Smaller Cheaper Robots

[rufu5]

As much "kit" as Vex might be, it is still very customizable. Here shortly "Scofus" will be putting up pics of the bots we have been creating out of a single Vex kit. If you are interested in competitions for smaller and lighter robots, this year at the IRI there will be an entire Vex competition playing a completely new game designed by myself and Scott Ray. All the info is posted here:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=38627

It is the first ever open to the public Vex competition and like you said, its smaller, cheaper, and a lot more manageable.

[Not2B]

When I get home I'll have to remember to post a picture or 2 of some of my BEAM robots.

Or, better yet, check this out:
http://www.beam-online.com/

So cheap, and kinda fun.
One fun thing to do is to set up an obstacle course, and then set up several desk lamps. The only control you have is to turn the desk lamps on and off to "drive" the robot through the obstacle course.

[Kevin Sevcik]

I will take this opportunity to evangelize for BEST some more. Sadly, it's not in CA. The farthest west that BEST has gotten is NM, but still.

Smaller: 24 lbs, 2' x 2' x 2' cube.
Cheaper: Free for a team to compete... Well a $200 deposit that you get back as long as you return the controller and such. Though it does require atleast a small group of people for the team. And only one team per school.
Custom: You get four real motors (Globes), some speed controllers and servos. And a box of random metal, PVC, plywood, fasteners, etc. That's all you get to work with, too. So it's a bit of a challenge.
Timeframe: Six weeks to build, with a practice competition week 5. In the fall, even, so it's perfectly compatible with FRC.
Downside: Just a 4-channel RC car controller. However, I'm seeing what I can do to get this fixed...

So, sadly not much help for you sanddrag, but I think it's definitely an option for other FIRST teams looking for things to do or a way to warm up for the big show in january.