Need help starting a FTC team

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

you are starting during an interesting time. FIRST is making some major changes with FTC. You will need ~$1500 to start up. $900 for the new kit, ~$250 for registration and the rest for incidentals . As for tools: the only thing you will need are hands tools, from what I've been told. With the old kit my kids got a lot of use from a Dremel set i can't see that changing.
You may want to talk to your regional FTC director and apply for the $250 grant for the new kit.

Can anyone with experience with the new kit give some more information?

This is a really good estimate, just what I needed. How should I contact my regional director, is there a listing of them somewhere?

Yeah the FRC is going through many changes also, and I may be using a different programming language next year ! I'm still glad that the kit includes (mostly) everything, I don't have to go out and search for the parts.

Also is there like a kickoff meeting like there is for FRC?

EDIT: Of course there is no regional director for my state...

[wilsonmw04]

If there isn't one in your state, go directly to FIRST HQ. As to the kickoff: i don't think there is a big meeting like FRC. They usually send out an email with a link to the description and the animation on a certain date. The time frame for the FTC build season is much longer and relaxed, thank goodness :-)

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

If there isn't one in your state, go directly to FIRST HQ. As to the kickoff: i don't think there is a big meeting like FRC. They usually send out an email with a link to the description and the animation on a certain date. The time frame for the FTC build season is much longer and relaxed, thank goodness :-)

Well I rushed the process and emailed a director from a neighboring state, and they will probably tell me to contact HQ.

I guess it's a good thing that there is no meeting, less driving and meetings. Also we have a relaxed season and not a hectic have-to-program-in-two-weeks-season.

[GaryVoshol]

FTC is not available in Michigan.

[Andrew Bates]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

FTC is not available in Michigan.

I hear that may be changing...

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

FTC is not available in Michigan.

What about the three Cranbrook teams?

[wilsonmw04]

There was not a FTC regional in Michigan last year. That does not mean that there cannot be teams in Michigan. You will need to know that you will have to spend more money on travel and lodging to go to a sanctioned event. I'm not really sure that FIRST can disallow a team from a certain state, nor do i think they would. Does anyone know anything to the contrary?

[fredliu168]

Actually I believe the Michigan Invitatonal held on December 1st actually counted as a valid regional where winners got a pass to Atlanta.

[Andrew Bates]

We had to travel to other regionals in order to qualify.

We went to Wisconsin and Ohio.

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

I'm not really sure that FIRST can disallow a team from a certain state, nor do i think they would. Does anyone know anything to the contrary?

It depends on what you mean by "disallow." I'm sure you can start a team in any state. Some regionals discourage out-of-state participants.

Not Washington, though! Our arms are open wide to FTC teams from everywhere. Come and play next season.

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Originally Posted by Rick TYler

It depends on what you mean by "disallow." I'm sure you can start a team in any state. Some regionals discourage out-of-state participants.

Not Washington, though! Our arms are open wide to FTC teams from everywhere. Come and play next season.

Haha, if we can get funding it will determine where we go, probably just Ohio and Pennsylvania. Atlanta is a crazy goal for us, one that we probably won't reach.

And is there a Michigan Invitational, because if there is it would be really convenient.

[gblake]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

FTC is not available in Michigan.

Don't be ridiculous.... As other folks have sort-of said (let me emphasize it) FTC is "available" everywhere on the planet.

You register your team, you buy a kit, you build, program and test a bot, you register for a competition in a location that appeals to you, you go and have fun.

At no point in the process will anyone ask if you are from Michigan and tell you that you can't participate.

Blake
PS: I remember the poorly worded message that created the false impression that "FTC is not available in Michigan." That was a very poorly worded statement.

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by gblake

At no point in the process will anyone ask if you are from Michigan and tell you that you can't participate.

Unfortunately, this is not true. PM me and I'll share the name of at least one FTC event that won't let out-of-state teams compete.

[gblake]

Originally Posted by Rick TYler

Unfortunately, this is not true. PM me and I'll share the name of at least one FTC event that won't let out-of-state teams compete.

I don't think that I need to PM you - Just name it - If the location is supposed to be a secret, it is a pretty poorly kept secret - I'm pretty sure that I know which one you have in mind; but I don't want to speculate.

And - OK - So at least one championship is truly limited to in-state teams. The remaining 30+ (I think that there were over 30) don't care as long as your registration money is green. Some did fuss a bit about out-of-state entries, but as far as I know they did not reject any. The point was that absolutely no one's specific home base excludes them from the program.

Blake

[Andrew Bates]

They were several that were limited to in state teams. This is usually because they have a lot of in state teams and want to make sure that they serve those teams first. I see no problem with this.