New FRC Team
 

I am working on creating a FRC team at my school. We want to buy basic parts this year, learn how it all works and them compete next year. The team is expereince with FLL but we have never done FRC. What parts would we need to buy to get are program started? We currently do not have a budget, but we want to keep it fairly inexpensive. Any help one what we need to buy is much appreciated.

Regards,
Chris

Re: New FRC Team
 

I'm not sure if this is possible or not, but you might want to see about getting a kit of parts when the next build season rolls around. What you find in there is basically all you'd theoretically need to build a full scale bot.

Anyone wanna check me on whether or not you can get a KOP without competeing?

Re: New FRC Team
 

First off welcome.

FRC works a little differently then FLL because the parts used every year change. Everyone gets a kit of parts in January which they used to build the robot. I would say your two best options are
1) if you can get enough money for registration/ to compete you should do it this year. FIRST is very friendly to rookie teams and you will find out that even as a rookie team you can still succeed.

2) i would look for an existing team in your area that you could get friendly with. Most teams that are established already have many extra parts and working robots that they may let you borrow

either way you go i would look for another team in your area, go and have a meeting with them because you can learn more about FIRST from people who have done it before then you can just trying to figure it out for your self. FIRST is a big community, always willing to help each other. if you have any more questions please feel free to ask in these forums.

once again welcome.

Re: New FRC Team
 

We were a rookie team last year, and we got the EduBot (or whatever they call it now) kit in the preseason and used it to practice. In terms of programming, the mini controller is very similar to the full controller, so that might be a good way to do it. The other thing I would do is just try to compete at this year's competition. Send letters ot companies and ask about sponsorships. Even if you can't make $6000, you'll have a good start for next year. Rookie season is going to be hard, there's no way around that. We went into it cold last year, and it was very rewarding. Definately do everything you can to start a team, though. I have never been part of anything as rewarding as FIRST. I have met so many people and learned so much, and you will definately benefit from having a team. Just my $0.02, hopefully that helps you a little.

Re: New FRC Team
 

So January is the start of a new season. What do I need to do before then as far as registering and getting the parts. Thanks for all of your help.

-chris

Re: New FRC Team
 

Hi Chris,

Ok, to get going you're going to want to access TIMS, the Team Information Management System. This will get you in as a registered team. Past there what you'll want to do is solicit community support. Any big businesses in the area? Talk to them to see if they're willing to front the money to support your team. You may find the creation of sponsorship levels (pg 1, pg 2) helpful in encouraging sponsorship at higher levels. Explain to them what the program is, what benefits they will recieve from sponsorship and talk about other sponsors of FIRST, see and explorethis link. Also, you'll want to be sure to keep a close eye on deadlines. Past that, feel free to email me with any questions that you may have, I went through this last year and we also started relatively late in the season.

~Beth

Re: New FRC Team
 

This might be helpful in that regard:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/pa...le&paperid=543

Hope you can make it to the metaphorical dance this year!

Re: New FRC Team
 

Just to press the point, if you're intent on starting a team for the 2006 season, you need to find several thousand dollars right now. The $6000 (USD) for the initial regional event (and kit of parts) is due on December 9^th, and you must be registered on TIMS by December 2^nd. (Note that you also have the option of paying via an authorized promissory note payable to FIRST, in the name of your corporate sponsor. The document is still due on the same date, however, with the funds to follow some time thereafter.)

You must work very quickly indeed to secure at least that much funding, to even participate. After that, you'll need a few thousand more dollars in order to cover robot expenses, travel expenses and other miscellaneous costs. I think that with a regional in Richmond, (the VCU Regional, which should have some spaces reserved for rookie teams) you should at least be able to economize with regard to travel.

Re: New FRC Team
 

Your $6000 registration fee includes the kit of parts, which you receive at kickoff, and entry into one regional. On top of the kit which you receive, you will probably need to purchase tools (drills, hacksaws, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.) and find some place to work. Having access to a machine shop is best, but many teams get by with just a drill press and a band saw. Depending on what you want to build, you may also need to purchase metal, fasteners, chains and sprockets, gears, etc.

If students are responsible for arranging their own travel, you can build a robot for as little as $1000 above the registration fee (back in 2002, when registration was $5000, my team had a $6000 budget).

Re: New FRC Team
 

Thank you for that file. And thanks to everyone else for your help.

Re: New FRC Team
 

I'm sorry if I'm a little out of date, but back when we started NASA gave rookie (and I think second year) teams a decent sum of money. Is that still the case, or has FIRST gotten too big/expensive?

Re: New FRC Team
 

Well, the case now is that you have to apply for them and unfortunately it is past the application due date.

Re: New FRC Team
 

The due date was November 8. I missed the date for that by a few days.

Re: New FRC Team
 

Chris,

We all seem to agree that it's getting very late in the pre-season to start getting a team (and funding) together. As an alternative, FIRST has introduced a new competition called VEX, which we consider to be a mini-FIRST robot competition. The VEX kit is sold throught Radio Shack, costs about $400 bucks (including some additional, much needed accessories) and can be assembled using hand tools and the supplied hardware. We were able to have a robot assembled in running within 2 hours of openning the box.

The local competition for you is in Newark DE, and is being hosted January 21st. I believe this is a great way to get introduced to FIRST, without having to shell out the thousands of dollars and hours of build time. This kit, and the competition, will surely get you and your school admins hooked, and next year you will have an easier time raising money.

Here are some links for the VEX competition, the VEX kit, and our white paper on the advantages of using VEX.

FIRST VEX Competition

VEX Kit from Radio Shack

VEX White Paper

Best of luck, feel free to ask more questions!

Bengineer
Team 228

Re: New FRC Team
 

As i work out sponsors and other deals. What can the rest of the be doing as preparation. I am teaching 1 of them to program but am unsure as what the rest of the team should be doing right now.

Re: New FRC Team
 

Team building is a good thing to do in the pre season so the team can learn behaviors to do things together.

Re: New FRC Team
 

Analyzing last year's rules would be helpful. Many of the rules in the robot section and many of the safety rules will stay the same (most likely). Not to mention it gives your team practice in creating designs in about two weeks.

Have the rest of the team find potential sponsors.

Go to any local workshops for FRC (or FVC) teams. Lots of ideas, useful stuff, and potential mentor teams.

Find a mentor team.

Do fundraisers.

[plug]Get the rest of the team signed up here! :D [/plug]

Re: New FRC Team
 

I have one quick question. What do i need to do as a rookie team to recieve the EDU Bot so that we can begin practing?

-chris

Re: New FRC Team
 

No EDU bot this year. It's been replaced by VEX available at your local Radio Shack or online.

Re: New FRC Team
 

Will we recieve that, or is that something else that i now have to raise money for?

Re: New FRC Team
 

You have to raise the funds for that. It's not included in the basic price of admission.

Re: New FRC Team
 

OK. Thank you for the information. If this an appropiete budget.

6000 for registration
500 for extra parts,soldering ironm, etc
500 for vex parts

Re: New FRC Team
 

I don't think so.

For the FRC, it's more like:

• $6000 for registration
• $1500 for tools and materials for the robot
• $500 for shipping, transportation and travel (local event, 54 miles away)
• $? for miscellaneous, optional costs, like uniforms, etc.

For the FVC, you have:

• $200 for registration
• $500 for the cost of the VEX kit and a few spare parts
• $? for the cost of travel to the nearest (147 miles away) event, in Newark, DE
• $? for miscellaneous, optional costs, like uniforms, etc.

Basically, it's either FRC (the main competition) or FVC (the smaller-scale one), but not a combination, as you've described.

Re: New FRC Team
 

Just so it doesn't take you completely by surprise, FRC does require you to get a crate built to ship the robot to the competitions (even for the locals--Palmetto is about 15 minutes from 1293's home base.)

And don't get scared off by uniforms--most teams stick to T-shirts (our team members buy them) and jeans. Although if you've got spare cash and want to get fancier (even for one person as a team mascot), go for it.

Re: New FRC Team
 

I'm assuming you mean to use the VEX kit as a learning platform for FRC.
Several teams get by on $1,000 in construction/tool costs, and you can certainly economize by soliciting for in-kind materials from local businesses.

There are a few additional costs to be considered if you're pitching this to a school board to give them a more complete picture (and let them know you're on your toes). You should separate what costs might be covered by the district from others that can be borne by the team families with expenses defrayed by fund raising/sponsors.
For instance, including the costs you already listed:

• Entry fee $6,000 (school cost or grant/sponsor)
• Robot construction cost $1,000 (team or school cost)
• One or more teacher/adviser stipends if it's a school club/team. (school cost)
• Robot crate construction (team cost)
• Transportation cost to Regional (Richmond if FRC) if the district requires a bus. Some allow parents to drive, others require an approved bus w/chaperone's. (team cost)
• Other travel expenses - food at least (team cost)
• Team T-shirts and spirit stuff (team cost)

I'd also include mention of the opportunities for Rookie grants (e.g., NASA) to defray the expected costs.

Re: New FRC Team
 

I've seen teams use standard wooden shipping skids, with cheap plywood or heavy cardboard nailed or stapled to the sides and top. It isn't pretty, but for a local event, it may be all you need to ship the robot. Do yourself a favour, however, and secure everything very well; nobody appreciates loose items, and if your robot bounces around, you may be disappointed with the results.

Re: New FRC Team
 

Last year was our rookie year. We only had 16 members, 7~10 were fully dedicated and the rest would occasionally show up and help out. We also had very little money, we got the NASA grant ($6000) that paid for our entry fee and our school gave us $6000, so our total budget was somewhere around $12,000. Here are some lessons we learned last year and what we did to save money:

1) Keep very good care of your kit parts. Last year in the wee morning hours of ship day our robot got rained on (long story that'll be posted on our web site soon) we lost a speed controller($115) and almost lost our Robot Controller($450) and Breaker Board($85). Take extra special care of very expensive/important parts.

2) Try to create a partnership with a local machine shop to do any machining you need. We are fortunate enough to have a mentor that has his own machine shop so all we pay for is materials. Trust me it pays off, esspecially for those last minute things you need.

3) Try to have members pay for part of or all of their travel. Also try to find a FRC team near by to travel with. Last year we traveled to the Las Vegas regional with team 1266. When finding a hotel try to find the cheapest hotel possible and don't stay saturday night, leave right after the regional. Also try to make travel arangments as early as possible.

Re: New FRC Team
 

If you can get $7000 together in the next month, you're sitting pretty! Don't go out and get VEX until you've exceeded $7000-$8000. I STRONGLY suggest you notify frcteams@usfirst.org and ask to be put in contact with the regional director in your area to notify them of your situation - if you're really serious. They can then put you in contact with possible resources in your area and also many regional competitions have spots set aside just for rookie teams, so that it may seem like a competition is full on TIMS, but perhaps they may still have some reserved spots available. Also, there have been teams that have paid their registration fee after the deadline and still gone on to compete (no guarantees, though!). In these situations, the KOP is mailed out and may be received after the kickoff - which is still manageable.

I helped out on a new team last year, who paid a week late, and received the Kit of Parts a week late, and then had finals week, so in effect they only had about 4 weeks to get their robot built, but they still did it and competed well and won the Rookie Inspiration Award.

Re: New FRC Team
 

Well, if your regional is less than an hour away, you don't have to worry about this part.

As for the budget: $6000 is registration only. However, that will get you a good, solid drive base. So, all you need is a manipulator device. You could do that for a couple hundred dollars if you are really economical. (I saw one team whose arm support was a small stepladder--that's really economical.)

So, you could almost get by with 6K, but you will need more than that for tools. A basic tool set: Socket set, Allen set (both English and metric), at least one and probably two cordless drills and appropriate bits, at least one and preferably two hacksaws, screwdrivers and at least one file. And throw in all the crimpers and pliers and at least one pair of vise grips, and maybe a tap and die set. Probably another five hundred. Add the materials cost to the tools cost and the registration, and you're talking about $7,000 for a decent robot that can do something. Less if you can borrow tools from family, friends, and/or school.

Uniforms: could be just a certain shirt that the entire team has or can buy commercially. You don't have to spend a whole lot.

Vex: At this point, probably a better option, but if you do FRC, wait until after the season.

So, it is possible to have a team for about $7,000 a year. But, then you need a crate. Don't get too fancy. Build to about the maximum size and specs and include tie downs of some sort. Make it solid, so it will last several years. Maybe another couple hundred this year, but you save that next year.

FRC suggests a cart. Furniture dollies work just fine.

Approximate total for a decent robot, crate, and cart: $8,000. Some of this will carry over into future years and reduce costs then, and you can start building a base for next year now.

Re: New FRC Team
 

I am hopeing to get by with a 7000 dollar budget but it all comes done to how much we can possible get. Thank you for the input on VEX. I think if we get the money we will use that as more practice in the off season if we have the money. Thanks again for all of your continued help.

Re: New FRC Team
 

We are trying to get together a list pf materials and tools that we will need come competition time. Can anyone help me out.

Re: New FRC Team
 

See the tool list in my last post in this thread for tools. Any tool used to build the robot other than a welder should come. Also, you will need a cart. A furniture dolly will work easily, or you can make your own. You should have this before kickoff so you can move the kit easily. You will also need spare parts and a battery charger or two or three. A board with your matches should complete the set, along with a chair for whoever is on pit duty and a bunch of buttons (optional--for trading). Oh, and a place to put everything would also be handy. ;)

Re: New FRC Team
 

We have almost reached are goal of 7000 dollars. I have a few last questions. Can anyone give me input on what we need to add to our website. I am still working on it but any ideas are much aprecciated. Link Also, what is involved in teh registration process and do we need a down payment, etc.?

Re: New FRC Team
 

A link to the TIMS (Team Information Management System) is located here:
http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/res_art2.htm Your team leader will need to register your team and provide information about the team there. All information that is known about the team (name, sponsors, school, etc.) should be input before Friday - on Friday Dec 2 the information goes to the printers for producing the programs which appear at each regional event. information can be changed in TIMS after that date, but changes will not be reflected in the programs.

A link to registration payment information is located here:
http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/2006/paymentterms.htm "Payment of $6000.00 for 1st Event Registered must be received by FIRST Finance before December 9, 2005." Note the link to the page which explains the changes in payment terms for this year.

You should also be aware of the timeline for the season, as indicated in the Calendar of Deadlines here: http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/2006/frc_time.htm

There will be a local kickoff event in Richmond, VA on January 7. This is the event where the new game is announced to all the teams, the kit of parts for the robot is distributed and teams get a chance to see pieces of the playing field . You will need to register online to attend a kickoff event. Also on that web page it indicates there is a workshop being held this weekend in VA that you may be interested in attending, if not full already.

Registration ends on Friday Dec. 2, 2005. As suggested earlier, if you have not already done so, I would suggest contacting FIRST to receive more information since the deadlines are coming up quickly.

Good luck to your team!

Re: New FRC Team
 

Your main contact (an adult) needs to immediately register on the TIMS as Kathie said.
I will also pm you with the contact information for your Regional Director re: getting into the VCU regional which is overbooked right now. Your main contact needs to contact her immediately.
The very last day to register for anything is this Friday, Dec. 2.

Re: New FRC Team
 

I'd also recommend trying to find a mentoring team who can help you with getting through your rookie season. You can ask the Regional Director about that.

Once you are registered in TIMS the main contact will begin receiving the FIRST E-mail Blasts, which they can then forward to the rest of the team if desired. The E-mail Blasts Archive can be found in the Chief Delphi General Forums at http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=113

Re: New FRC Team
 

Thank you all, and thanks for the email adresses about people to contact. What happens if we regsiter but are unable to pay the money come December 9th? Is there a fee or a down payment?

Re: New FRC Team
 

There are no deposits or down payments. FIRST has outlined acceptable forms of payment here. My suggestion is to write down all the questions you have about getting registered, how to make payment, how to contact your local Regional Director, etc. and contact FIRST today.

Re: New FRC Team
 

I am working on a list and will email the contact. Again, Thanks to everyone.

Re: New FRC Team
 

Just poking my head in to say this is a great thread with alot of good info. Good luck getting the finances and I hope you can make it in time for this years game!

Dream List of Basic Tools
 

Our Voc. Ed. Director just agreed to purchase sets of tools for all our schools with FIRST teams. Attached is a list of what we bought. The requirement was that the tools come from Home Depot (HD), and while I am not plugging them (you can find the same or similar tools elsewhere) I have put the HD price and SKU number in so that you can look up the items on the HD web site to see what they are. This is a dream set of basic tools which can do everything short of welding and precision machine work (HD doesn't sell digital micrometers, metal lathes, or mills, or I would have gotten one of each).

The door slabs and saw horses are to set up temporary work benches. The electric miter saw with a fine-tooth carbide-tipped blade will cleanly cut aluminum extrusions (that's what to 10 in. 80 tooth blade is for). We ordered a roll-around tool box which can lock for security.

I'm sure other tools would be handy, but this is about everything we ended up using on last year's robot, plus a lot more. I would be interested to see what others add as essential tools.


"There are no difficult jobs left, just a shortage of proper tools!"

Re: Dream List of Basic Tools
 

This list is great. Please consider putting this in the white papers.

Re: New FRC Team
 

That list is quite extensive. We are still looking at what we will be doing this season. Are first priority is just getotng teh $6000 to register. After that we will look at tools, if we have the money that looks like a very nice list of tools to purchase, but probably not all o fthose tools in our first year.

Re: New FRC Team
 

Good luck, Chris - hope you are able to achieve your goal. Don't forget to check out the various awards that a team can apply for, and the scholarships your future teammates can earn, too.

Robyn
NEMO for Team 768

Re: New FRC Team
 

Wow! 3k is a lot for a new team to spend on tools! My team probably spent between 1 and 1.5k last year on tools and we did fine!

Re: New FRC Team
 

We have gotten 1 donation and more comming in shortly. Thanks to all of you for your help and support.

Re: New FRC Team
 

We have just recieved another donation, again thank you all for all of your help.

Re: New FRC Team
 

Is your team registered?

Re: New FRC Team
 

Yes we have registered.

Re: New FRC Team
 

What is your number?

Re: New FRC Team
 

We do not have a team number because we have not selected what regional we are going to, and are waiting to get money before we do. Also, we are looking at possible joining up with another team who has dont FRC before but will not be competing this year because they dont have money. Here is a link to there site.

Re: New FRC Team
 

It is VERY important that your main contact immediately contact the people I sent you by private message last week if you want to have a team this year. Registration is closed, the Virginia Regional and the Maryland Regional are full. They are over-full with long waiting lists. Team 1132 is registered for Virginia. If they are having financial struggles, they need to contact FIRST.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but I do not want you to get your hopes up. There are deadlines in FIRST.
Good luck.

Re: New FRC Team
 

I have been in conact with both of them and we talk multiple times in a day. We plan on join and become part of there team, in which case they already have a slot at the Virginia regional. With the money that our teams together have we will be able to pull this off.