Need help starting a FTC team

[Alex Dinsmoor]

I'm currently trying to start a FTC team but am confused on what I need to buy. I'm trying to set up the budget for sponsorship, but can't find exactly what I need to plan out. I know the general price for going to regionals, but have no idea what I need. I'm also a little confused about the new kit and the need for tooling of metal. There aren't any teams in the area to ask so I turned to CD.

Thanks,
Alex Dinsmoor
FRC Team 201

[wilsonmw04]

you are starting during an interesting time. FIRST is making some major changes with FTC. You will need ~$1500 to start up. $900 for the new kit, ~$250 for registration and the rest for incidentals . As for tools: the only thing you will need are hands tools, from what I've been told. With the old kit my kids got a lot of use from a Dremel set i can't see that changing.
You may want to talk to your regional FTC director and apply for the $250 grant for the new kit.

Can anyone with experience with the new kit give some more information?

[Alex Dinsmoor]

you are starting during an interesting time. FIRST is making some major changes with FTC. You will need ~$1500 to start up. $900 for the new kit, ~$250 for registration and the rest for incidentals . As for tools: the only thing you will need are hands tools, from what I've been told. With the old kit my kids got a lot of use from a Dremel set i can't see that changing.
You may want to talk to your regional FTC director and apply for the $250 grant for the new kit.

Can anyone with experience with the new kit give some more information?

This is a really good estimate, just what I needed. How should I contact my regional director, is there a listing of them somewhere?

Yeah the FRC is going through many changes also, and I may be using a different programming language next year :eek: ! I'm still glad that the kit includes (mostly) everything, I don't have to go out and search for the parts.

Also is there like a kickoff meeting like there is for FRC?

EDIT: Of course there is no regional director for my state...

[wilsonmw04]

If there isn't one in your state, go directly to FIRST HQ. As to the kickoff: i don't think there is a big meeting like FRC. They usually send out an email with a link to the description and the animation on a certain date. The time frame for the FTC build season is much longer and relaxed, thank goodness :-)

[Alex Dinsmoor]

If there isn't one in your state, go directly to FIRST HQ. As to the kickoff: i don't think there is a big meeting like FRC. They usually send out an email with a link to the description and the animation on a certain date. The time frame for the FTC build season is much longer and relaxed, thank goodness :-)

Well I rushed the process and emailed a director from a neighboring state, and they will probably tell me to contact HQ.

I guess it's a good thing that there is no meeting, less driving and meetings. Also we have a relaxed season and not a hectic have-to-program-in-two-weeks-season.

[GaryVoshol]

FTC is not available in Michigan.

[Andrew Bates]

FTC is not available in Michigan.

I hear that may be changing...

[Alex Dinsmoor]

FTC is not available in Michigan.

What about the three Cranbrook teams?

[wilsonmw04]

There was not a FTC regional in Michigan last year. That does not mean that there cannot be teams in Michigan. You will need to know that you will have to spend more money on travel and lodging to go to a sanctioned event. I'm not really sure that FIRST can disallow a team from a certain state, nor do i think they would. Does anyone know anything to the contrary?

[fredliu168]

Actually I believe the Michigan Invitatonal held on December 1st actually counted as a valid regional where winners got a pass to Atlanta.

[Andrew Bates]

We had to travel to other regionals in order to qualify.

We went to Wisconsin and Ohio.

[Rick TYler]

I'm not really sure that FIRST can disallow a team from a certain state, nor do i think they would. Does anyone know anything to the contrary?

It depends on what you mean by "disallow." I'm sure you can start a team in any state. Some regionals discourage out-of-state participants.

Not Washington, though! Our arms are open wide to FTC teams from everywhere. Come and play next season.

[Alex Dinsmoor]

It depends on what you mean by "disallow." I'm sure you can start a team in any state. Some regionals discourage out-of-state participants.

Not Washington, though! Our arms are open wide to FTC teams from everywhere. Come and play next season.

Haha, if we can get funding it will determine where we go, probably just Ohio and Pennsylvania. Atlanta is a crazy goal for us, one that we probably won't reach.

And is there a Michigan Invitational, because if there is it would be really convenient.

[gblake]

FTC is not available in Michigan.Don't be ridiculous....;) As other folks have sort-of said (let me emphasize it) FTC is "available" everywhere on the planet.

You register your team, you buy a kit, you build, program and test a bot, you register for a competition in a location that appeals to you, you go and have fun.

At no point in the process will anyone ask if you are from Michigan and tell you that you can't participate.

Blake
PS: I remember the poorly worded message that created the false impression that "FTC is not available in Michigan." That was a very poorly worded statement.

[Rick TYler]

At no point in the process will anyone ask if you are from Michigan and tell you that you can't participate.

Unfortunately, this is not true. PM me and I'll share the name of at least one FTC event that won't let out-of-state teams compete.

[gblake]

Unfortunately, this is not true. PM me and I'll share the name of at least one FTC event that won't let out-of-state teams compete.I don't think that I need to PM you - Just name it - If the location is supposed to be a secret, it is a pretty poorly kept secret - I'm pretty sure that I know which one you have in mind; but I don't want to speculate.

And - OK - So at least one championship is truly limited to in-state teams. The remaining 30+ (I think that there were over 30) don't care as long as your registration money is green. Some did fuss a bit about out-of-state entries, but as far as I know they did not reject any. The point was that absolutely no one's specific home base excludes them from the program.

Blake

[Andrew Bates]

They were several that were limited to in state teams. This is usually because they have a lot of in state teams and want to make sure that they serve those teams first. I see no problem with this.

[KathieK]

Rhode Island's program was funded by the state and as a result was not open to out-of-state teams. In Connecticut (as well as in many other locations), we opened registration to in-state teams the first week; to out-of-state teams which had inquired about our event the second week; to all teams regardless of location the third week. This was to ensure that our in-state teams would have the opportunity to compete "locally" if they chose to do so.

As for Michigan, last year in the announcement regarding FIRST Tech Challenge (http://www.usfirst.org/community/fvc/content.aspx?id=6892)it stated "In certain states where FTC will not be available, such as Michigan, the FIRST Robotics Competition will be the program available to high schools." That may have changed now.

[GaryVoshol]

As for Michigan, last year in the announcement regarding FIRST Tech Challenge (http://www.usfirst.org/community/fvc/content.aspx?id=6892)it stated "In certain states where FTC will not be available, such as Michigan, the FIRST Robotics Competition will be the program available to high schools." That may have changed now.Thanks for finding the link, Kathie, it saved me from searching. That's the wording I remembered.

And as we all know, last year's rules don't necessarily apply in the coming year.

[Rick TYler]

I get that making sure local teams have a place is important -- I really do. It's just that I believe that all students in FIRST are my responsibility, not just the ones on my team in or in my state and I would be very disappointed to have to turn teams away from an FTC event just because they are in the wrong geography.

Having said that, I am on the Washington committee, and I don't know what we would have done had 90 teams tried to register for our FTC event this year. Probably what others have done -- give preference to local teams and accommodate whoever else would fit. I just wouldn't like it.

[Alex Dinsmoor]

This is all interesting stuff, but does anyone have a event list for me to start asking around whether they allow out of state teams to attend.

Also does anyone have a start up guide or anything like that they could share?

Thanks,
Alex

[Andrew Bates]

For an event list I would look at this years events. I expect most of them will still exist next year.

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Ok, I will search for one. What events did your team go to this year? And do you have any pictures of your robot from this year to include in my presentation for sponsorship?

[Andrew Bates]

We went to the Ohio event and the one in Wisconsion. I have posted pictures over at vexforum.com. Here are the links:
http://www.vexforum.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=1206&c=12
http://www.vexforum.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=1201&c=12
http://www.vexforum.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=1196&c=12

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Ok cool, I will use those wherever I can in the presentation.

[ManicMechanic]

Also does anyone have a start up guide or anything like that they could share?

Thanks,
Alex

These resources are for Vex so a lot will be outdated, but some info may apply to the new system:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2019
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2029

Consider yourself a pioneer!

[GaryVoshol]

Alex, you should also contact 397 (Flint SW) as they hosted the "unofficial" FTC tournament. Also Dan Maggio (FLL Partner, Detroit Mercy) worked with many Detroit PS teams.

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Alex, you should also contact 397 (Flint SW) as they hosted the "unofficial" FTC tournament. Also Dan Maggio (FLL Partner, Detroit Mercy) worked with many Detroit PS teams.

Ok I will look for contacts for those people, they should have some useful information for me.