Skip to content
CrocoDocs
Starter GuideProgrammingEngineeringDesignPortfolio
Starter Guide
Starter Guide

Start your team

  1. 01FIRST and FTC
  2. 02Starting a team
  3. 03People and meetings
  4. 04Budget and equipment
  5. 05Safety

Build your first robot

  1. 06The game and your strategy
  2. 07Robot parts
  3. 08Your first build
  4. 09Wiring your robot
  5. 10Your first program
  6. 11Autonomous and driving

Design your own parts

  1. 12Your first CAD part
  2. 13CAD assemblies
  3. 14Making parts

Prepare for competition

  1. 15Your notebook and portfolio
  2. 16Outreach and funding
  3. 17Your first event
  4. 18Your season plan
Glossary
Appearance
Starter GuideIntroduction

Your first FTC season

Start here if your team is new to FIRST Tech Challenge. No experience needed.

(FTC) is a robotics program where students build a for a game that changes each . You learn to design, build, and write code together, with adults there to guide you. You can join without having done any of those things before.

Your first season starts with a few interested people and adults who can help. You'll need a place to meet, equipment, a , and time to practise. The lessons below take you from those first arrangements to building a robot and attending your first competition.

Begin with and FTC, or use the contents below to find what your team needs now. Read a lesson together in a meeting, then try its activity. You can explore how a part is made and run a robot program here in your browser before working with real hardware.

Technical words are explained as they appear. If you need a reminder, look them up in the glossary.

Start with FIRST and FTC

Start your team

Understand FTC and get the people, space, and equipment together.

  1. 01FIRST and FTCThe program, the competition, and the people involved.
  2. 02Starting a teamCoaches, registration, permission, and local support.
  3. 03People and meetingsShare the work and make each meeting useful.
  4. 04Budget and equipmentPlan costs, choose a kit, and set up a workspace.
  5. 05SafetyWork safely around tools, batteries, and moving robots.

Build your first robot

Choose a useful task, build a drive base, and make it move.

  1. 06The game and your strategyRead the rules and choose what your robot should do.
  2. 07Robot partsFrames, wheels, motors, servos, sensors, and controllers.
  3. 08Your first buildAssemble a drive base and test a simple mechanism.
  4. 09Wiring your robotConnect power and devices, then label and check them.
  5. 10Your first programTry FTC Blocks and run code on your own robot.
  6. 11Autonomous and drivingTest a short routine and practise with your drive team.

Design your own parts

Learn CAD in Onshape and turn a design into a usable part.

  1. 12Your first CAD partSketch, dimension, extrude, and cut a mounting plate.
  2. 13CAD assembliesFit parts together and leave room for the whole robot.
  3. 14Making partsMeasure, export, manufacture, and check the fit.

Prepare for competition

Keep records, share your work, and arrive ready for your first event.

  1. 15Your notebook and portfolioRecord decisions and explain your work to judges.
  2. 16Outreach and fundingHelp your community and ask for practical support.
  3. 17Your first eventInspection, interviews, matches, and what to pack.
  4. 18Your season planPlan the first six meetings and the rest of the season.
Look up a word in the glossary

Already on a team?

Use Engineering for detailed robot design, Programming for code and control systems, and Portfolio for writing and judging. Those handbooks go further into each subject; this guide brings the parts of a first season together.

Sources

  • FIRST — getting started with FTC
  • FIRST — team management resources
  • Alan G. Smith — Learn Onshape for FTC

FIRST and FTC

What the program is, how teams compete, and where a new student fits.

On this page

Start your teamBuild your first robotDesign your own partsPrepare for competitionAlready on a team?Sources