Avery W. Fiore entered the world of robotics competition aged 10. He has led teams and won numerous awards in FIRST(R) LEGO(R) League, VEX(R) IQ Competition, VEX(R) Robotics Competition and FIRST(R) Robotics Competition. In 2020, when the world came to a standstill due to COVID-19, he picked up CAD via a single Youtube video. With a bit of imagination, he designed a fully functioning robot that went on to win the Excellence Award at VEX Worlds 2021. Always passionate about sharing his love for robotics, he wrote this handbook to complement CAD classes he conducts for junior members. Avery was the FIRST(R) Robotics Competition Captain for Team 4817 at the Singapore American School from 2022 to 2024. He is currently fulfilling his national service obligation in the Singapore Armed Forces.
The FIRST(R) Robotics Competition (FRC) is a prestigious and longstanding robotics competition for high school students, drawing young minds with their passion for robotics. Despite its widespread popularity, many students encounter challenges in commencing their FRC journey due to the scarcity of beginner-friendly resources. The majority must rely on fragmented online materials or the limited expertise of teachers and upperclassmen. This book provides an exceptional introduction to robot design employing CAD, specifically tailored for FRC. It elucidates the fundamental components of an FRC robot-including the drivebase, intake, and launcher systems-and demonstrates how these components are applied to address the challenges encountered in past competitions. Beyond CAD design, the book covers practical strategies for robot planning and operation. I firmly believe this book will serve as an indispensable guide for any student embarking on their FRC journey and an invaluable resource for mentors. It has the power to transform curiosity into capability and help students take their first confident steps into the world of robotics. Dr. Seok Woo Lee Associate Professor School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Nanyang Technological University, Singapore