Don't underestimate the EV3 building instruction robot.

It is fast and easy to build, well designed (compact, stable with low
center of gravity) and has sensors placed in reasonable locations.

Without changes, you can solve at least 5 robot game missions: opening
doors, remote communications, the slider part of the search engine,
changing conditions, apprenticeship, and the engagement part of
engagement.  That is plenty for a rookie team, particularly if they use the
sensors.

With very minor changes you can greatly improve it.  Change the gears in
the robot arm to make the arm move more accurately.  Add a rear bumper so
the robot can back up against a wall to square itself.  Put a stick on the
robot arm so it can pick up loops and the reverse engineering basket.

On Wed, Oct 8, 2014 at 10:47 PM, Hal Swetnam <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> We are first-timers (the team and the coaches) and all this is new to us.
> We have scoured the internet trying to find directions on building a
> compact robot base. Most of the instructions we find online are for the NXT
> brick — we have two EV3 units, however, so we're coming up empty-handed.
> The building instructions that came with the Mindstorms Sets we have are
> not really suited for the FLL robot challenge. Can anyone please tell us
> where to go for help with a good sturdy base? We need to move quickly
> because we want to start programming for the missions this week.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Hal
>
> -- To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit
> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or
> leave the list".
>
> -- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via
> VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit
> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-ANNOUNCEMENTS-l.html to
> subscribe.
>

-- To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list".

-- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-ANNOUNCEMENTS-l.html to subscribe.