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Disclaimer: Some of the following links lead to external web sites that are not endorsed or controlled by FIRST, and may contain outdated or inaccurate information about FIRST. Teams should look at the Game Manual on the Season Materials webpage for the most up to date information on what they can use each season.
Mechanical Resources
General
- Prototyping 101 - a resource that discusses prototyping concepts and explains the prototyping process.
- Prototyping Worksheet - A worksheet, created by The Compass Alliance, that helps teams through the prototyping process.
- Mechanisms Worksheet - A worksheet, created by The Compass Alliance, that helps teams start developing their robot’s mechanisms.
- Manufacturing Worksheet - A worksheet, created by The Compass Alliance, that helps teams start the manufacturing process and get the robot up and running.
- Suggested Tools for FIRST Robotics Competition Teams - a resource for newer teams with suggested tools to have for the team's shop.
- 2024 Robot Quick Build Instructions (zip file will automatically download)
- NASA RAP (Robotics Alliance Project) Robotics Design Guide - A comprehensive mechanical design guide covering design patterns, materials, tools and techniques and more.
- ReCalc - A mechanical design calculator with tools to help choose a motor or calculate gear ratios, estimate air usage, and more.
- FIRST Robotics Competition Robot Basics - A guide created by Rev Robotics to help teams understand the basic components and techniques used when creating a FIRST Robotics Competition robot.
- Robot Inspection Videos - In this playlist, learn about the various sections of the inspection checklist from several Lead Robot Inspectors. Thanks to WPI for helping edit these videos!
Computer Aided Design (CAD)
- Design 101 - this resource is intended to provide the resources that can help team's in the design process.
- 973 RAMP Designing Robots with Sketches - This video is produced by Team 973, Greybots and covers how to effectively design a robot using CAD sketches to save time in the design process.
- 973 RAMP Designing Linkages with Sketches - This video is produced by Team 973, Greybots and covers a process for designing linkages (such as for pneumatics) using CAD sketches.
- SOLIDWORKS Student Design Team Tools - in this video, learn how to take your design and project planning skills to the next level with apps on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform or tools on SOLIDWORKS Desktop.
- Onshape CAD for Robotics Competition Curriculum - This course will introduce you to Onshape and the many features that will take your robotics team to the next level. It features 3 modules that help develop skills using various lessons.
- Getting started with Onshape - in this video, learn how to create your free Onshape Education account, get familiar with the interface, and set up your team.
- Collaborating Remotely with Onshape - in this video, learn about Onshape’s unique features for collaborating, including Follow Mode to see the real-time actions of another user, advanced commenting capabilities like markup and task assignment, as well as branching and versioning for parallel development.
- Onshape for FIRST Robotics Competition teams - A collection of Onshape resources compiled by Team 6328, Mechanical Advantage, to help teach CAD and design concepts to students.
- Onshape Certified Associate Pathway - This resource is for students to take their skills from 0 to an associate level Industry Credential using Onshape. It has application for using CAD on your team as well as documenting your skills to put you on a path of obtaining credit for your learning.
- This module are available to lead mentors 1 and 2 through Thinkscape on the FIRST Dashboard. Mentors will be able to add students and other mentors to the course using these instructions.
- Solid Edge Mechanical Associate Learning Pathway - This resource is for students to take their skills from 0 to an associate level Industry Credential using Solid Edge. It has application for using CAD on your team as well as documenting your skills to put you on a path of obtaining credit for your learning.
- This module are available to lead mentors 1 and 2 through Thinkscape on the FIRST Dashboard. Mentors will be able to add students and other mentors to the course using these instructions.
Drive System
- Drive System Designs Presentation by Paul Ventimiglia
- FIRST Robotics Competition Drive Systems by Ken Stafford
- ILITE Drivetrain Simulator Tutorial - This simulator and video were produced by Team 1885, ILITE. The video tutorial details the use of an advanced tool that can estimate the performance of drivetrain configurations to aid in selection of motors and gearing.
Bumpers
- FIRST Robotics Competition Bumper Guide - A guide outlining information on how to make bumpers in a variety of ways depending on your preferred design.
- How to Make Bumpers - Learn about various bumper options as well as how to build bumpers for a corner segment and straight segment from FIRST Alum, Liz Smith. Thanks to AndyMark for their assistance in creating this video!
- How to Mount Bumpers - Learn about various mounting options as well as receive a tutorial on how to use the Bumper Mounts from the Drive Base Kits from FIRST Alum, Liz Smith. Thanks to AndyMark for their assistance in creating this video!
Pneumatics
- Pneumatics Manual - A guide outlining the basics of what pneumatics are and how they might be used on a FIRST Robotics Competition robot.
- How to Adjust the Pressure Relief Valve - In this video, learn how to adjust the pressure relief valve from Co-Chief Robot Inspector – Chuck! Thanks to WPI for their assistance in editing this video!
- How to Adjust the Pressure Relivef Valve (REV PH with Analog) - In this video, David from REV describes how to adjust the pressure relief valve using an analog pressure sensor with the REV Pneumatic Hub. Thanks to REV for creating this video for us!
Software/Electrical Resources
Electrical
- How to Wire a Robot - This video describes how to wire the basic FIRST Robotics Competition Control System using the REV Robotics Control System components provided in the rookie Kickoff Kit. Thanks to WPI for their assistance in editing this video!
- For written instructions for both REV and CTR Electronics, check out the How To Wire an FRC Robot in WPILib.
- How to Wire the Pneumatics - This video describes how to wire a basic pneumatics system for the FIRST Robotics Competition using the REV Robotics Pneumatic Hub. Thanks to WPI for their assistance in editing this video!
- How Do I Keep My Robot Running? - In this video from AndyMark, learn some tips and tricks to ensure your robot runs during every match.
- Control Systems Worksheet - A worksheet, created by The Compass Alliance, that helps teams learn about the control systems and reminds teams of items to double check.
- Wiring Essentials by April Riddett of NI - In this video, NI employee and FIRST volunteer April Riddett shares some wiring tips and tricks to help your team be successful.
Software
- Computer Requirements - This document serves as a recommendation for the hardware and operating system requirements for the computer system needed for each FIRST program.
- Control System and Programming Documentation (WPLib) - Resources to help with wiring and programming your robot.
- Programming 101 - This resource covers the basics of programming in FIRST Robotics Competition. It covers C++, Java/Kotlin, and LabVIEW.
- Intro to Programming Modules 1 & 2 - Java Programming 1 & 2 are a series of lessons that provide a fundamental understanding of Java programming within WPILib. The courses provide widely applicable skills in programming that they can transfer to industry credentials including objects, classes, methods, conditionals, timed robot programming and command based programming. This course enables students to complete tasks with the XRP robot as well as the Romi which then can be easily applied to an FRC robot.
- These modules are available to lead mentors 1 and 2 through Thinkscape on the FIRST Dashboard. Mentors will be able to add students and other mentors to the course using these instructions.
- Synthesis - Synthesis: An Autodesk Technology is an open-source robotics simulator built by students for students. Hear from some of the student interns that help create this technology and learn how you can benefit from their work.
- FMS Whitepaper - The purpose of this document is to provide an insight to the functional structure and method by which the Field Management System (FMS) is implemented on a typical FIRST Robotics Competition field.
Other Technical Resources
- Guide to Selecting Drivers - This guide lays out some helpful considerations when selecting drivers for your robot.
- Improving Driver Performance - This guide provides some ideas about how to practice, what to practice, and how to further analyze and improve your cycle times.
- Find Robot Parts - This resource was created by Team 1735, Green Reapers, and shares common robot parts and where teams can source them from.
- Pre-Match Checklist - A worksheet, created by The Compass Alliance, that helps teams put together their own checklist of things to check before every match.
- Pit Set-Up - A worksheet, created by The Compass Alliance, that helps teams figure out how to set up their pit.
- KitBot - This webpage hosts all of the resources for the KitBot. The KitBot is provided by FIRST and designed to be able to play some aspects of each year's game, but not all. It’s also been designed so teams can build the KitBot and then further iterate on it to add additional features if they choose.
- Everybot - created each season by FIRST Robotics Competition Team 118, the Robonauts from Texas, they say Everybot “is an affordable, competitive, and elegant robot intended to play the FIRST Robotics Competition challenge. Everybot can be built with nothing but basic tools and items found in either the kit of parts or purchased from your local hardware store…”
Kickoff
- Kickoff Worksheet - This worksheet helps teams identify important rules and strategies for each season's game.
- Kickoff Game Break Down Worksheet - A worksheet, created by The Compass Alliance, that helps teams break down the game after Kickoff.
Scouting / Strategy
- Introduction to Scouting - This resource was created with Team 1678, Citrus Circuits. This guide is intended to be an introduction to scouting and cover scouting basics.
- Intermediate Scouting - This resource was created with Team 1678, Citrus Circuits. This guide is intended to be an intermediate overview of scouting. This guide covers how to visualize data (spreadsheets and Tableau), Computed fields, Subjective Scouting, initial statistics of scouting, and scouting for match strategy.
- Scouting Worksheet - A worksheet, created by The Compass Alliance, that helps teams identify what to put on their scouting sheet as well as how to create a pick list.
- Using the FRC-Events API - These resources guide you through accessing data from the FRC Events API which provides official event data and can help augment your scouting efforts.
- The API Demo Tool is a simple command line tool used for making requests to all the endpoints on the public FRC Events API.
- The FRC API for Google Sheets resource provides instructions and code samples for pulling match-level data from the API into a spreadsheet.
- Effective FIRST Strategies for Design & Competition by FIRST Alum & 1114 Mentor Karthik Kanagasabapathy - This presentation (or view the recorded presentation) focuses on three major areas, Strategic Design, Match Planning/Execution, and Scouting. Rather than spending time on equations and detailed calculations, the Strategic Design gives a more high-level overview of how to design a robot. This portion of the presentation includes sections on such often neglected strategic design areas such as Game Analysis, Chokehold Strategies, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Task Prioritization, and Tradeoffs using case studies from past games. The Match Planning/Execution section of the presentation discusses effective habits and strategies that will help lead a team to victory. The Scouting section deals with effective techniques to collect information on your partners/opponents, and how to make the most of this data.