Be in the lab and talk to other teams! See what sensors they're using early on. Ask for advice. Cannot stress this enough. This was how we ended up switching to ultrasonic sensors late in the game.
Working late at night is kind of fun, but if you get too tired, go home before you start undoing progress and breaking things.
Start by making something NOT by planning and designing for days. Get a piece of wood or cardboard, stick some wheels, start prototyping.
Once wires go in, you won't have time to change chasis so make sure you're happy with it.
Hot glue is your best friend for quick fixes and testing, just make sure you have a better strategy for later.
HIT CTRL S ALL THE TIME
Test code as much as you can.
Sensors are finicky and need calibration. Invest time in making proper mounts and soldering electrical connections to avoid a sensor slightly shifting position or a wire coming off.
Get really good at crimping as a faulty connection with your battery can lead to hours of troubleshooting when there is an easy solution.