ADMINISTRATORSGUIDETO
FIRSTROBOTICSPROGRAMEXPENSES
FIRST has 4 programs under the umbrella all focused on inspiring
morestudentstopursuecareersinscience,technology,engineering,
andmathematics.AlloftheprogramsusearobotcompetitionexcepttheyoungestgroupwhichisforK-3
anditismoreofamake-it/engineeringexpo.
Junior FIRST LEGO league (JrFLL) forstudentskindergartenthroughthirdgradeisaresearch/design
challengeandintroductiontotheengineeringprocess.Kidsgoonaresearchjourney,createaposterand
LEGOmodelPresentatExpotoreviewersandthenallteamsreceiverecognition.Exposcanbeorganized
atthelocallevelandaregionalexpowillbeheldinMarch.
Costsare:($50-$300perseason)
• $25JrFLLprogramfees(annualdues)
• $25Exporegistrationfees
• TeamscanuseanyLEGO,musthaveonemovingpartwitha
motor.FIRSTdoesofferalargekitofpartsforabout$150
Registration:Nevercloses
RegisterHere:
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/jr.fll/registration
Competitions/tournaments:Expoisheldinthespring(RGVLocal)
FIRSTLegoleague(FLL)hasanewgamethemeeachyear,whichalsoincludesastudentchosenproject
in which they research and purpose a solution that fits their community’s needs. The challenge is
revealedinearlySeptembereachyearandthecompetitionseasonisfromNovember–March.Teamsize
islimitedto10students.
Costsare:($1,500-$3,000firstseason,then$1,000-$2,500per
seasontosustainprogram)
• $225FLLprogramfees(annualdues)
• $300 -$420 Lego Mindstorms robot kit (re-usable each
year)
• $65gamefieldset-upkit(neweachyear)
• $70-$90tournamentregistrationfees
• $500 - $1,000 for team apparel, meals, presentation
materials,promotionalitemsforteamspirit,etc.
• Othercostsincludetraveliftheeventisoutoftown;these
aresingledayevents.Upto$2,000pereventpendingon
whereteamplaysincludingWorldChampionship.
Registration:closesmid-September
RegisterHere:http://gofll.ufirst.org/
Competitions/tournaments: Qualifiers start in late fall and lead up to a regional championship in the
spring.
FirstTechChallenge(FTC)hasanewgameeachyearandrobotsarethesizeofalaserprinterandthe
game is played in a 2 verses 2 tournament. At the tournament, teams will be randomly paired in the
qualification rounds and then the top four will select alliance partners to compete in the elimination
FORINSPIRATIONANDRECOGNITIONOFSCIENCEANDTECHNOLOGY
bracket.Teamsalsogiveapresentationtopanelsofjudgesandearnawardsfortheirrobotdesign,CAD
modeling,businessplans,communityout-reach,etc.TheseasonmirrorstheFLLseasonandteamsizeis
limitedto10studentsaswell.FTCismiddleschoolandhighschoolageyouthbutpredominatelyHS.
Costsare:($2,500-$10,000perseason)
• $275FTCprogramfees(annualdues)
• $750-$2,000Tetrixrobotkit(re-usableeachyear)
plus teams will purchase additional parts plus
fabricate using a select amount of raw materials
fromanapprovedlist.Teamswillalsobuildportions
ofthegamefield.
• $100-$300tournamentregistrationfees
• $500-$1,000forteamapparel,meals,presentation
materials,promotionalitemsforteamspirit,etc.
• Othercostsincludetraveliftheeventisoutoftown
plus room and board for 1-2 days; these are typically single day events. Up to $6,000 per event
pendingonwhereteamplaysincludingWorldChampionship.
Registration:ClosesinEarlyNovember
Registerhere:http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc/registration
Competitions/tournaments: Qualifiers start in late fall and lead up to a Regional Championship, then a
SuperRegionalChampionship,thenontoaWorldChampionshipinthespring.
FIRSTRoboticsCompetition(FRC)hasanewgameeachyearandrobotsare5feettallandweighless
than 120 pounds. The game is played in a 3 verses 3 fashion. Same as FTC, random pairing during
elimination rounds and then top eight select alliance partners for the elimination rounds. Teams are
interviewed and give presentations for awards similar to FTC. Team size is not limited as award
categoriesalsoinclude3Danimation,website,plusthefactthattherobotsarebiggerandmorecomplex.
Costsare:($6,500–$25,000perseason)
• $6,500 Rookie team registration includes 1st event registration plus a basic kit of parts. Veteran
teams pay $5,000 for 1st event. Teams can choose to raise additional money and register for
multipleeventsduringoneseasonat$5,000perevent.
• $1,000-$3,000andupforadditionalrawmaterialsandpartstocompletetherobotbuildasthe
kitisnotafullrobotkit,butratherasetofusefulcomponents.Teamswillalsobuildplayingfield
componentstopracticewith.
• $1,000-$2,000andupfortoolsandequipment.Someteamswillhaveschoolsthatwillallowuse
ofdistrictshoptoolsandequipment;otherteamswillhavetopurchasetheirown.
• $500-$2,000forteamapparel,meals,presentationmaterials,promotionalitemsforteamspirit,
etc.
• Othercostsincludetraveliftheeventisoutoftownplusroomandboardfor3daysastheseare
not single day events. Up to $15,000 per event pending on where team plays including World
Championship.
Registration:ClosesinEarlyDecember
RegisterHere:http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/registration
Competitions/tournaments:RegionalChampionshipandWorldChampionshipinthespring.
Mostteamswillhavemultiplesponsorsandwilldisplaysponsorlogosontheiruniforms,robotsandpit
areasduringcompetitions.
FORINSPIRATIONANDRECOGNITIONOFSCIENCEANDTECHNOLOGY