FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is the newest addition to the family of FIRST programs. FTC grew out of a need for a mid‐level robotics program to transition teams from FIRST LEGO League to the FIRST Robotics Competition. Piloted for two years as the FIRST Vex Challenge, FTC became an official FIRST program and was renamed FIRST Tech Challenge in 2007.

The Match

Two Alliances – one “red” and one “blue” – composed of two teams each, compete in each Match. The object of the game is to attain a higher score than your opposing Alliance by placing 2.25” (5.7cm) diameter racquetballs into several Alliance colored scoring goals (Ball Crates, Low Goals, and Off‐Field Goals) located on the Playing Field. The game is played in two distinct periods, Autonomous and Driver‐Controlled.

In the thirty (30) second Autonomous Period, teams are rewarded for driving to specific places on the Playing Field as well as setting upright Alliance‐colored Ball Crates that will be used to collect balls during the rest of the game.

The two‐minute Driver‐Controlled Period follows the Autonomous Period. Teams earn points for their Alliance by scoring racquetballs in a Low Goal or Ball Crates, and scoring special Magnet Balls in Off‐Field Goals.

The final thirty (30) seconds of the Driver‐Controlled Period is called the End Game. Each Alliance is challenged to push their Bowling Ball onto their Home Zone to score additional points.

Scoring

Autonomous scoring

Method	Points
Up righting A ball crate	5 points each
Parking a Robot (back zone)	5 points each
Parking a Robot (front zone)	10 points each
Parking a bowling Ball (front zone)	10 points each
Parking a bowling Ball (back zone)	20 points each

Driver-controlled scoring

Method	Points
Regular or magnet ball in protected area	1 point each
Regular or magnet ball in ball crate	2 points each
Magnet ball in off-field goal	25 points each
Crate stacking bonus	10 points for every 6 inches above 10.5 inches from the ground (crate must contain ball)

End Game Scoring

Method	Points
Bowling ball in home zone goal	30
Bowling ball in home zone platform, but not in goal	20

 

The Game

FIRST Tech Challenge teams will participate in the Bowled Over! Challenge for the 2011‐12 season. Each game match is made up of two distinct types of play – driver‐controlled and autonomous. Each tournament features alliances of two teams playing side‐by‐side on the playing field. Alliance partners will compete to score the most points by completing various tasks, including scoring racquetballs into stackable crates and moving bowling balls to different places on the field. Teams will be challenged by completing tasks during autonomous and driver controlled periods and will be scoring special kinds of balls for extra points and pushing a bowling ball up a ramp at the end of a match. For more information about the FTC challenge, Click here.

The Field