Engineering
Practical FTC robot design, mechanisms, fabrication, electronics, and testing for new and experienced teams.
Engineering turns a game task into a that can perform it repeatedly. The work includes deciding what to build, sizing its moving parts, making them fit, and testing the complete machine.
For Onshape lessons, robot layouts, and manufacturing drawings, open the separate Design section. Use it alongside the mechanics and build guidance here.
First robot
Start with your first engineering build. It takes a kit from an inventory of parts to a measured driving test. You do not need a full model or custom manufacturing to begin.
Then use these articles in order:
- Game strategy: choose a task your team can deliver.
- Design process: turn that task into requirements and useful .
- Structure and fasteners: build a frame that stays aligned.
- Motors and gearing: match motion to the load.
- Drivetrains and wiring and power: integrate the moving robot.
- Testing and reliability: find failures before an event.
Robot improvements
Choose the problem you are actually seeing. A faster cannot fix an unreliable handoff, and a thicker plate cannot fix loose joints.
| Problem | Useful starting point |
|---|---|
| An arm struggles near horizontal | Arms and linkages |
| A moves sideways or a wheel binds | Shafts and bearings |
| Gears bind, chain skips, or belts lose tension | Gears, belts and chain |
| A lift racks or its string wears | Linear slides and rigging |
| Pickup works only from one angle | Intakes and grippers |
| Pieces disappear between | Transfers |
| Later shots are less accurate than the first | Feed timing and launcher recovery |
| Position changes after a reversal or restart | Mechanics and control |
| Parts fit in CAD but need filing | Fits and tolerances |
| Printed parts crack around bolts | 3D printing |
| A robot resets during combined motion | Power faults and ESD |
| Repairs require dismantling the robot | Assembly and serviceability |
Using the handbook
The worked examples use sample numbers. Use your own measurements when applying them to a robot, and check the hardware ratings separately. The glossary explains common terms.
Engineering and programming meet at the hardware interface. Agree on travel limits, units, gear ratios, home positions, and locations before tuning PID control or motion profiles.
The electrical and wiring section covers the harness, connectors, shared power limits, and fault diagnosis. For a scoring launcher, use projectile mathematics to connect its mechanical setup to launch speed, angle, and .
Rules
The resource guide explains which reference to use for each design decision. Supporting references appear in the Sources section at the bottom of each article.
Check the current game rules before choosing parts or finalising a design. The official materials and cover competition requirements.