Challenge Overview

In this challenge, students will take on the role of both engineer and educator by creating detailed, step-by-step build instruction guides for a specific robotics mechanism. Whether it’s a drivetrain, intake, lift, or another key component, the goal is to break down the build in a way that’s clear, easy to follow, and helpful for others. Think of it as creating a guide that your peers could use to build and understand the mechanism—even if they’ve never seen it before. This is your chance to turn your technical knowledge into a valuable resource that other teams can use to level up their designs.

But this challenge is about more than just building—it’s about communicating your ideas in a way that teaches and inspires. You’ll need to think like a mentor: How can you explain your process so it makes sense to others? What tips or insights could help someone avoid common mistakes? By sharing your skills through well-crafted instructions, tips, and tricks you’re making a real impact on the robotics community. It’s a chance to showcase not just what you can build, but how you can help others build, too.

Project Requirements & Components

To complete this challenge and be eligible for the prizes and awards you need to successfully  submit all three (3) parts to the challenge.

• Part 1: Build instructions (PDF)
• Part 2: Build instructions: Short report, feedback and revisions (PDF)
• Part 3: Submission (video uploaded to YouTube or other public platform)

Build Instructions

• Title Page: Required and must include:
  • Challenge name and season year
  • Your program (e.g., RECF Achieve)
  • Your team number (e.g., Team 111B)
• Build Instruction Submission
  • Submit the complete build instructions as a PDF
  • There is not a page limit for the build instructions

Short Written Report (Feedback and Revisions)

• Title Page: Required. The title page does not count toward the 3-page report limit and must include:
  • Challenge name and season year
  • Your program (e.g., RECF Achieve)
  • Your team number (e.g., Team 111B)
• Report Length: 1-3 pages, not including the title page
  • Font: Arial 11 point
  • Pictures: May be included, but the report must still fit within the 3-page limit and follow the font requirement
• Maximum Total Report Length: 4 pages, including the title page
• Report Submission
  • Submit the complete report as a PDF

Short Video Presentation

• Maximum Video Length: 3:15 minutes
• Beginning: Video should have a 5 second beginning that includes:
  • Challenge name and season year
  • Your program (e.g., RECF Achieve)
  • Your team number (e.g., Team 111B)
• Ending: Video should have 10 second ending credits that include:
  • Challenge name 
  • Team name and number 
  • Sources (if any are used) 
• Video Submission: Submit a public link to your video.
  • The video must be publicly accessible through the submitted link and viewable by judges without requiring a password or sign-in
  • Teams should test the submitted link before submitting

Part 1: Build Instructions

The submission for your final build instruction PDF should include the items listed below and follow consistent formatting throughout the document.

Note: Final submission should be created after the peer review process.

Team Number & Participant Information

Create a title page for your build instructions including the kind of mechanism that you have built.

• Clearly list your team number, team name (if you have one), school/organization, and names of participants who worked on the project.
• You can include a short introduction or a “Meet the Team” section with photos if you’d like to make it more personal and engaging.

List of Parts Needed

Include a complete, organized bill of materials (BOM) at the beginning of your instruction guide. For each item, list:

• Part name
• Quantity
• Part number
• Image or diagram (optional but helpful)
• Consider grouping parts by type: structural, motion, control, hardware (screws, nuts, etc.).

Build Instructions

Provide a step-by-step guide that walks the reader through building the mechanism from start to finish.

• Include clear, high-quality images or diagrams for each step.
• Number each step and include short, precise descriptions for what is being done and why.

Tips & Tricks

Include helpful advice based on your experience in the steps.

• Highlight any common mistakes and how to avoid them.
• If certain steps require extra precision or tools, cover that in the instructions.

CAD or 3D Models (optional but encouraged)

If possible, create a CAD model of the mechanism using any CAD design tool. 

• Include screenshots of the CAD model from different angles.
• Use exploded views to illustrate how the parts fit together.

BONUS POINTS: Consider embedding a link to an interactive or downloadable CAD file that shows the progression of the part being “built” in CAD.

Part 2:  Build Instructions: Feedback and Revisions

Short report (3 pages, Arial font, 11-point) PDF format

Test your build instructions

Ask peers to follow your build instructions to build the mechanism. 

Feedback on the build instructions

Ask your test group for feedback on the build instructions. Write a short report on the testing of your build instructions, name it “Feedback and Revisions”.

• Include your brainstorming on solutions to their feedback and how you implemented the changes into your build instructions. 
• Follow all report requirements in the Project Requirements & Components section

Revise the build instructions

Revise your final build instructions according to your report. Create your final build instruction submission.

Part 3: Create a Short Video

Create a 3-minute video

Include the following in your video:

• A short introduction of your team and the mechanism you chose to build.
• Explain briefly:
  • What the mechanism does and how it works
  • Why a team would want to use this on their robot (functionality, strategy, benefits)
  • Any tricky parts of the build and how to get them right
  • How sharing your knowledge helps raise the level of play for all teams and builds a stronger, more collaborative competition community
• Keep your video concise, well-edited, and focused. Follow the required instructions. Bonus points for using subtitles.

Final Reminders Before Submitting

• Check for formatting, grammar, spelling, and clarity throughout your instruction guide and your report.
• Save your final build instructions and report as PDFs for easy submission.
• Double-check that all media (PDF, video) is properly named and organized for submission.
• Consider additional flair to your build instructions by adding a cover design, table of contents, or page numbers for an extra-polished look.

Challenge Success

By following these detailed steps, your final product will be informative, visually engaging, and genuinely useful to other teams, especially those just starting out. Look at it as not just a submission to an RECF Online Challenge, but as your team’s contribution to the robotics community.