Resources

Search the internet for information on "robotics" and you'll find a wealth of information---all of the information on the FIRST site, opportunities to work with faculty at world-class universities, industry alliances and much, much more. Here are some links we hope you'll find useful-whether you are just starting out or an experienced team member.

FIRST: Everything you wanted to know about FIRST: the organization's mission, guiding principles, competition manuals, communications resources, regional contacts, how to get involved with a FIRST program, scholarships, and more.

Educational Resources and Forums for Teams

FIRSTbase: Autodesk's web site for FRC and FTC teams. For FRC teams Autodesk provides a Kit of Parts-over 100 parts from this year's kit already modeled on Inventor. These digital, 3-D prototypes will enable validation of designs and data as engineers work. Other resources include software downloads, FIRST CAD library, links to technical support and training materials.
Top FRC Websites: Twelve FRC team websites that have received recognition for website excellence and provide a variety of resources for "robo-fanatics". Included are:
- Chief Delphi Forums: one of the largest user bases in the FIRST community, providing help on a variety of topics.
- MVRT (Monte Vista Robotics Team) Training: extensive training documentation to help bring rookies up to speed fast or to expand the knowledge base of experienced team members.
- Miss Daisy Team in a Box: Team in a Box is a set of DVDs to help rookie teams learn about FIRST and what to expect their rookie season.
- Langley Robotics Whitepages: Whitepapers on programming theory, programming in C, and programming for robotics.
- Team 228: Gus Robotics - Document Library: Document library includes FIRST materials from past years' challenges, whitepapers, and digitized media content.
- NASA Robotics Alliance: Brings students, engineers, private organizations, and government resources together to increase robotics expertise in the United States. Online resources include courses, webcasts, and cool robots.
Arrick Robotics: Wide range of robotics education and mechanical information.

Regional Competitions

Silicon Valley Regional: Everything teams need to know about SVR--including maps and registered teams.
Davis-Sacramento Regional: This site includes information on how to start a team, past competition, tips on how to start a team, past competitions, and scholarships that are available at UC Davis.

San Francisco Bay Area Robotics Organizations

Western Regional Robotics Forum (WRRF): technology-focused and experience-based education support and programs. WRRF-supported programs link colleges, high schools, and professional engineering communities. WRRF organizesthe annual California Robotics Games competition in the fall, held at a high school in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Homebrew Robotics Club: San Francisco Bay Area robotics enthusiasts that meat every Wednesday of every month inside the NASA Research Park in Mountain View. Members' expertise varies from beginners to professionals. There are no dues or age restrictions.

Technology and Science Programs

California State Summer School for Math and Science (COSMOS): Residential academic program hosted at four University of California campuses: UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, UC San Diego, and UC Irvine.
The Ohio State University of Engineering for Honors - Exploring Engineering Through Robotics: For Ohio residents in 9th or 10th grade. Program includes building robots, team problem solving, CAD, and software modeling.
A Guide to High School Programs in Science and Engineering: Links to national and international prgorams collected by undergraduates at MIT or submitted by the program organizers. The list is maintained by members of the Massachusetts Beta Chapter of Tau Beta Pi.
Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy: Activites include K-12 educational programs, teacher training, summer camps, and competitions.
JETS TEAMS: Information on TEAMS, a one-day, two-part competition for high school students that applies math and science to real life situations.
NutsAndBolts Foundation: Links to camps, events, and ways to get involved in robotics for people of all ages.
Tech Challenge: Silicon Valley-based program to inspire technical innovation in youth.

Magazines

Robot Magazine: Links to issues containing the latest in hobby, science, and consumer robotics.
NUTS AND VOLTS: Magazine issues with information on a broad range of topics on robotics and technology.
SERVO Magazine: Covers robotics education and a range of how-to information.

College Information

Collegiate FIRST: Information on opportunities for scholarships, colleges, and FIRST teams.
NASA Robotics Academy: Ten week, resident summer intern program for rising college freshmen and sophomores, undergraduate juniors, seniors, or graduate students. Preference given to past participants in FRC, FTC, Botball, or students who have shown demonstratable interest in robotics.
FMA Foundation: Learn aout available scholarships, find salaray information for different careers in metal forming, and even find manufacturing camps and schools to prepare for your career.

Robotics Suppliers

Meadows Manufacturing: Has become one of Silicon Valley's longest running and most successful manufacturers of precision CNC machined components and assemblies.
Metalworking Websites: An extensive list of links to various metalworking sites for anything from tools and services to shows, supplies, and FAQs.
McMaster-Carr: Suppliers of multitudes of robotics products.
Jameco Electronics: A leading online and catalog distributor of electronic components.
HSC Electronics: Was started in 1963 and has developed into an excellent and well-known electronics surplus store.
Metal Supermarkets: Metal Supermarkets began with a single store in 1985 in Mississauga, Ontario, and is now one of the premier metal supply stores, with 80 shops scattered across the globe. The Santa Clara location supports high school and college robotics teams.

Government

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA): Information on the central research and development organization for the Department of Defense. They have annual autonomous competitions which may provide dramatic advances for traditional military roles and missions.