[FTC]: Unlimited raw materials. Welding. Wow!

[JesseK]

Only the wealthiest will win...

While I generally agree with this statement about the future, perhaps it will be motivation to collaborate with sponsors or other teams in order to get at least the basic machines. If your FTC team were your small business, would you adapt or roll over? If you persisted and succeeded, how much more inspirational would that be to your students?

Also, consider this: FTC 354 (one of my umbrella teams) won the 2012 Championships with 95% TETRIX parts, 2% LEGO parts, and 3% custom fabrication parts. They had a TETRIX-based lift that went up 7-ish feet before it wobbled to the side and (50% of the time) fell over. I'd estimate that the bot's BOM cost was $1200 or so after motors, sensors and electronics. For them it was all about a fundamental strategy, and it turns out that it's one they can repeat on an even cheaper budget in the future with the rule changes, a drill press, sheet metal bend/brake, and a band saw (and maybe new drill bits every so often...).