IIRC, FTC has changed the rules recently, and you can do a lot of new stuff. As long as your electronics are connected to a prototype board, you can do whatever you want!

You have to draw all your power from the prototype board as well, though--I think it provides 22mA? It's more than enough for a basic Atmel chip or PIC.
_________________FTC Team 6424, the 'Oly Cow - Chief programmer.
FRC Team 4450, Olympia Robotics Federation (ORF).
and also quadrotors. Quadrotors!