Budget and equipment
Work out the full cost of a season and buy what the team will use.
A is a plan for money coming in and going out. Make one before ordering a kit. The kit price alone does not cover a full .
List the full costs
Use a spreadsheet with an item, quantity, estimated cost, actual cost, delivery time, and who will pay. Choose one currency and record it clearly.
| Cost | What to include |
|---|---|
| Participation | registration, local event entry, and any regional fees. |
| Build kit, control electronics, , , battery, and a compatible charger. | |
| Driver equipment | Approved gamepads, a device, and required cables. |
| Workshop | Hand tools, safety glasses, storage, replacement , and consumable materials. |
| Practice | Game objects, practice targets, floor tiles, or shared field access. |
| Travel | Transport, meals, accommodation if needed, and shipping the robot. |
| Judging | Printing or preparing the and any event-specific submissions. |
| Delivery | Shipping, tax, import duties, and payment fees. |
| Repairs | Spare parts and an amount reserved for unexpected costs. |
A consumable is something used up while working, such as cable ties or sandpaper. Income is money received; expenses are money spent. Donated parts are useful, but they are not cash available to pay an entry fee.
Prices and registration arrangements differ by region. Ask your organizer for the current figures and get written quotes for major purchases. Check grants before buying: some funding programs require approval first or limit which items they pay for.
Choose a compatible kit
A build kit supplies structural parts, wheels, fasteners, and other mechanical pieces. A control system supplies the electronics that run the code and connect to motors and . Check what each package actually contains; a “robot kit” may not contain both.
Choose a build system your can support and your team can get spare parts for. Hole spacing, screw sizes, , and must fit together. A shaft is a rod that turns; a bearing supports it while letting it rotate. Mixing systems can require extra adapters and custom parts.
Confirm that the exact motors, electronics, batteries, gamepads, and other regulated items are allowed by the current robot rules. A vendor selling a part does not automatically make every use of it legal.
Start with basic tools
A basic kit robot usually needs suitable hex keys, screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, measuring tools, and safe storage. Hex keys, also called Allen keys, turn screws with a six-sided socket in the head. Match the tool to the screw: metric and imperial sizes are different.
Borrow before buying where practical. A working kit robot does not require a machine shop. A 3D printer can help later, but someone must learn how to operate it and make usable parts.
Keep a parts list. Inventory means a record of what you own, its quantity, and where it is stored. Label bins and separate different screw lengths. Count batteries, chargers, tools, and expensive electronics before and after an event.
Set up the room
You need sturdy work surfaces, safe electrical outlets, supervised tool access, and somewhere secure to leave the robot. Mark a clear testing area. Keep bags and loose parts off the floor.
A full field is useful but expensive and large. Share one with another team if possible. For early testing, a small area with the correct surface and a realistic target may be enough. Measure what you build; a rough target can teach basic handling but cannot prove a precise scoring will work on the real field.
Give one adult responsibility for purchases and receipts. Agree how students request parts and who approves spending. Ask for support using the specific gaps in this budget; the outreach and funding lesson includes a simple request format.