If you are new to robotics or a veteran, you probably still need to learn some new things or remember things you used to know how to do. This guide is divided into sections that are VEX-specific and FRC-specific. Since VEX is kit-based, the skills needed are better defined and there are good video series on how to get started. The FRC materials are broken up by discipline.

VEX current game materials: https://www.vexrobotics.com/v5/competition/vrc-current-game

Curriculum: https://curriculum.vexrobotics.com/curriculum.html

Mitch Brodie’s VEX videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXu-UT8UtXaXivO1rYaoYH1Ahjg1P059U

How to download and import an improved VEX part library: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZYxDiL4KIs

How to create a chassis assembly using the improved library - quickly cut down and join components: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4t7PlxN7GU

Longer, more complete tutorial - covers libraries, cutting, assembly, joints (including some good tricks), motion linking, etc.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-eJWgVez8g

Short video about adding chain (not really necessary, but it's good to know it's possible): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XNNfDpwPP4

Channel of basic tutorial videos although some of the videos are about the robotics team that developed them: https://www.youtube.com/c/KeplerElectronics

Fusion 360 build of a VEX clawbot https://academy.autodesk.com/course/129015/fusion-360-design-and-customize-vex-edr-clawbot

Great experiment-based VEX drivetrain comparison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py14YTHCth0

Omnicats Team Handbook (Link to be added)

FIRST official site: https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc/

Team data and scores: https://www.thebluealliance.com

Team news, ideas and gossip: https://www.chiefdelphi.com

FRC current game materials: https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc/game-and-season

FRC awards, and how to submit: https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc/awards System Engineering

Joan and Rich Intro to System Engineering Presentation (includes concepts like creating mass, power, time, and money budgets) https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qlDBT-_G7XpxEIjy3nROmLsLe-dkx7wm1sBhnFTcg5w/edit#slide=id.g932c496058_0_0

How to meet award criteria https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc/awards

Common game elements over the years (spreadsheet) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/110yN6MpCXhPMNCIRYn2NYJiTywScCNRrO7EhAobt2Cs/edit#gid=0 Good Examples, Other Teams

Citrus Circuits (1678) makes some of the best robots, including this year's winner at port heuneme. Their youtube channel has a playlist of almost 30 hours of videos about how they design, build, and program them.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6j32uphg3L9imPGEGz-dHhFFkKUAjFrm

To Engineer is Human https://www.amazon.com/Engineer-Human-Failure-Successful-Design/dp/0679734163/

The Design of Everyday Things https://www.amazon.com/Design-Everyday-Things-Revised-Expanded-ebook/dp/B00E257T6C/ CAD

The Autodesk Foundational Concepts course for Fusion 360: https://academy.autodesk.com/course/124629/fusion-360-foundational-concepts

A great reference for the software can be found in this book - particularly in Part 1: Make: Fusion 360 for Makers

https://www.onshape.com/en/blog/how-to-onboard-your-first-robotics-team

This site does all kinds of mechanical calculations, then gives you links for where to find the components to make those mechanisms work: https://www.reca.lc/

https://findrobotparts.com/

For ideas: every mechanism known to mankind, animated: https://www.youtube.com/user/thang010146/videos

Helpful Video Series on Basics of Sketching (Videos 1-3) https://youtu.be/wN1jRuCyBX8

Write-up on parametric design and example https://hackaday.com/2016/02/02/making-parametric-models-in-fusion-360/

CAD models are typically available on the part manufacturer’s site. Either an f3d, f3z, or STEP files can be read. (If those file types are NOT available, STL is an inferior option as well.)

A nice comparison of drivetrain designs: https://www.ndsubisonrobotics.org/uploads/5/9/8/8/59888285/frc_drivetrains.pdf

Great walkthrough of designing an intake mechanism. It uses Onshape, but the techniques shown (particularly in the first 10 minutes or so) can be done in any CAD program, and really show how to think through a design quickly in software. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WxpPr5duCA

From the same channel, these two videos give a great run-through of info you need to know to design an FRC robot. Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRIbKHm2xzQ

And part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M91KmjNQmro

This video is part of a new series by inventor Tim Hunkins from the UK. He had a TV show a long time back called “the secret life of machines” and has been a maker in residence at the Exploratorium. Here he explorers different ways to transmit torque through chains and pulleys. https://youtu.be/FZN0PBBzEHw

Materials comparison Delrin, Acrylic, Lexan https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?139045-Plastic-Comparisons-of-Delrin-Acrylic-and-Lexan

How to wire an FRC robot: https://docs.wpilib.org/en/stable/docs/getting-started/getting-started-frc-control-system/how-to-wire-a-robot.html

Electrical systems, by Team 2648 http://www.team2648.com/electrical-system-overview.html

Omnicats YouTube coding channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCefyPre-_n79fkFDywOrDqw

https://omnicats.slack.com/archives/CRVETF9RB/p1594499948000700 (needs updating)

Simulator https://synthesis.autodesk.com/

  What is a drivetrain?
  What are different types and what are their advantages?
  Types of wheels
  Common components used in FRC robotics
  How to build strong parts
  When to use different materials
  How to measure and find dimensions within a robot design
  How to find what you need to know (dimensions, …) / How to find information online
  How to properly tighten/fasten screws
  How to use gearing basics
  Motors, how much power they use, how much they can move
  Estimating center of gravity (maybe this should be a Juypter notebook?)
  Fabrication questions to ask (document the answers to these questions)
  What is the environment for your part?
  What situations will it need to operate under?
  What does it connect to?
  What space is available for it, and how do you determine how much of that space it should occupy?
  What is the worst case?
  What does it take to replace it if it fails?
  What state will the rest of the machine be left in if it has failed?
  What fabrication technique works for which type of part?
  Cost
  Complexity and tolerances
  Time to create (machine time, operator time, and how soon can the process start?)
  Strength (How to estimate strength?)
  Weight
  When should you make a part, and when do you need to buy it?
  Design requirements for:
      3D printing
      CNC
      Hand tools (which ones?)
      Laser cutting
  How do you lay out a part for hand fabrication?
  How do you mark things precisely and think about the kerf of a cut?
  How do you use a particular technique in a way that will make the part that best fits requirements?
  How many copies do you need?
  Everything you ever wanted to know about bumpers
  Electrical/Power
      Battery
          Charging
          Handling
      Fuses
      Wiring
          Routing wires
              Board layout
              Strain relief
              CAN bus termination
          Crimping connectors
              Anderson Powerpole
              Ferrules
              Dupont, JST XH/PH
          Soldering
              Soldered terminals
              Wire-to-wire
              Wire-to-board
              Component-to-board
  Layout of electronics for a FIRST robot (maybe a list of videos that exist)
  Soldering <check out MAKE: videos, Instructables>
  Power allocation and management
  Business
      Financial Practices - pointer to FIRST rules and constraints
      Pit Management
      Places to get swag
      Competitive Analysis