[JesseK]

This year we had 3 FTC teams, for a total of 30 students. We went to three competitions were very competitive in 3 of them (semi finals or finals), and won awards in 3 of them. I believe the parts & registration costs were around a grand total of $5k.

When I finished the BoM for our FRC bot, we were joking about how a single robot that 40 students experienced cost less than half of what the FTC teams cost. I'm pretty sure that the lower cost comes from the fact that we're able to machine down the raw materials ourselves and all of the metal stock doesn't come pre-machined with intricate hole patterns.

Plus solid aluminum gears cost a bundle regardless of what platform you're on. It's a shame they won't go to steel or do less machining in order to save on costs. Also, you have to keep in mind that the FTC motors already come with a gearbox attached, which costs another $50 minimum in FRC...which may explain their cost vs. CIMs.