FIRST®  is a “Sport for the Mind,” where young, innovative, and creative minds explore science and technology, solving real-world problems and competing in exciting, hands-on robotics challenges.

FIRST®  Tech Challenge (FTC) is designed for students (grades 7-12) who want to compete head to head using an exciting sports model. Teams design, build, and program their own robots to play a 12’ x 12’ floor game, in an Alliance format, against other teams. Participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have!” Guided by adult Coaches and Mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles (like keeping an engineering notebook and the engineering design process), while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and sharing ideas. Each season includes the build season and several scrimmage practice matches and then concludes with the State Championship and a chance to move on to the exciting World Championship. 

FTC robots are built from a reusable platform, powered by Android technology and programmed using Java and Blocks programming languages. Teams, supported by Coaches and Mentors, develop a game strategy, then design and build prototype mechanisms and finally robots based on sound engineering principles. The robots begin each match with an autonomous period where actions are preprogrammed and the robot maneuvers around based on feedback from sensors and interactions with the field.  This is then followed up by the Tele-op period where the students take the controls and drive their robots around the field trying to score as many points as their strategy and robot allows for the duration of the match.  

In addition the team keeps an engineering journal documenting their process and progress throughout the season that is judged at the final competition.  Also at the competition the team presents their robot and design and describes their outreach in the community to a panel of judges. At the championship, awards are given for performance in the competition, as well as community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.  

As part of the team, students get to… 

● Design, build, and program robots. 

● Model the real-world engineering design process. 

● Apply math and science concepts. 

● Develop strategic problem-solving, organizational, and team-building skills. 

● Build life skills while building robots and work towards participating in tournaments and World Championship. 

● Compete and cooperate in Alliances with other teams at tournaments. 

● Raise funds, design and market their team brand.

● Do community outreach to teach people about STEM and FIRST.

The Core Values are eight main principles that all FIRST teams are required to follow. The Core Values include the following: teamwork, innovation, inclusion, discovery, impact, fun, Coopertition® (cooperation + competition) and Gracious Professionalism®. The Core Values are a very important part of our team. We will learn these throughout the season by doing fun activities, and team members will show the Core Values at all times during the season and at all meetings and competitions.