enough miscellaneous control system parts and motors to build a drivable robot (seriously, it would take us about 5 minutes to pull everything off the shelves and stick it in a box). The benefit of having this relationship will continue on throughout the season - you can go to them for help during the season, maybe use their space/tools a couple of times, and they'll be hugely helpful at your competition.

We've done all of this for local teams before - we have teams in our space all the time (in fact, I'm at a team meeting right now with another team present), we help them out at competition, and we focus on training other teams as much as they want (part of the reason we were chosen to alpha test the new control system).

The best thing you can do is find a local team to mentor you through your first season.

[Underdog_19]

Originally Posted by Razer0901

Hello Everyone,

My team and I are starting a FRC rookie team and have been trying to gain experience in every way possible. However, things are just not going our way. Since we are a rookie team, we have no parts. I am trying to get some motors and speed controllers to play with before we get thrown into the 6 week build season, but with the new updated roboRIO and new speed controllers coming out, all of the other speed controllers on Andymark, and VexPro are all out of stock. None of the new ones are out yet so we can't test the new or old speed controllers. Motors, gearboxes, and wheels are easier to source and since the roboRIO is new and no one has them, I will play around with an arduino controlling everything.

I am wondering if anyone knows of another source to get speed controllers since that seems to be the most important part to drive the chassis and isn't substitutable by another product. Or if anyone is willing to sell their old Talons SRs, or Victors or even the Jaguars at a reasonable price. I am willing to take them if they can get to me soon.

Thanks!
-Razer0901

P.S. This is my first post on the forums so I am sorry if I did something wrong.

PM sent

[gurellia53]

You can try an RC car brushed motor ESC. They vary in cost a lot based on features and rating.

Here's one for $5.

This should work if you're just trying to drive a motor for a small off season project.

[Razer0901]

Thank you everyone for responding and helping a new team like us out! Us rookies appreciate the support you give us.

Thanks!

-Razer0901