First Tech Challenge, or FTC, is a FIRST organization that works primarily with middle and high school students. At the start of each season, the game is released in which teams all around the world are able to see what tasks are to be completed. Each year there is a new theme pertaining to an aspect of our world, ranging from ideas related to trash cleanup to games surrounding the theme of power lines. Each team must construct a robot, no larger than 18″X18″X18″, that can complete as many of the assigned tasks as they can within a 2.5 minute match. However, the first thirty seconds of each match are the autonomous period, meaning drivers can not control their robot, but must instead rely on pre-coded “instructions” to get the robot to complete tasks.
Although, while it may be called robotics, the robot is not the only aspect of competition. Teams must also keep a record of their teams progress throughout the season. This includes recording: changes to the robot, the overall team structure, and any events the team participates in. It is also part of our duty, as FTC participants, to help spread the word about FIRST and STEAM, as well as to foster an environment of gracious professionalism by partaking in outreach activities and working with other teams to share ideas and assist in fixing problems.
To learn more about FIRST please visit https://www.firstinspires.org/
FTC Team 8798 