The team should first familiarize themselves with the robot without looking at the competition tasks. This includes the use of sensors and how the robot can best drive. Can he follow a black line and drive across the game field with the gyro sensor? Both are very useful skills that will certainly be needed!
The task is then studied and the LEGO models (“objects”) belonging to the task are assembled. You can now consider how the robot must be designed so that it can move the objects correctly and reliably (pushing? lifting? that depends on the task!). The team should now construct a prototype of this robot.
Then you think about it: What are the simplest subtasks? Which ones score the most points? Most teams do not manage to solve all subtasks within the allotted 120 seconds. That’s why a bit of strategy is needed here: driving to safety and therefore scoring few points, but having them safely? Or would you rather take risks in the hope of scoring more points, but also run the risk of something not working out? The team has to find out among themselves…
As the competition approaches: test, test, test! Don’t add much more, but rather make sure that what you have already achieved works reliably. Also test the different starting positions, as the objects are randomly placed on the game field. Testing is not exciting, but it is necessary in order to find any errors. You can also take care of the speed. By now at the latest, the general rules and regulations should also be thoroughly studied so that there are no unpleasant surprises on the day of the competition.
And then: if possible, do the final training sessions under competitive conditions. The coach stays outside, the cell phone is switched off and the computer is in airplane mode. The team tries to do everything themselves, without help and without instructions.