INAUGURAL VEX ROBOTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION ANNOUNCED

[dtengineering]

Originally Posted by Nawaid Ladak

anyone else think IFI will get new rookie teams into their program while FTC loses teams?

I really hope that FTC doesn't lose any teams, but the VEX entry fees... especially the reduced fee for more than one team from a single school... are very competitive, especially considering that many schools have an existing investment in VEX.

Consider the cost of running an FTC team: $450 for a subsidized kit, plus $275 (based on this year's number) for entry fees = $725.

Now I happen to have four VEX kits, plus extra motors and components sitting in my shop. The entry fee for four VEX teams would be $150, leaving each team almost $150 to buy extra parts for this year's competition.

Interestingly, I have about 24 students signed up for my Engineering 11 class for next year... four teams of six works out pretty nicely. At one of our neighbouring schools, where they have ten VEX kits, they are considering fielding 10 VEX teams next year. Between just two schools we have half of a regional competition....

Four VEX teams + spare parts for the same price as one FTC team with no spare parts is tough to argue. Although loyalty to FIRST will encourage me to run an FTC team just to give the new system a tryout... I would be doing a disservice to my students if I passed up the VEX game.

I think VEX is going to boom. But perhaps this is just one step towards FIRST's ultimate culture-changing goal.

Jason