How to be a better FTC Team Mate-What Can I do now

Study

a.      the game video http://youtu.be/UPAATO-NpcM?t=2m16s,b.      study the two parts of the game manual(download the pdf from http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc/game) ,c.       study the online forums http://ftcforum.usfirst.org/forum.php where all of the details parts of the game or reviewed. Every team needs to have a legal expert there are often controversies at events and it helps to have somebody who knows the rules inside and out.

2.      Learn to program-robot C. 

• You can learn Robot C at home, on your own,  right now. http://www.education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/previews/robot_c_products/teaching_rc_tetrix_preview/index.html    
• Check out the Virtual RobotC Worlds at CS2N https://www.cs2n.org/activities/cs2n-learn/robotc-programming-for-ftc-teamshttp://www.robotvirtualworlds.com/curriculumcompanion/ 
• The virtual world has a “block party” game field setup for you to work with as an online virtual programming challenge. 

Learn Labview. 

• http://www.ni.com/pdf/manuals/372668f.pdf LabView is an industrial tool in wide use in all tech industries today.  LabView runs modern factories. Self Training Videos http://www.ni.com/academic/students/learn/  (note most FTC teams use RobotC )

4.      Download PTC for your home computer.

• PTC has weekly lessons on how to be a PTCdesigner. See Robotalk.  This is a weekly webinar with Q&A Session offered by PTC from September through November to all FIRST teams. To register for the weekly seminar see http://www.ptc.com/appserver/wcms/standards/free.jsp?&im_dbkey=150516&icg_dbkey=841  I deally, every team should have a CAD oriented design for their robot. This can give your team the ability to pre -build your robot on the computer before you waste time design building it.

5.      Do some research on the computer;

•  study  youtube videos of  FTC robots,  taking pictures of or  copying down drivetrain options.  Analyze the benefits of each? Diagram them. Look at and study lifting mechanisms, arms.

6.      Find the VEX youtube videos 

• when their competition used blocks- how did they solve problems? Take screen shots? Diagram parts.

Suggestions to make building a field set up go faster

Welcome to the block party !
I built 4 fields, the first two took almost 10 hours plus a few more hours for painting, The next two went faster but I still need a few hours of painting. 

1.  Can’t decide if one should paint first- build second. Paint first- lots of flat pieces of wood. Paint second might make cutting easier but lots of corners and details to paint.I
2. IF the field is not going to be moved and taken apart-skip the metal inserts  H6.  Use 2 ½ or longer screws to hold everything together. Read page 14! Before you proceed without inserts.
3.    I found that a power drill hex driver made using the threaded inserts much more pleasant
4.  Note you can use 8- 10 foot 2X4 which are much cheaper than 12 foot ones-Might have some waste but if cost is a factor.
5.   Clamp the uprights-page 24 esp if using insert
6. Clamp the balance arm frame-when building the box

FTC "Ask an Expert" Call on Google Hangout

FTC Mentoring 101

Date: September 09, 2013 7 P.M. ET  ( 6 P.M. Central time )

Register to attend: FIRST Tech Challenge Google+ Hangout

Expert: Jill Wilker, FTC Affiliate Partner, Northern California

Overview: Join Jill Wilker, the Northern California FTC Affiliate Partner, as she talks through important aspects of leading your FTC Team.  This webinar is a great opportunity to learn more about the program and ask questions about mentoring your team.

Update:  The video recording of this Google+ Hangout has been posted on  https://www.youtube.com/firsttechchallenge