Last updated: 3/7/2026
ADC Pro: What to Buy, Where to Buy it, and How to Budget
When planning your team’s budget, consider the difference between what you need and what's nice to have. Below are some suggestions to help guide your decisions—we encourage you to work within your available resources. Need advice? Ask your Regional Support Manager, and feel free to use this Budgeting Spreadsheet Tool. Make a copy and enter your own numbers—we're here to help you and find solutions that fit within your budget.
What do teams NEED to compete in the ADC Pro Competition?
- Competition Vehicles
- ADC Pro Season Registration
- Computer for Programming
- Event Registrations (Tournament fees)
- Travel Costs to Attend Events
Competition Vehicles
| Competition Vehicles | Match Type | Approximate Cost* | Supplier |
| MINDS-i Competition Drone | Teamwork Matches | $1,350 | MINDS-i Education |
| CoDrone EDU Drone or CoDrone JROTC Ed Drone | Skills Matches | $249 - $315 | Robolink |
| MINDS-i Competition Robot (or equivalent) | Teamwork Matches & Skills Matches | $900 | MINDS-i Education |
*Note: Prices are estimates only and subject to change. Shipping charges are extra.
Teams may also want to budget additional competition vehicle funds for spare parts, 3D printing supplies, or additional sensors and mechanisms to customize their MINDS-i Competition Drone and Ground Support Vehicle.
ADC Pro Season Registration
All ADC Pro teams are required to register on RECFevent.org each competition season. The 2026-2027 ADC Pro Season Registration is $200 per team.
Computer for Programming
The competition vehicles will need to be programmed to complete the challenge.
Cost:
- Cost of computer - varies
- Most coding software is provided for free. See the MINDS-i and Robolink websites for more information on recommended programming applications and educational curriculum resources.
Event Registrations
When a team registers for an ADC Pro competition, there will be an additional event registration fee. This fee is set by the organization hosting the event, “Event Partner”, and those funds go to the Event Partner to help offset the costs with hosting the event.
Typical costs:
- Regular scrimmages or qualifying events: $50 - $150
- Championship events: $150 - $300
Travel Costs to Attend Events
ADC Pro events can be found on RECFevents.org. Teams should plan early for determining where they will compete to help determine the associated travel costs. If there are no events nearby, consider hosting an event!
Consider these potential travel costs:
- School bus or van rental
- Meals
- Hotels (for longer trips or multi-day events)
What else is NICE to have if additional funding is available?
- Teamwork Field Equipment
- Skills Field Equipment
- Additional spare parts or materials for additional mechanisms
- 3D Printer
- T-shirts and team swag
Teamwork Field Equipment
Most teams will greatly benefit from having their own field equipment so they can test their designs and practice before an event. The Field Perimeter will only need to be purchased once and will be reused each year.
A complete, 20’x20’ Teamwork field consists of the following:
| Qty | SKU | Name | Notes |
| 2 | ADCP-101 or ADCP-201* | ADC Pro 10' x 20' Teamwork Mission Field Perimeter | *PVC can be purchased locally if physically equivalent. |
| 2 | ADCP-TG001 | ADC Pro Mission 2026 Teamwork Mission Game Element Kit |
Most schools will only need to purchase a half-field to prepare for competitions, which would include only one of each of the Field Perimeter and Teamwork Game element kits. If you will be hosting an event, you will need the full Teamwork field. To save costs, consider borrowing equipment from an attending team.
Skills Field Equipment
A complete Skills Field consists of the following:
| Qty | SKU | Name |
| 1 | ADCP-SG001 | ADC Pro Mission 2026-2027 Skills Game Element Kit |
If you will be hosting an event and need additional Skills Fields, consider borrowing equipment from an attending team.
Additional spare parts for drones and robots.
Drones and robots will need spare parts. Even the most careful pilot or driver will eventually crash or damage parts. When attending a competition, having extra batteries is critical to ensure the competition vehicles perform well throughout the day.
Common spare parts:
- Motors
- Batteries
- Propellers
- Bumpers (CoDrone)
- Frame materials
T-shirts and Team Swag
Teams love to show up at competitions with a customized t-shirt or swag! This is a great way to honor your team sponsors and share your school pride.
Running a competition team has recurring costs and could get expensive. What are ways that other programs fund their programs?
- Host your own Tournament!
- Your organization brings in funds through the Tournament fees paid to you by teams, concessions, t-shirt sales, etc.
- Get local companies to sponsor your event by providing a cash donation, food for concessions or volunteer lunches, or volunteers.
- Grants
- REC Foundation Grant Resources
- Check with your local educational and professional organizations for grant opportunities
- Google Search for Grants (Key words: STEM, Workforce Development, Robotics, Drones, Aviation, K-12)
- Host a STEM Workshop or Camp!
- Whether it is 2 hours, ½ day, 1 day, 3 day, or 5 day, we can help you to develop an exciting itinerary and a realistic budget for your event.
- These Workshops or Camps can be for Youth or Adults and is a great way to promote awareness of the great things that your ADC team is accomplishing, possibly inspiring others to form teams, too.
- Other traditional fundraising efforts
- Form a STEM Booster Club to empower parents and other community supporters to raise money for the program.
- Candy/Fruit/Cookie Dough Sales
- Student and teacher in entire school pay $X to get to wear (jeans, pajama pants, caps, etc) for a day
- Check out this article for 76 more fundraising ideas.