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Budgets...
Don't become despondent when you see the kinds of budgets that some of the teams are working with. While it would be interesting to have a $40K budget, you can build a competitve robot on a $10K budget. $10K will get you to your regional. The budget for additional venues adds up fast. First year, one regional is probably enough (besides, you probably can't get into a second one now that is within 800 miles...)
First year out, the St. Louis Regional will be a real eye opener for what assorted teams can do with FIRST. You will see some of the farm kids show up with steel robots that were welded together from junk yard parts. You will also see some of the professional teams show up with chartered buses, CNC machined, 100 member teams. In the end, it is a blast!
Many of the responses had wisdom beyond my knowledge. Set your goals in a progressive manner. First goal should be a simple base that can manuever. Don't fall into the trap of trying to do everything, and then finding yourself having to build this magnificent design in the last 10 days.
Also- I believe St.Louis has a kickoff meeting (I think some of our folks are going there) where you will be able to meet a lot of people. You should also be able to take your kit of parts home with you. Make sure you have someone tape the kickoff program so it can be shared with people who can't view it live. It will probably be on the NASA channel (we taped it off our DISH-TV system last year).
Last edited by Norm M. : 13-12-2002 at 23:33.
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