FTC Overview
What is a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team and what do they do?
If you visited a FTC team meeting you would see 6 - 10 kids, ages 13 to 18, working with a NXT LEGO Mindstorm Robot kit combined with a Tetrix robotics parts. A few kids would be using the 1000+ parts in the kit to construct aTetrix Robot with motors, sensors (light, touch, ultrasonic-distance and/or compass) and the NXT brick that acts as the robot's computer. The robot would also have 3 or 4 wheels to help it move around.
Other kids would be at the computer working on programming in either NXT-G, Robot C or LabView. They would be figuring out offensive and defensive game strategies for working with Tetrix parts to construct attachments for the robot push, pull or lift items on the playing field to achieve the tasks and score points. Click here for video of a previous season ’s game.*
Other team members are working on the team's documentation notebook keeping track of everything the team does. It charts their journey throughout the season.
The robot game always includes a short autonomous mode when the robot navigates and completes tasks on its own AND a longer remote control period when one or two players remotely control the movements and direction of the robot's wheels and motors to score points.
FTC CORE VALUES We ask that all teams read and subscribe to the FTC Core Values and gracious professionalism that are the foundation of the FIRST organization.
What every FLL team needs:
- Provided by the Team!
- A place to practice at least once a week.
- A computer with a XP operating system or Mac OS X.
- One or more adults to keep things organized.
- Provided by the Team and/or by an ORTOP Scholarship
- FTC Tetrix Competition Robot Set --$999 for new teams
- A competition field or materials to build a usable full or partial FTC Competition Field from locally obtained construction materials (plywood, pvc pipe)
- A FTC 2009Team Registration --$275, which includes a Coach handbook.
- ORTOP Championship Tournament Registration --$75*
* Items that may be underwritten partially or completely by a team scholarship if your team qualifies.
What does a Coach do?
At team meetings, the coach facilitates the team’s progress, helping them with teamwork skills, helping them find resources, teaching the robot building and programming skills she/he learned at the ORTOP coach/team build-its and fests, serving snacks, and keeping the team on task. It is up to the team members to solve the challenge. Much of their learning comes from web research and by trial and error. Coaches also take care of registering the team, ordering kit, and scheduling meetings. The coach may be assisted by a co-coach, assistant coach or a mentor.
Please contact us if you have questions.
FTC Team Members
Quotes from Team Members
“This is what I kind of wanted to be when I grew up. So this gave me the chance to do it. And you can’t really watch engineers do what they do. You have to do it yourself.”
"The most fun you'll ever have while wearing safety glasses"
WHO IS A FTC TEAM MEMBER:
- Team members are 14 -18 year old kids but students in 8th grade (13 years old) who are ready for a high school program can participate.
- some know or think they might want to pursue engineering or programming
- some do it for the engineering, some like the challenge of managing a project, others are just uber competitive
- some kids want to try something completely different and out-of-the-box!
- 30% of team participants last year were girls
- FTC team members were from all over Oregon; rural, city, inner city and suburbs.
- Oregon FTC Team members are comprised of kids who are black, white, latino, asian and native indian.
- Kids that want their FIRST.....
FTC Age Policy
The FIRST Tech Challenge policy on the age of team members can not have completed their senior year in high school. Students who are 13 years old in 8th grade can participate if they are ready for a high school program.
FTC Registration
NATIONAL TEAM REGISTRATION: ALL teams wanting to compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge must register with the national FIRST organization and pay a $275 registration fee. Teams can order the robot after paying the registration fee. Tetrix Robot information
National FTC Registration opened on May 4, 2009. FTC Competition Kits can be ordered at time of registration. The FTC Robot kits ordered May, June, July and August will ship in September. There will be a separate registration for the ORTOP FTC Challenge Championship to be held in February or March of 2009.
FIRST TECH Challenge Frequently Asked Questions from the 2009 Season.
To register your team with FiRST for the 2009 FTC Season click here. Later in the season you will need to register with ORTOP so your team can participate in the Oregon Championship Tournament. See below
QUALIFYING AND CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION: ORTOP Scrimmage ONLINE Registration will be available in November. At this time we anticipate that all teams will be invited to participate in Qualifying tournaments - Feb 6 at OMSI, Feb 13 at Oregon State University. Cost $75 for a qualifying touranment, $50 for the Championship.
FIRST Tech Challenge Tetrix Robot Competition Kit
The Vex Robotics Design System used previously for FTC will not be used in 2009.
The FTC Tetrix Robot Competition Kit, a new kit using Tetrix metal robot structure will be used by all teams. FTC kits can be purchased with FTC Registration. ORTOP encourages you to read all about the new bot at the FTC blog .
FTC 2009 KIT OF PARTS COSTS
The Tetrix robot can be taken apart and reused for multiple seasons.
Information, Pictures, Video Links:
FTC Communication!
Check the national website for team forum access.
FTC Blog Spot
FACEBOOK------ ORTOP: FIRST Tech Challenge --Become a Fan!
TWITTER
CLICK HERE FOR FTC e-mail BLAST Archive from FTC Headquarters
Really Good Resources: Registration, Ask the Hot Shot Game Designers a question, programming questions, buying additional parts, LEGO Tech Support.
How to contact ORTOP FTC: Send questions to Ed Epp, Jeff McBride, Dale Jordan, CD Venkatesh, Cathy Swider
FTC HOT LINKS
FOR INFORMATION REGARDING OREGON FTC FESTS, QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT AND THE OREGON FTC CHAMPIONSHIP, CLICK HERE
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HOT SHOT GAME DOCUMENTS -Coaches Manual, Game Manual, Game Overview, FTC KIt Bill of Materials, FTC Game BOM, FTC Field Construction Guide
Hot Shot Game Animation and Download
Ordering FTC Field Tiles for the Field Floor
The official tiles used for the FTC field floor are sold through
CLICK HERE to link to Soft Tiles the vendor for the official FTC Field Floor.
They are offering FTC teams a 10% discount.
To get the discount you must place your order by PHONE 888-477-6532(toll free) (9am – 5:30pm EST).
Ask for the 2’ x 2’ gray tiles 5/8” thick and tell them you are a FTC Coach.
12’ x 12’ field = 36 tiles = $187.92 + about $50 S & H.
You still get the discount if you order less tiles.
FLL CONSENT FORMS must be brought to every event attended by FTC Team members, coaches and mentors. For students under the age of 18, the forms must be signed by a parent or legal guardian. Coaches and mentors can not sign the forms except for their own children and themselves.
2009-2010 FIRST Consent Form in English: A form must be completed for each team member and adult volunteer. Bring the forms to qualifying event.
2009-2010 FIRST Consent Form in SPANISH: A form must be completed for each team member and adult volunteer. Bring the forms to qualifying event.
FTC Questions and Answers
ORTOP FTC Q & A -- At US FIRST