Participating in robotics may be costly but there are numerous ways to raise funds if you think creatively and put effort into it. For instance, our team sought support from local businesses. Instead of merely calling or emailing we went to each business personally. When approaching businesses, we didn’t make things up to say that might be convincing. We were genuine and explained our goals, mission, and what the competition really meant to us. Many said no, but just as many were willing to contribute. You can’t get discouraged.
Although the process to begin robotics may seem overwhelming, with the costs, the time limit for the build, and lack of experience, you should keep going at it. We felt this was as well but when we focused on finishing the robot rather than winning it made it easier to proceed without pressure. – Cindy