FTC

What is FTC ROBOTICS?

 

FIRST Tech Challenge

 

FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is part of the FIRST family of programs. FTC in Michigan is geared towards middle school students who want to compete head to head using a sports model.  Teams are tasked with designing, building, and programming their robots to compete on a 12' X 12' field in an alliance format against other teams.

 

FTC is more than just a Robotics competition.  Teams work together to conduct outreach and make community impact, practice communication and leadership skills to prepare for a judging interview session, learn collaboration and how to manage group process and gain knowledge through mentors and professionals in the field.

 

It’s a unique and FUN experience.   Team members are expected to contribute actively throughout the season.   Qualifiers are the opportunity to share and show what they have learned.  If your team does well in qualifier, you will be invited to state and then world level competitions.

 

Kick-off is the official start to the FTC season and is when the season's game is unveiled. Robots are built using a TETRIX® platform that is reusable from year-to-year. Students use LabVIEW or RobotC to program their robots which operate in both an autonomous and tele-op mod.

 

Teams are challenged to develop strategies and build robots based on sound engineering principles. One of the goals of FTC is to recognize the engineering design process and "the journey" that a team makes during its phases. The team chronicles this journey in their Engineering Book.

 

Teams compete at an official event hosted by a tournament director under the guidance of our FTC Affiliate Partners. Awards are given for the competition as well as community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.

 

Team selection and placement are done through our online Survey / Application.  EVERYONE interested MUST use the online SURVEY/APPLICATION or they cannot be considered for potential openings on teams.  FINAL decisions are that of the Coaches/Mentors of the 4 existing teams.  In the event that more students apply, a waitlist will be created and interested parents will be invited to collaborate with other parents to create a new “Rookie” team.

 

Initial team invitation decisions are made in the Spring prior to next school year.   There are limited spots on existing teams.   New teams are encouraged to form with new coaches and mentors as needed and Co-Chairs of the Smith Robotics program are available to help guide new coaches through the process.   We successfully added 2 new Rookie teams in 2018 enrolling a total of 44 students in the program with 4 teams participating last year.  One of our Rookie teams won an award at their first qualifier and were selected to compete in an alliance in the final 3 elimination rounds.  Our veteran teams made it to State Competition as well.   And 1 experienced team won 5 awards at the Troy Qualifier event.   Another won a prestigious Innovate Award.  

 

Apply to be considered for the program today.  First round of application process will CLOSE on MAY 31^st, 2019.  Selected students will be notified before end of June 2019.   The survey/application will not be available again till AUGUST.  Waitlist students will be notified by end of JUNE 2019. 

 

Please review the SMITH ROBOTICS HANDBOOK before filling out the survey/application google form so that you and your student understand team member expectations, time commitments, parent involvement as volunteers with the team, role of coaches, mentors and support needed to run a team. 

 

General Robotic Schedule

September:  FTC Kick-off! This is the official start to the FTC season and is when the season's game is unveiled!

Dec:  FIRST in Michigan FTC State Championship

Nov - Dec:  Qualifier Events

 

March - April:  Winning teams advance to Championship events

 

FIRST FTC website:  https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/ftc/team-basics

FIRST in Michigan website: http://www.firstinmichigan.org/ftc/index.php