[KenWittlief]

if you are going to design an internal naviagtion system based on a PIC processor, and do it in the off seaon, then there is one hitch - everything on your bot has to be either built (fabricated) after the kickoff for the new season, or it has to be something that is available to all teams

so if you are going to come up with a custom circuit board over the summer, you cannot us it on your bot next year

unless.....

you have a PCB made up, have several dozen produced, and offer them for sale to other teams for a reasonable price

-you get to use your off season work on the bot
-you have helped out other teams as well
-you will have oficially started your own electronics engineering design business while you are still in highschool

getting printed circuit boards made is not hard, and its not that expensive either.