FRC "Survival Scenario" Exercise

[Kevin Leonard]

NOTE: This is my personal list, and most definitely does not represent all or even most of the members of Team 20.

1) Initial registration fee (1 regional OR 2 districts)
2) Registration Fee for additional regional OR district championship
3) A mentor of your choice with electrical engineering expertise
4) A mentor of your choice with programming expertise
5) Two Laptops with OS + Internet access
6) A mentor of your choice with expertise in all non-engineering matters
7) A mentor of your choice with mechanical engineering expertise
8) Travel expenses (hotel, transportation, food) for two competition events
9) $500 Visa Debit Card
10) Basic hand tools + Measurement tools + Electrical tools (nothing powered)
11) Basic power tools (Cordless drill + bit set, Dremel, etc.)
12) $500 voucher for AndyMark
13) An active teacher and supportive school of your choice (1)
14) Team Uniforms (sufficient quantity for all team members)
15) A mentor of your choice with FRC strategic design expertise
16) Full Size Practice Area (Space, Carpet, Driver Stations - No Game Elements)
17) $500 worth of raw material (aluminum, steel, polycarb)
18) Drill press & bit set + Band saw
19) Belt sander + grinder + arbor press
20) A mentor of your choice with CAD/Inventor expertise
21) $500 voucher for VEX/VEX Pro
22) Team Meeting Area (2)
23) Lathe & tooling
24) Mill & tooling
25) Six additional batteries and chargers
26) Team Button Give Aways (sufficient quantity for all events)
27) $500 voucher for McMaster-Carr
28) Pit Set Up of your choice + Robot Cart
29) Laser OR water jet cutter
30) Sheet metal bending capabilities
31) 3 Axis CNC & tooling
32) $500 voucher for Lowe’s or Home Depot
33) Unique Team Give Away (sufficient quantity for all events)
34) Welding capabilities

My basic goal was to be a competitive, basic level FRC team. The kind that could get into eliminations at any FRC regional or district event. I also based the list off of myself (i.e. Programming and Electrical mentors are high up on the list because those are my blind spots.)
I think that any team can build a competitive robot with some intelligence and my top 11 items. (You can substitute those mentors with mentors that suit your blind spots.) I have a non-engineering mentor in there not as much for award submissions, spirit, imagery, etc., but more for the financial, non-engineering mentorship aspects to be taken care of. After that it becomes things I'd like to have in order of preference.

The most interesting part was discovering what I found to be the least important. The bottom four are guaranteed to not be in my list of items this team could have.
31) 3 Axis CNC & tooling- Do you really need CNC to succeed?
32) $500 voucher for Lowe’s or Home Depot- I already have raw materials and vouchers for andymark/vexpro/McMaster, do I need Home Depot items?
33) Unique Team Give Away (sufficient quantity for all events)- I already have team buttons, these are unnecessary.
34) Welding capabilities- This was the most interesting part to me, because my team welds their robots, but if I have the ability to work with sheet metal, I don't need this. And even without either, I can have a pretty good drivetrain with just the KOP drivetrain.

I think I might bring this to our team's attention and see what comes of it.