idealtech.xyz

FIRST Tech Challenge celebrates the engineering process with the Engineering Notebook. Not only is it a way for teams to track the design, build, and iteration of their robot, but it can also help to keep the team structured and organized, as well as provide a record of their overall growth throughout the season. Engineering Notebooks help Judges to learn more about the team and their robot and are required to be considered for FIRST Tech Challenge Awards . There are additional requirements for the Engineering Notebook to be considered for some of the awards, such as including a Business/Strategic Plan for the Connect Award. To help your team master the Engineering Notebook, we have three new resources for you this year, in addition to the information provided in the Mentor Manual. All of these resources can be found on the FTC Team Resources webpage under the new Engineering Notebook section. Engineering Notebooks Guidelines: this document outlines the requirements for the Engineeri...

FIRST Tech Challenge participants and teams rise to the challenge each season. At Kickoff in September, they are given a game challenge , and they get right to work tackling the problem with creativity, innovation, and ingenuity. The process they go through is a vital skill in robot-building and in life. When encountering a problem, be it a professional, personal, or academic challenge, the first step to finding a resolution is understanding the problem. Look at it from all angles, measure it, poke at it, ask questions, and even get other perspectives besides your own.  After developing a full understanding of the problem or challenge, the fun begins: brainstorming possible solutions. The possibilities are endless, and maybe that is daunting, but focus first on just listing all ideas. Then go through each idea and look at its feasibility: can you do it? How much energy or effort will it take? Do you have the resources? Narrow down all of the options to three. Look closely at the...