Mechanical Pathway¶

The Mechanical pathway trains students to understand motion, loads, packaging, and reliability. Students progress from recognizing simple mechanisms to designing and validating integrated subsystems that survive real match conditions.

Core Public Resources¶

Level Pages¶

Level 0: Exposure¶

Learning objectives

Recognize common mechanisms and structural elements on competition robots
Understand that mechanisms transfer force and motion with tradeoffs
Learn safe assembly habits

Required skills

Identify gears, pulleys, chain, shafts, bearings, fasteners, and spacers
Use basic hand tools safely with supervision

Core concepts and theory

What a mechanism is
Structure versus motion
Basic examples of intake, drivetrain, shooter, arm, and elevator systems

Hands-on activities

Explore simple gear and pulley kits
Disassemble and reassemble a small mechanism
Compare two mechanisms that solve the same job differently

Suggested mini-projects

Build a simple roller intake model
Assemble a small drivetrain or gearbox kit

Assessment of mastery

Student identifies major parts and explains basic motion transfer
Student uses tools and fasteners correctly under supervision

Common mistakes and troubleshooting

Overtightening moving joints
Mixing hardware lengths or thread types
Ignoring alignment during assembly

Expected outcomes

Ready for guided mechanism assembly and basic calculations

Level 1: Foundations¶

Learning objectives

Understand ratios, torque, speed, leverage, and support
Assemble and evaluate simple power transmission systems
Learn how tolerances and alignment affect performance

Required skills

Measure dimensions accurately
Assemble shafts, gears, pulleys, and bearings cleanly
Read a simple drawing or assembly sketch

Core concepts and theory

Gear and pulley ratio basics
Mechanical advantage
Bearing support and shaft deflection
Fastening and retention

Hands-on activities

Build sample chain, belt, and gear stages
Compare output speed across different ratios
Assemble a simple arm or lift prototype

Suggested mini-projects

Ratio test stand
Basic wooden or aluminum gearbox prototype

Assessment of mastery

Student calculates a target ratio and builds a working example
Student identifies binding, slack, and misalignment issues

Common mistakes and troubleshooting

Unsupported shafts
Misaligned sprockets or pulleys
Ratios selected without regard to motor performance

Expected outcomes

Can support prototype mechanism assembly and analysis

Level 2: Application¶

Learning objectives

Build complete prototypes and evaluate performance
Use testing to connect calculations with real behavior
Package mechanical systems so they integrate with CAD, wiring, and software

Required skills

Interpret loads, support needs, and assembly order
Work from CAD or sketches
Record test results clearly

Core concepts and theory

Load paths and failure points
Friction, backlash, compliance, and efficiency
Packaging, center of gravity, and service access

Hands-on activities

Build and test a subsystem prototype such as an intake, climber, or shooter
Compare performance across design variants
Install the subsystem on a training frame or robot

Suggested mini-projects

Intake prototype comparison
Mini elevator or arm with measured load testing

Assessment of mastery

Student delivers a working mechanism and explains tradeoffs
Student uses data or observation to justify revisions

Common mistakes and troubleshooting

Changing too many variables at once during testing
Ignoring maintenance access
Underestimating shock loading and repeated impacts

Expected outcomes

Can own design and testing of a simple FRC subsystem

Level 3: Leadership¶

Learning objectives

Lead subsystem design from concept to tested assembly
Balance performance, simplicity, reliability, and schedule risk
Run iterative reviews and make evidence-based revisions

Required skills

Generate and compare concepts
Run prototype reviews with adjacent subteams
Identify design risk before fabrication is complete

Core concepts and theory

Trade studies
Robustness versus complexity
Design for assembly, maintenance, and field repair
Strategy-driven mechanism design

Hands-on activities

Lead a subsystem from concept sketches to practice testing
Coordinate with CAD, Manufacturing, Electrical, and Programming on interfaces
Run failure analysis after testing

Suggested mini-projects

Final shooter or intake architecture
Drivebase packaging and serviceability review

Assessment of mastery

Student leads a design review with clear requirements and evidence
Subsystem performs to target and can be serviced efficiently

Common mistakes and troubleshooting

Chasing novelty over match value
Locking into one concept before prototyping
Ignoring repairability and spare strategy

Expected outcomes

Can lead mechanical development for a major subsystem

Level 4: Mentor¶

Learning objectives

Guide full-robot mechanical strategy and subsystem standards
Teach concept development, prototyping, and review methods
Build continuity across years and across teams

Required skills

Coach students through tradeoffs instead of just choosing for them
Create reusable standards and templates
Translate game strategy into training priorities

Core concepts and theory

System-level design
Knowledge transfer
Standardization without stagnation

Hands-on activities

Run a mock kickoff concept process
Review another team’s subsystem for risk and manufacturability
Update design standards after the season

Suggested mini-projects

Team mechanical handbook
Reusable drivetrain or manipulator standards package

Assessment of mastery

Students trained under this mentor produce stronger first-pass designs
Team avoids repeated mechanical failures because lessons were preserved

Common mistakes and troubleshooting

Solving problems for students too early
Standardizing weak designs
Failing to capture why a design succeeded or failed

Expected outcomes

Can mentor mechanical strategy and subsystem design across multiple teams or seasons