Welcome to FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)! This handbook is designed to help you navigate your journey through an exciting season of robotics, innovation, and teamwork. FTC is more than just building a robot; it's an opportunity to develop valuable STEM skills, learn to solve complex problems, and grow as a leader and team member.

1. What is FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)?

FTC is an international robotics competition for middle schoolers (in Michigan). Each year, teams are challenged to design, build, program, and operate a robot to compete in a head-to-head game.

• Hands-on STEM Learning: You'll gain practical experience in engineering, programming, and design.

• Problem-Solving: The annual game presents unique challenges that require creative solutions.

• Teamwork: You'll learn to collaborate, communicate, and support your teammates.

• Innovation: There's always room to try new ideas and push the boundaries of robot design.

• Gracious Professionalism: This is a core FIRST value, meaning you compete with respect for others and act with kindness, even in the heat of competition.

• Competition: Participate with other teams to qualify for the next level of competition. Teams are awarded points based on robot performance and awards received. 

  • Communicate your robot design and team efforts with Judges

  • Compete against other teams

  • Submit for awards 

2. FIRST Core Values

The FIRST program is built around a set of core values that define the spirit of the competition. Embrace these throughout your season:

• Discovery: We explore new skills and ideas.

• Innovation: We use creativity and persistence to solve problems.

• Impact: We apply what we learn to improve our world.

• Inclusion: We respect each other and embrace our differences.

• Teamwork: We are stronger when we work together.

• Fun: We enjoy and celebrate what we do!

• Gracious Professionalism: This is the most famous FIRST value. It means competing intensely while treating competitors and partners with respect. It's about being a good sport, helping others, and learning from everyone.

• Coopertition: Another unique FIRST term, combining cooperation and competition. It's about competing fiercely on the field but cooperating off the field, sharing knowledge, and helping other teams succeed.

Students, Coaches, Mentors, Volunteers, and Parents are representing St. Joe robotics and are  expected to demonstrate the FIRST Core Values in their participation at team practices, competitions, outreach events, and in the community. 

3. Team Structure and Roles

In FTC, students should participate across multiple subteams (program, build, etc.). Students are expected to learn about all aspects of the team. The team is composed of subteams as noted below.  Students should take the time to learn each subteams’ process and purpose, while moving towards specialization as they approach high school. Here are some possible areas that you may find interesting:

• Mechanical/Build: Design, build, and maintain the robot's physical structure, mechanisms, and hardware. This involves hands-on construction, using tools, and iterative design.

• Programming: Write and test the code that controls the robot. This includes autonomous routines (pre-programmed actions) and tele-operated control (driver control during matches). You'll learn programming languages like Java, Python, and OpenCV.

• CAD/Design: Use Computer-Aided Design software to create digital models of robot parts and assemblies, helping with planning and visualization.

• Strategy: Analyze the game, identify scoring opportunities, and develop the overall game strategy for the robot and alliance.

• Business/Outreach: Manage team branding, fundraising, community outreach, and communication. This can involve creating presentations, managing social media, and engaging with sponsors.

• Portfolio: Document the entire team's journey, including design ideas, prototypes, challenges, solutions, meeting notes, and outreach efforts. This is a crucial submission for judged awards.

• Drive Team: Composed of Driver, Operator, Coach, and Human Player. These students drive and operate the robot during competitions against other teams, and strategize with alliance partners. 

Why is it important to participate in all areas of the team?

• Understand all aspects of the team and what they do

• Speak intelligently about the robot/portfolio/strategy to Judges

• Find a specialization (or a few) as students approach high school 

• Gain an understanding of everyone’s contribution to the team

Remember, students are expected to contribute to multiple areas, gaining a broad range of skills.

4. The FTC Season Timeline

The FTC season follows a general flow:

• Kickoff (Early September): The new game is revealed! Teams begin brainstorming, strategizing, and familiarizing themselves with the game rules.

• Design Phase: Based on your chosen strategy, you'll brainstorm and sketch robot designs, considering mechanisms for various tasks. Prototyping with simple materials is key here.

• Develop: The iterative Engineering Design Process requires you to build/develop an element, test it, identify problems, refine, and repeat.

  • Build: Construct your robot. 

  • Program: Develop the software for your robot. This includes autonomous code (robot runs by itself) and tele-op code (driver control).

  • Strategy: Devise the most successful approach for both autonomous and teleop periods. This includes evaluating through simulation and testing how much time it will take and how many points can reasonably be scored.

  • Portfolio: Thoroughly document your progress, designs, challenges, and solutions.

  • Testing & Iteration: Continuously test your robot's mechanisms and programs. This is where you identify what works and what needs improvement. Don't be afraid to fail and learn from it! 

• Competitions

  • Scouting and Strategy: Take note of other teams’ performance and capabilities to learn new strategies from other teams, determine which robot(s) complements yours, and who to pick in alliance selection. This is also a good time for students to observe and learn effective ways other teams build and program their robot and approach the game.

  • Qualifying Events (November - December): Participate in qualifying tournaments to try and get a spot at the State Championship.

  • State Championship (December): Participate in the championship event (MUST QUALIFY) and try to get a spot at the World Championship.

  • World Championship (April): The grand finale where top teams from around the globe compete (MUST QUALIFY).

• Year-Round

  • Outreach & Fundraising: Share your team's story, engage with your community, and secure resources.

  • Skill Development: Work with the team during the offseason to continue developing skills

5. Key Deliverables

Your team will be working towards several important deliverables throughout the season:

• The Robot: Your robot, built to compete in the season's game challenge, demonstrates your team's engineering and programming skills.

• Team Presentation: A formal presentation to a panel of judges about your team, robot, and journey with documented efforts to share STEM and FIRST with your community.

• Portfolio: A comprehensive record of your team's design process, challenges, solutions, and outreach activities. This is crucial for judged awards.

6. Competition Day Overview

Competition days are exciting and fast-paced! Here's what to expect:

• Pits: Your team will have a designated "pit" area where you can store your robot, tools, and supplies. This is your team's home base at the event, and judges may visit for interviews.

• Inspection: Your robot will undergo a technical inspection to ensure it complies with all game rules and safety regulations.

• Matches: Your robot will compete on the playing field with an alliance partner against two opponent robots.

  • Autonomous Period (first 30 seconds): The robot operates solely on pre-programmed instructions.

  • Driver-Controlled Period (2 minutes): You and your drive team control the robot using gamepads.

  • End Game (final 30 seconds): Specific tasks may offer bonus points.

• Judging Sessions: Judges decide who will win awards based on conversations and your Portfolio. 

  • Team Interview: Your team will have a scheduled interview with a panel of judges. Be prepared to talk about your robot's design, programming, challenges you overcame, and your team's overall journey. 

  • Pit Interview: You should be prepared to answer judges questions at all times during the competition, not just if/when they visit your pit.

  • Be Ready: Judges may approach you anytime and anywhere to ask you about your robot. Be ready to talk about it!

  • Respect to All: Judges will ask volunteers about behaviors by team members, parents, siblings, coaches, mentors, etc. and may decide to not give an award based on any negative behaviors from anyone wearing a Joe Bots shirt. 

• Awards Ceremony: At the end of the event, awards are given for robot performance, design, innovation, control systems, community outreach, and embodying FIRST values.

7. Tips for Success

• Study the Game Manual: Understanding all the rules, scoring opportunities, and robot specifications is essential for success.

• Start Simple, Iterate: Don't try to build the perfect robot on day one. Start with a basic design that achieves core tasks, then test, refine and progressively add complexity.

• Document Everything: The Portfolio isn't just a requirement; it's a valuable tool for tracking progress, recalling design decisions, and sharing your story.

• Test, Test, Test! Continuous testing helps you identify and fix problems early.

• Communicate: Talk to your teammates, mentors, and even other teams. Share ideas, ask questions, and offer help.

• Learn from Failure: Not every idea will work, and that's okay! Analyze what went wrong, make adjustments, and try again. This is a huge part of the engineering process.

• Embrace Gracious Professionalism: Be respectful, help other teams, and celebrate everyone's efforts, win or lose.

• Have Fun! Robotics is challenging, but it's also incredibly rewarding and enjoyable. Celebrate your successes and enjoy the learning process.

8. Behavior and Participation Expectations

To ensure a productive and positive team environment, all team members are expected to uphold the following:

• Respect for All: Treat all teammates, mentors, volunteers, and competitors with respect, regardless of their role, skill level, or background. This includes showing respect to adult mentors, coaches, and event volunteers who dedicate their time to support your learning and the program.

• Active Participation: Arrive to meetings on time and ready to participate, attend regularly, contribute ideas, and actively engage in tasks. Your involvement is crucial to the team's success.

• Responsibility: Take ownership of your assigned tasks and complete them to the best of your ability. If you encounter difficulties, ask for help.

• Constructive Feedback: Give and receive feedback constructively. Focus on the problem, not the person, and offer solutions.

• Safety Adherence: Always follow all safety rules and guidelines. Your safety and the safety of others are paramount. This includes closed-toe shoes (no crocs), safety glasses, and no loose clothing. 

• Time Management: Manage your time effectively, balancing robotics commitments with schoolwork and other activities. Communicate any potential conflicts in advance.

• Problem-Solving Mindset: Approach challenges with a positive attitude and a willingness to find solutions.

• Maintain a Positive Attitude: Challenges will arise, but a positive and enthusiastic attitude helps the entire team overcome obstacles.

• Represent Your Team and FIRST: Remember that your behavior reflects on your team and the entire FIRST organization, both within and outside of robotics activities.

• Maintain a 2.5 GPA: Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher to participate in robotics. Grade checks will be administered the week prior to competitions. 

9. Integrity 

AI: To ensure that all our work is original and keeps our team’s integrity, we will not be using AI. This program is an opportunity to learn and develop your skills. 

Others’ Works: There may be times that code or ideas are inspired by another team or person. In these instances, that team/person must be credited.  Otherwise this is grounds for plagiarism. 

10. Safety First!

Safety is paramount in FTC. Always adhere to your team's and event's safety guidelines. This includes:

• Wearing safety glasses in designated areas.

• Properly using and respecting tools, machinery, and equipment.

• Keeping workspaces clean and organized.

• Knowing emergency procedures.

• Listening to your coaches, mentors, and event staff.

This is going to be the hardest fun you’ll ever have. Prepare to be challenged, while also walking away with pride from all you’ve accomplished with your team.