IFI vs FTC? Both offering competitions for next year!

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by fredliu168

How do you know the average team buys two starter kits? Did you do a survey of teams?

I haven't done a survey, but I know people who have the data. I got it by asking someone at FIRST "how many kits does the typical FIRST FTC team buy on the discount program." Having watched our club build five very competitive FVC/FTC robots, I will add that you could build a robot from the basic kit, but it is unlikely to be competitive. With the SDK at $100, I don't see how you can field a team for $350. Do they use the base code?

I figure the basic cost to be $300 for a kit, $70-100 for batteries, at least $100 for additional parts and sensors, $100 for the SDK, extra transmitter $130. That's $700-730. If my contact at FIRST is right (they were) FTC teams buy a second starter kit, which means you might not need the extra transmitter, so let's say it's $170 more (since IFI won't give you the FIRST discount) for a total of $900. The $300 competition robot simply isn't possible, if you want the robot to be something other than a BLT.

I know that we spent over $1,000 last year to field two robots, and dropped another $2,000 this year to field three and build one more as a test mule. Owning $3,000 worth of Vex parts makes it pretty certain we will participate in the IFI program along with FTC.

Of course, our club visited the Seattle Regional this week and they all have the FRC bug now. May God have mercy on our souls...