FTC GoBuilda Block Coding
Introduction to FTC and GoBuilda Robots
Welcome to the Arena
The FIRST Tech Challenge, or FTC, is more than just a robotics competition. It's a challenge for students in grades 7-12 to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head game. Teams work together to solve a new challenge each year, learning valuable engineering and teamwork skills along the way.
In FTC, teams form alliances to compete. Two teams form a "Red Alliance" and two teams form a "Blue Alliance." These alliances work together during a match to score more points than their opponents. It's a dynamic environment that requires both solid engineering and strategic thinking.
The Two-Minute Challenge
Every FTC match is a fast-paced two minutes and thirty seconds long. This short time is broken into two distinct periods where the robot operates very differently.
The first part is the Autonomous Period, and the second is the Driver-Controlled Period.
During the 30-second Autonomous Period, the robot operates entirely on its own. It runs using code the team wrote beforehand, without any help from the drivers. The goal is to program the robot to complete specific tasks, like moving to a certain spot or interacting with game elements, to score points.
After that, the 2-minute Driver-Controlled Period begins. This is where two team members take control of the robot using game controllers, much like a video game. They drive their robot around the field, coordinating with their alliance partner to outscore the other alliance. This phase tests both the robot's design and the drivers' skills.
| Phase | Duration | Control Type |
|---|---|---|
| Autonomous | 30 seconds | Pre-programmed code |
| Driver-Controlled | 2 minutes | Human drivers with controllers |
Your Building Blocks
To compete in FTC, you need to build a robot. That's where a platform like GoBuilda comes in. GoBuilda is a structured, grid-based building system that works like a high-tech erector set. It's designed to be robust and easy to work with, allowing you to create complex mechanisms without needing a full machine shop.
The GoBuilda Starter Kit provides everything you need to build a competitive robot chassis and basic mechanisms. The components are generally grouped into four main categories.
- Structure: These are the bones of your robot. Aluminum channels, brackets, and plates create the frame and support for all other parts.
- Motion: These parts make your robot move. This includes motors, gears, bearings, axles, and wheels.
- Hardware: This is all the small but crucial stuff that holds your robot together: screws, nuts, standoffs, and spacers.
- Electronics: This is the robot's brain and nervous system. It includes the Control Hub (where your code runs), motor drivers, servos, and sensors that give your robot information about its environment.
Understanding these basic components and the structure of an FTC match is the first step. With this foundation, you're ready to start thinking about designing a robot that can score points and win.