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130 guides
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🏎 Driver
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First three
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Start Here
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Laptop Setup
📝
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Situation
🏁 Before Competition
12
⚡ At the Event
11
💻 Learning to Code
14
🔧 Building
14
Phase
🏠 Kickoff Week
🔧 Build Phase
⏳ Pre-Competition
⚡ Competition Day
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136
⚡ Situation
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🚀 Getting Started
9
⚙ Hardware
21
💻 Programming
36
🏆 Competition
36
📝 Notebook
8
🔄 CAD
14
💰 Budget
7
⚙️ Mechanisms
6
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🏎 Driver
⚙ Engineer
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Not sure where to start? Look for the
Getting Started
category (🚀 icon) — those guides are written for students with no prior VRC experience.
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130
guides
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🎓
Reference
all roles
~5 min
Coach & Mentor Resources
PTC/Onshape unit guides, vocabulary, discussion questions, and learning center links for coaches running Onshape curriculum sessions with their team.
⚔️
Getting Started
beginner
~1 min read
The Spartan Creed
Six lines we live by. Who we are, on and off the field.
🏅
Getting Started
beginner
~2 min read
Our Values
Seven ideas we practice every day — from scouting opponents to staying calm under pressure.
🧠
Getting Started
beginner
~3 min read
Our Philosophy
Think. Build. Adapt. Lead. Four ideas that shape how we compete — rooted in Sun Tzu, Musashi, Boyd, and Aurelius.
💻
Getting Started
beginner
~8 min read
Laptop Setup Guide
Specs, setup checklist, and storage protocol for school and personal laptops.
🖥️
Getting Started
beginner
~12 min read
Setup: VS Code + PROS + EZ Template
Install VS Code, PROS, and EZ Template. Upload your first project to the Brain.
🚀
Getting Started
beginner
~20 min read
First 30 Minutes in VS Code
Read main.cpp, make your first change, and write a working autonomous.
🧩
Getting Started
beginner
~10 min read
Blocks → Text Code
Coming from VEXcode blocks? Side-by-side comparisons, VS Code tour, and a quick-reference cheatsheet.
Getting Started
beginner
~15 min read
Clawbot Training Platform
EZ Template on the Clawbot — IMU, chassis config, training drills.
📡
Getting Started
beginner
~5 min read
Brain Download & Auton Selector
Upload code, navigate the Brain program screen, and wire the EZ Template auton selector.
🏷️
Programming
beginner
~8 min read
Naming Conventions & Reserved Words
camelCase vs PascalCase, complete list of reserved PROS/EZ names, and a naming quiz.
⭐
Competition
intermediate
~10 min tool
AWP & Robot Skills Strategy
AWP conditions, skills scoring, rankings, and an interactive run tracker with split times.
🎮
Competition
beginner
checklist + log
Driver Practice Curriculum
Six-phase practice progression from basic control to match simulation.
⏱
Competition
beginner
tool
Match Timer
1:45 practice match countdown with drill timers. Load any drill into the timer. Alerts at :45, :30, and :15.
📉
Competition
beginner
tool
Self Score
Tap to tally points during a practice match. Editable categories per game. Saves match history and tracks your personal best.
🏆
Competition
beginner
tool
Alliance Picklist
Build your alliance selection picklist. Track candidates, tag capabilities, rank for draft day. Copies to clipboard when the captain calls you.
🏎
Programming
intermediate
~15 min tool
Driver Control Tuning
Input curves, deadband, turbo scaling, button remapping, and one-button macros with a live visualizer.
📅
Competition
beginner
~10 min tool
Season Timeline & Planner
Season phases, milestones, and a planner that calculates dates from your calendar.
🚫
Competition
beginner
checklist
Robot Inspection Guide
What inspectors check, size limits, legal parts, wiring rules, and a pre-event checklist.
⚡
Programming
advanced
~8 min read
Exit Conditions & Chained Movements
pid_wait_until(), pid_wait_quick_chain(), and swing moves that recover 1–2 seconds per auton run.
⚡
Programming
beginner
EZ Template Fresh Setup
From zero to driving robot. File tree explorer, interactive chassis constructor generator.
🎯
Programming
intermediate
PID Tuning with EZ Template
Interactive PID response curve simulator. Step-by-step tuning sequence using the built-in tuner.
📺
Programming
intermediate
Auton Selector Setup & Strategy
Register routines, use the Brain screen at the field. Interactive Brain simulator.
🏆
Programming
intermediate
Skills Autonomous in EZ Template
60-second solo run design. Field path planner SVG, time budget diagram, IMU reset strategy.
🤖
Programming
all levels
EZ Template AI Assistant
Ask anything about EZ Template. Enter your motor ports and get code answers using your actual config.
⚡
Hardware
beginner
~10 min read
Wiring Guide & ESD Protection
Port strategy, cable management, service loops, and ESD prevention.
⚙
Hardware
beginner
~8 min + calc
Gear Ratios & Motor Speed
Interactive calculator: cartridge, up to 3 gear stages, wheel diameter → RPM, top speed, torque multiplier.
⚙️
Hardware
beginner
tool
Gear Ratio Calculator
Standalone calculator: motor cartridge + gear stages + wheel diameter → RPM, speed, torque, and gear chain diagram.
🎮
Competition
beginner
~8 min read
Partner Controller
PROS dual-controller setup, dividing driver/operator roles, and building team communication protocols.
🏎
Programming
intermediate
~10 min tool
Curvature (Cheesy) Drive
FRC 254 control scheme — gentle arcs at speed, tight turns when slow.
📄
Programming
beginner
~8 min read
Organizing Code Across Files
Split main.cpp into subsystem files with headers. Find any code fast.
🐙
Programming
intermediate
GitHub & Programming Workflow
Using Git and GitHub for version control, collaboration, and protecting your code across the season.
💾
Programming
beginner
Git & Version Control
Four essential commands, branching for experiments, and tagging competition code. Never lose auton again.
🚫
Programming
intermediate
~8 min read
Stall Detection
Cut power when intake jams or arm stalls. Current-based and velocity-based detection with auto-reverse.
⚙️
Programming
advanced
Finite State Machine
Replace nested if-else spaghetti with clean enum-driven logic for mechanisms and sensor-responsive autons.
⚡
Programming
intermediate
Bang-Bang Controller
Full power to target, full reverse, repeat. Zero tuning parameters. Live simulation included.
🎾
Programming
intermediate
Take Back Half (TBH) Controller
One gain, less oscillation than bang-bang. Purpose-built for flywheel velocity control.
🌍
Hardware
intermediate
V5 GPS Sensor
Absolute X/Y/heading, no drift. Mounting rules, PROS setup, and comparison with odometry pods.
📊
Programming
intermediate
Data Logging to SD Card
Write motor and PID data to SD card, then graph in Excel.
⚙️
Programming
beginner
Code Style & Autoformatting
Shift+Alt+F formats instantly. .clang-format setup so every team member’s code looks the same.
🏆
Competition
advanced
~12 min read
Autonomous Tournament Strategy
Three-tier auton portfolio, alliance coordination, expected-value math, and pre-match checklist.
🧰
Competition
intermediate
Strategist Toolkit
Seven tools, different jobs, one system. What to open, when, and how to combine data with live scouting.
📈
Competition
intermediate
VRC Data Analysis Guide
TrueSkill ratings, event pages, Shadow/Rookie/Veteran tracks, pre-event brief, and assignment tracker.
📊
Competition
intermediate
~5 min tool
Match Scouting Sheet
Interactive scouting form that saves to your device. Sortable records for alliance selection.
⚡
Programming
intermediate
~10 min read
Drive and Operate Simultaneously
Intake + arm + drive at once using inline commands and PROS Tasks.
⚡
Programming
intermediate
~10 min read
PROS Tasks & Multitasking
Run intake and auton simultaneously. pros::Task syntax, shared variable safety with mutex, and 3 most common task bugs.
🔍
Programming
intermediate
~10 min read
Debugging Techniques for PROS
5 methods in order: Brain screen, terminal printf, LED patterns, SD card logging, pros monitor. Open when something breaks.
📍
Programming
intermediate
tool
Field Coordinate Mapper
Click to place waypoints on a 12×12 VRC field grid. Add actions, time budgets, and export as code comments.
💨
Hardware
intermediate
Pneumatics Best Practices
Air budget estimator, build practices, solenoid wiring, 5 programming patterns, single vs double-acting.
🌎
Competition
intermediate
Route Planning
Match vs Skills planning and the six field variables that break routes.
⚡
Hardware
beginner
V5 Battery Management
LED codes, charging rotation, skills battery protocol, Battery Medic, PROS API, storage best practices.
🎮
Hardware
V5 Controller Guide
Parts overview, control mapping best practices, pre-match checklist, troubleshooting table, and practice drills. For drivers, programmers, and pit crew.
Start Here →
🌐
Programming
advanced
Custom Brain Screen
480×240 dashboard: auton selector, timer, motor temps, IMU.
📝
Competition
intermediate
~15 min read
Engineering Notebook & Design Process
Testing protocols and decision matrices built to the RECF rubric.
🔬
Competition
intermediate
~10 min read
Testing, Data & Iteration System
Structured test loops, failure protocols, and improvement tracking.
⚡
Competition
intermediate
~12 min tool
Game Analysis — Push Back 2025–26
Scoring breakdown, efficiency calculator, and pre-match decision framework.
💻
CAD
beginner
~10 min read
Onshape Setup for VRC
Account, VEX part library, and team structure before your first CAD session.
🚗
CAD
intermediate
~12 min read
First Drivetrain in Onshape
Frame, shafts, bearings, wheel spacing, motors — with a verification checklist.
⚙️
CAD
intermediate
~10 min read
Mechanism Concept Sprint
3 concepts → CAD top 2 → tradeoff matrix → documented selection.
🔧
CAD
intermediate
CAD to Build Handoff
Turn your model into a BOM, screw plan, and fabrication notes.
✂️
CAD
advanced
Custom Parts & Fabrication
Delrin vs polycarbonate, DXF for CNC, tolerances, pre-cut checklist.
🔗
CAD
intermediate
Assembly Mates & Constraints
All 6 mate types, shaft stack sequence, DOF explained. Interactive explorer + YouTube embed.
📐
CAD
intermediate
Full Robot Layout & Packaging
Plan the whole robot before cutting metal. Clickable zone layout, CG estimator, 18" constraint check.
🔀
CAD
intermediate
Version Control & Design History
Timestamp designs, branch for experiments, produce notebook-ready version history screenshots.
🖼
CAD
intermediate
2D Drawings for Notebook & Build
Create dimensioned drawings, add callouts and BOM table, export to PDF for the notebook.
🔌
Integration
intermediate
CAD to Code: The Engineering Thread
Map every Onshape measurement to EZ Template config. Connection map + robot config generator.
🚀
Process
all roles
The 3-Day Design Sprint
72-hour workflow from game reveal to working code and 3 notebook entries. All roles, every step.
🔄
CAD
all levels
Onshape AI Assistant
Ask anything about Onshape for VRC. Mates, assemblies, drawings, version control, VEX parts library.
💰
Budget
beginner
Budget Hub
Central tracker, cost estimator, all budget guides in one place.
💰
Budget
beginner
Team Budget Planning
District vs self-fund, championship costs, interactive budget calculator.
💰
Budget
intermediate
Sponsor Outreach
Tiered packages, outreach sequence, copy-ready email templates.
💰
Budget
intermediate
Budget Notebook Entries
4 rubric-mapped entries with copy-ready templates for judges.
💰
Budget
intermediate
Budget Interview Prep
6 judge Q&As with Developing / Proficient / Expert answers.
💰
Budget
intermediate
BOM → Notebook Cost Table
CSV to Sheets to notebook cost table. Export from Onshape BOM.
💰
Budget
intermediate
Cost as a Design Constraint
Interactive decision matrix including cost as a weighted criterion.
🔄
CAD
intermediate
Onshape BOM Panel
Generate BOM from assembly, CSV export, Education account workarounds.
🔧
Hardware
beginner
V5RC Tools Guide
Hand tools, power tools, starter kits, VEX vs Robosource, safety rules.
🎰
Mechanisms
intermediate
~10 min read
Intake Design for V5RC
Rollers, top-down intakes, and conveyors built to collect cleanly, hand off smoothly, and avoid jams.
⬆️
Mechanisms
intermediate
~10 min read
Lift Systems Guide
Compare arms, four-bars, six-bars, and DR4B. Choose the simplest lift.
🎯
Mechanisms
advanced
Flywheel Shooter Guide
Build accurate, repeatable flywheel systems with better compression, spin-up, consistency, and velocity control.
🚀
Mechanisms
advanced
Launcher Systems Guide
Catapults, slingshots, and punchers — timing, reset speed, reliability.
🔁
Mechanisms
advanced
PTOs & Motor Sharing
Shift motors between systems. When PTOs are worth the complexity.
⚡
Mechanisms
intermediate
Quick-Swap Motor Mounting
Replace a failed motor in under 30 seconds using zip ties.
🎯
Competition
intermediate
~8 min read
Tournament Pit Crew System
Roles, between-match workflows, and emergency repair protocols.
🤖
Programming
advanced
Advanced Robot Programming
6-motor drive, arm presets, intake toggle, scuff controls, macros, and pneumatics — full competition code.
🚀
Getting Started
intermediate
Level Up: Advanced Text Coding
Error messages, debugging, compilation pipeline, formatting habits, and 5 practice exercises.
📍
Programming
advanced
~15 min read
Odometry — Know Where You Are
Tracking wheel theory, EZ Template odom setup, coordinate paths, distance sensor correction, and tuning.
🔬
Programming
advanced
reference
PID Diagnostics Guide
Symptom → diagnosis → fix for 8 PID behaviors. EZ Template tuner and pre-competition checklist.
🔪
Hardware
intermediate
Build Your Odometry Pod
Parts list, bracket template, step-by-step assembly, mounting position, and verification checklist.
🔬
Hardware
advanced
~8 min read
Other Odom Pod Designs
Static screw joint, leaf spring, and doubled LS axle pivoting pod. Community CAD files, Echo leafspring video, and EthanMik full tutorial. Requires laser-cutting access.
🔍
Hardware
beginner
checklist
Robot Pre-Programming Check
Physical inspection, port log, motor spin test — 16-point pre-flight.
🏁
Competition
beginner
checklist
Competition Template & Match Day
PROS hook functions, the full match sequence, and a competition-day pre-match checklist.
🏆
Competition
intermediate
~20 min tool
Mission Control
Pre-competition readiness, judge interview, notebook audit, and concept review.
🗺
Competition
advanced
Engineering Notebook Pathway
All four notebook guides in one place. Season writing schedule, rubric levels explained, and what Design Award judges look for.
Start the Pathway →
📝
Competition
beginner
~8 min read
Getting Started with the Engineering Notebook
What judges look for, how to write daily entries, and how to build a notebook all season long.
📄
Competition
beginner
How to Use the Notebook Template
The 6-color EDP system, how to keep entries in order, maintain the TOC, and set up navigation for judges.
Open Template Guide →
notebook
📋 Criteria & Constraints Reference
RECF criteria-and-constraints format explained — what each section must contain so your team can write the table in its own words.
notebook
🔍 Notebook Chronology Guide
What RECF judges look for in notebook chronology — how to self-audit for date order, gaps, and EDP coverage before submission.
notebook
🔧 Build Log Entry Guide
Write complete orange EDP entries for every hardware and code change.
⏰
Competition
beginner
template
Time Management for V5RC Teams
Session templates, season phase allocations, priority rules, and rookie vs advanced defaults.
📋
Competition
beginner
Project Management for Student Teams
Ownership maps, milestone templates, sprint boards, risk management, and notebook integration.
💰
Hardware
beginner
Budget Management & Parts Planning
Cost categories, must-have vs nice-to-have, ordering workflow, pit box checklist, and judge prep.
🌞
Competition
beginner
Outreach, Mentoring & Service
What RECF scores, outreach formats that work, and how to document impact.
🎤
Competition
intermediate
~12 min read
Judge Interview Playbook
How interviews work, the 8 rubric questions, and the team hand-off strategy.
🎤
Competition
intermediate
~15 min tool
Interview Skills Lab
Practice questions for all 8 rubric areas and a full 10-minute mock interview.
📏
Hardware
Distance Sensor Positioning
Use the V5 distance sensor with EZ Template to align precisely to field walls. Consistent autonomous starts and repeatable skills cycles.
Open Guide →
🔧
Hardware
Sensor Mounting Guide
Where and how to mount the distance sensor for reliable wall-based positioning. Angle rules, bracket options, and competition-proofing.
Open Guide →
⚙️
Programming
Sensor-Based Autonomous
Replace time-based guessing with sensor conditions that react to reality. Consistent skills runs, reliable auton starts, reusable positioning functions.
Open Guide →
📡
Programming
intermediate
~12 min read
Distance Sensor Auton Correction
Use wall resets to correct autonomous positioning. Eliminates battery drift, floor variation, and placement error. EZ Template code + STEM + interview.
🏆
Competition
Competition Calibration
Pre-match sensor checks, auton selector setup, and the team workflow that prevents selection errors. Good code fails for process reasons — this fixes the process.
Match Ready →
🕮
Competition
Game Manual Breakdown
A 4-pass reading system, section-by-section breakdown, team discussion questions, and a kickoff day checklist. Usable on kickoff day for any V5RC game.
Start Kickoff →
🔍
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Team 2822
·
Mary R. Stauffer Middle School
·
Downey, CA