Quote:
Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery
As just mentioned, this is a perfectly reasonable question for Chief Delphi. By asking a question on Chief Delphi, you are not forcing teams to answer it. During more than one Chairman's interview, I have been asked about how sponsors contribute to a team, and I've seen more than one technical award given for creative and innovative ways to solve problems with low-budget parts. These are valid concerns in the world of FIRST. Teams that are intrigued have every right to ask, and teams that are willing to share have every right to share.
As for my team(s), I'm not quite sure about 1712, but we try to produce very low-cost robots. 116 has a larger budget, but I will allow current members to share it if they wish.
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Sean's on the money about 1712's robot expenses. We do our best to find the simplest, low cost solution we can. Last year our machine was a row one hanger only and we could park one robot - total BOM cost above the KOP was $1,695.71. We spent in the neighborhood of $700 more on prototypes and spares, bringing our 2007 robot cost total to around $2,200. If you factor in what we spent on tools and field components in 07, add another $700-$800, briniging the total FRC 1712 2007 expenses for "robot creation and game play" to $3,000 at the most.
It'll be awhile before I can fully figure out what we spent in 08, but it is significantly more. Mainly because we decided to hurdle a 40-inch ball (it takes a few iterations to get a roller claw this size "right") and because our fundraising and sponsorship numbers are far better than last year. Our 08 BOM will be done in a few days, so I will share that then, but our additional prototyping/spares costs are likely double of what they were last year and our tools/field component total is more like $1,200 this year. So, including field component and tools, My early 2008 estimate is about $4,800-$5,000.
As for the other questions:
1. We have one sponsor that provides some limited machine shop work
2. In 2008 our "sponsors" donated anywhere from safety glasses, to club t-shirts, to a few hundred dollars, with one sponsor at $1000 and two sponsors somewhat higher than that.
3. Team members typically pitch in for thier own food during build and events and pay about 50% of their travel expenses.
While money is certainly a factor, the more I do this the more I understand that people and time are far bigger constraints than anything. If my team budget were to take a huge hit for any reason and the school district were to say to me "you need to make it work with the kit" then that's what we'd do.