I’m making a brochure to help future and rookie teams be more prepared for build season next year. I was wondering if anyone has a weekly timeline for the sixs build weeks
Here is a good thread to look through, with plenty of suggestions:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?p=666275#post666275
The one that Karthik linked to is the one my old team always tried to follow, and it worked out well for us!
I found that thread by searching “build season timeline” with the search function on the top of the page, fifth from the left in the menu bar. Searching is your friend. 
On a lighter note, you can use the standard six phases of any project:
Phase I - Enthusiasm
Phase II - Disillusionment
Phase III - Panic
Phase IV - Search for the Guilty
Phase V - Punishment of the Innocent
Phase VI - Praise and rewards for the non-participants.
This was floating around IT industry more than 30 years ago and still
pops up from time to time.
Week 1; discussion
Week 2; design
Week 3; disillusionment
Week 4; argue
Week 5; panic
Week 6; build like all heck, don’t sleep, omg 23hrs till ship and 3 spikes are dead!!!
Week1:30 students come for kickoff and discussion.
Week2: 6 students try to figure out what they our doing.
Week 3: 1 mentor tries to hold it together.
Week 4: 2 weeks left.
Week 5: week left.
Week six. Oh no counted the weeks wrong …BUILD!!!
This is just based on what we did this season. It worked out okay for us.
Week 1: Discuss the game, read the rules, draw out design ideas, write down the main things you want the robot to be able to do
Week 2: Vote on a final design and declare a winner, begin figuring out how to make it work
Week 3: Split into sub-groups that each work on a different aspect of the bot, Start building any prototypes you may need to test a part of your design
Week 4: Begin putting the pieces made by each sub-group together, figure out exactly how your robot is going to run (decide on which/how many motors you will use), make a power budget for all your motors if you haven’t already done so
Week 5: Construction of the robot/attachment of all major parts (lots of machining, welding, deburring, filing, etc)
Week 6: Work on details that you haven’t had a chance to focus on yet, run a test of your bot if possible, go through a check list of what you planned to accomplish and make sure your robot meets all safety and weight requirements, WORK LIKE CRAZY
From our team website:
January 5-11 (@ RCR Headquarters)
Inventory and Weigh All Kit Parts
Understand All Game Rules and Robot Rules
Select Field Components to Build or Buy and Order Long Lead Items
Determine How to Play Game & Maximize Score
Select Robot Roles, Functionality and Any Special Design Requirements
Brainstorm Top Level Robot Configuration and Select Leading Candidates for Any Options
Storyboard the Animation
Prepare Organization Chart & Detailed Schedule and Assign People to All Tasks
January 12-18 (@ RCR Headquarters)
Prototype Selected Robot Elements
Breadboard Selected Robot Subsystems
Finalize Robot Design (Hdw & SW Modes) and Order Parts
Estimate Final Robot Weight
Buy Short Lead Time Field Components and Begin Construction
Define Any Updates to Pit, Crate and Robot Stand
Generate First Few Seconds of Animation or Entire Top Level Animation (sketchy)
January 19-25 (@ RCR Headquarters)
Begin Robot Construction
Generate Initial Robot Software Code
Order Spare Parts
Complete Construction of Field Components
Complete Entire Animation at Top Level
January 26-Febuary 1 (@ RCR Headquarters)
Complete Robot Construction
Complete Robot Software Code
Perform Weight Check & Adjust as Required
Complete Initial Bill of Materials
Prepare Robot Signage
Fit Robot in Crate and Adjust as Required
Design Robot Stand and Interface with Wagon
Complete Animation at Medium Level
February 2-8 (@ RCR Headquarters)
Test Robot & Repair
Select Drivers
Train Drivers & Pit Crew
Finalize Crate
Finalize the Animation & Prepare to Submit
February 8-14 (@ RCR Headquarters)
Test Robot
Train Drivers & Pit Crew
Install Final Robot Signage
Finalize BOM & Weight
Perform Trial Robot Inspection
Arrange for Robot Shipment, Pack Robot, Ship
Submit Animation
February 19th
SHIP ROBOT!
Make buttons etc…
Can’t Resist
Weeks 1 - 5 Design and Build 90% of the Robot
Week 6 Design and Build the other 90% of the Robot