FTC

The FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a competition design for less experienced students. It is still for high school students except that it utilizes a Vex kit instead of requiring students to buy and machine parts. With pre-made parts, Vex robots are easier to design and build. Not only is Vex easier but Vex kits are more accessible and cheaper.

Game Overview

This year's FTC challenge was "Quad Quandary", a game in which the robots had to place rings on moveable posts of varying lengths. The game was played on a 12' by 12' square divided into 4 equal quadrants. The challenge uses rings and two different kinds of posts - two 18" high posts, and two 24" posts connected by a 60" bar. The rings may be placed on either of the 2 poles or on the 3.5" high base. There are 50 rings total; 25 for red and 25 for blue. There are 44 total rings on the field, and three available to each alliance to load on their robot before the match start.

Scoring

• Ring in low goal - 1 point
• Ring on single or paired goal - 2 points
• One ring "rung" on an 18" post - 3 points
• One ring "rung" on a 24" post - 5 points
• A single or paired goal in an alliance's quadrant at the end of the match - 7 points
• Winner of the autonomous period - 10 points

For more information about the FIRST Tech Challenge go to http://www.usfirst.org.