we’ve finally formed our real groups! i got placed with two dudes, one my age and the other surprisingly young for the caliber of challenge we had ahead
we also got $1000 to spend at our discretion for the next two weeks!!!!!🤑!!!!!!! we immediately made an amazon account and ordered some fundamental stuff, like:

1. a controller! i just bought a cheap usb xbox controller clone, since we dont really need quality but we do need a reliable connection that works on startup.
2. most importantly, motors!!!! this took a lot lot lot of deliberation (the whole day basically) and talking to our motors, but we eventually decided on these Maxynos planetary gear motors cause they have really good torque, theyre not too expensive, and we can easily buy some ESCs to connect to them. speaking off…
3. ESCs and power distribution cables: this constisted of the motor speed controllers that were very specifically bought for their XT60 plugs, and then 3 splitter cables (2 2-way and 1 3-way) to distribute the power to each of the 4 motors and the pi as well.
4. battery: at the advice of Lucas, one of our mentors who clearly knows a lot about projects like this, recommended Spektrum smart batteries so we bought a few of those + a brand smart charger for both teams
5. 5V converter: to feed battery power to the Pi without literally kabooming it up (and to connect it in the first place).
6. tires: we spent a lot of time on this decision! once again, lucas came in clutch suggesting rc car crawlers wheels because they have a lot of friction but also are very bendy. plus they have listed dimensions and a lip to attach a “bead-locked” wheel to, so we can just design our own wheel and put it in once it arrives
   and that was the day! whole lot of money spent for sure but its fineeeeeee (probably) (hopefully)