My friend has been pestering me to do robotics with her next year. I’ve never done a whole lot on robotics except see what others have made at TSA competitions. It seems really interesting and it seems like something to try out. Anyone have any advice for learning things like programming or anything else relating to robotics in general?
Participate in the this forum a lot. You can get a lot of great ideas from here. Also, to start out try building a basic robot, such as a clawbot. This will help you get familiarized with the dynamics of building
Alright, thanks!
Hey @MaxSpecter ,
Welcome to the forums. As for tips, I’d say use the online resources available, that being the vex forum, youtube, and possibly the vex teams of the world Facebook group. Feel free to ask lots of questions. A lot of getting into robotics is just getting experience. Vex is really good for trying out new things because, if something doesn’t work, you can just take it apart and keep trying. When programming, make sure to check out the example codes that robotc gives you as well check out others’ code here on the forum. It’s ok to literally copy paste other people work and then just rework it for you needs. Have Fun.
Couldn’t agree with this more. Scout, scout, scout, and then when you’re done, scout some more. Look at all the past games, watch as many old robot reveals as you can, compile a playlist of videos you have watched for future reference, etc., in Vex, it is just as important to get ideas from others as it is to come up with something original, especially when you’re starting out, as this is a robotics program that has a “metagame.”
Additionally, sorting parts will help you familiarize yourself with the parts, and repetition is key. Up until 2 years ago (Before I joined it), new members of our robotics team would spend a year sorting before they would even be allowed to touch the robots. Of course, this was kind of extreme, but the point is that being familiarized with the parts will enable you to build more efficiently.
P.S.: Brace yourself for sleepless nights.