FTC Resources
Curated open-source libraries, guides, and tools for FIRST Tech Challenge teams.
Official Resources
31 resources
FTC Robot Controller SDK
Official FTC SDK for programming robots. Java/Kotlin with TeleOp and Autonomous OpMode templates.
Game Manual 0 (gm0.org)
The definitive community-written guide to FTC. Covers hardware, software, strategy, and team management.
gm0 — Software Section
In-depth software guide: Java basics, OpModes, sensors, vision, and autonomous programming.
gm0 — Hardware Section
Mechanisms, drivetrains, servos, motors, and building techniques for FTC robots.
gm0 — Common Mechanisms
Linear slides, arms, intakes, claws — detailed breakdowns with pros/cons for each approach.
REV Hardware Client
REV's official software for configuring Control Hub, Expansion Hub, servos and motors.
REV Robotics Documentation
Full docs for Control Hub, Expansion Hub, Smart Robot Servo, and all REV electronics.
FTC Field Diagrams & Assets
Official field diagrams, scoring element dimensions, and field setup instructions.
FTC Docs (ftc-docs.firstinspires.org)
Official FTC documentation hub: programming tutorials, hardware setup, and rule references.
FTC Control System Overview
Official overview of the FTC control system: Control Hub, Driver Station, and wiring architecture.
FTC Game Manuals (Season Rules)
Official game manuals for current season: rules, scoring, robot constraints, and judging criteria.
gm0 — Awards Section
Comprehensive guide to all FTC awards: Think, Connect, Inspire, Control, Innovate and more.
gm0 — Getting Started
Where to begin in FTC: team setup, legal parts, kit options, and your first robot.
FTC Technology Forum
Official FIRST forum for FTC technology questions: SDK bugs, Control Hub issues, and official answers.
gm0 — Choosing Hardware
Kit of parts vs. custom builds. Comparing goBILDA, REV, TETRIX, and andymark components.
FIRST STEM Resources
FIRST official STEM learning resources, curriculum materials, and educator guides.
REV Driver Hub Guide
Official guide for the REV Driver Hub: setup, display, buttons, and compatibility with Control Hub.
FTC Q&A System
Official Q&A platform for asking and receiving official rule clarifications from FTC game designers.
FTC League Competition Guide
Overview of FTC league format: league meets, advancement criteria, and ranking system explained.
FIRST Equity & Inclusion Resources
FIRST resources on diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM programs and FTC teams.
FTC Volunteer Resources
Guides for FTC event volunteers: referee, judge, and field reset role explanations and training.
gm0 — Programming Overview
Complete programming section overview from GM0: OpModes, sensors, control loops, and autonomous.
REV Hardware Client App
Download and use the REV Hardware Client app to configure REV devices, update firmware, and test hardware.
FTC Scoring System
Official FTC scoring application used at tournaments. Understand how match scores are calculated.
FIRST Impact Award (FRC) — Concepts for FTC
Learn from the highest FRC award to inspire your FTC Inspire Award presentation and community impact.
FTC Season Kickoff Resources
Official kickoff materials released each season: game reveal video, game manuals, and field setup guide.
gm0 — Mechatronics Basics
Introduction to mechatronics concepts applied to FTC: sensors, actuators, and control loops.
FTC Wiring Diagram Examples
Example wiring diagrams for common FTC robot configurations from REV and the community.
FTC Team Registration Guide
How to register a new FTC team: FIRST Dashboard setup, team number assignment, and fees.
FIRST STEM Network
Connect with FIRST alumni and STEM professionals to find mentors and collaborators for your team.
FTC Robot Inspection Checklist
Official robot inspection checklist PDF: size, weight, electronics, and legal parts verification.
Path Planning & Autonomous
32 resources
Road Runner
The most popular FTC path-following library. Smooth motion profiling with spline paths and localization.
Road Runner Quickstart
Ready-to-use project template for Road Runner integration with tuning OpModes included.
Pedro Pathing
A reactive path follower that uses a follower point approach. Great alternative to Road Runner.
Pedro Pathing Documentation
Official docs for Pedro Pathing: tuning, installation, creating paths and using the path builder.
LearnRoadRunner.com
Community guide for Road Runner: installation, tuning, and building your first autonomous.
Mecanum Drive Simulator
Browser-based simulator for visualizing mecanum drive kinematics and motor directions.
Road Runner Path Builder (MeepMeep)
Visual path builder for Road Runner. Design trajectories on a 2D field simulation before deploying.
Road Runner 1.0 Quickstart
Official quickstart for Road Runner 1.0 with the new Actions-based API and improved tuning.
Pedro Pathing Tuner Guide
Step-by-step tuning procedure for Pedro Pathing: localization, follower constants, and PIDF.
gm0 — Autonomous Programming
Overview of autonomous strategies: timing, paths, localization, and fallback behaviors.
Acme Robotics Spatial Toolbox
Pose math, coordinate frame transforms, and spatial utilities used in Road Runner.
WPILib PathPlanning Concepts
Adapted WPI pathplanning concepts used in many FTC libraries. Motion profiles and PID tuning.
Auto Builder (FTC Blocks)
Official FTC Blocks visual programming environment for building autonomous routines graphically.
Pure Pursuit Controller (FTC)
Implementing pure pursuit path following from scratch. Understanding lookahead points and curvature.
TrajectorySequence (Road Runner)
Chaining Road Runner trajectories with wait segments, markers, and parallel action execution.
Road Runner Tuning Guide
Complete tuning process for Road Runner: drive encoder, straight, strafe, and heading tuners.
Three-Wheel Odometry Setup
Setting up a three dead-wheel odometry pod system for accurate field-relative localization.
Two-Wheel + IMU Odometry
Using two dead wheels combined with IMU heading for efficient robot localization.
PID-to-Point Driving
Simple autonomous driving using independent PID loops for X, Y, and heading error correction.
Dead Wheel Pod Design Guide
Designing and mounting dead-wheel odometry pods: encoders, spring pressure, and materials.
Bezier Curves in Path Planning
Mathematical basis for Bezier curve paths used in Road Runner and Pedro Pathing.
Spline Path Generation for FTC
Understanding cubic and quintic spline interpolation for smooth, continuous autonomous paths.
Parallel Actions in Autonomous
Running mechanism actions (arm, intake) simultaneously with driving using Road Runner Actions API.
Heading Control in Autonomous
Maintaining precise robot heading throughout autonomous with PID and feedforward controllers.
Autonomous Preload Strategies
Efficiently scoring preloaded game elements in autonomous: paths, timing, and scoring priority.
Sensor Fusion & Localization Filters
Combining encoder, IMU, and vision data with Kalman-like filters for robust localization.
Pedro Pathing GUI Path Builder
Visual GUI tool for drawing and exporting Pedro Pathing BezierCurve paths onto the field.
SparkFun OTOS Integration Guide
Integrating the SparkFun Optical Tracking Odometry Sensor with Road Runner and Pedro Pathing.
Trajectory Timing & Wait Segments
Adding precisely-timed wait segments and temporal markers to Road Runner trajectories.
Full Autonomous Routine Design
Planning and implementing a complete 30-second autonomous: cycle count, paths, and fallbacks.
Motion Constraint Tuning
Tuning max velocity, acceleration, and angular velocity constraints for optimal autonomous speed.
Vision-Assisted Autonomous Start
Using AprilTag or game-piece detection during auto init to dynamically select the correct path.
Computer Vision
31 resources
EOCV-Sim
OpenCV simulator for FTC — test your vision pipelines on your laptop without a robot.
EasyOpenCV
Simple integration of OpenCV into FTC SDK. Stream camera feed and run pipelines efficiently.
FTC VisionPortal (SDK built-in)
Official FTC vision system built into SDK 9.0+. AprilTags + TensorFlow with multi-camera support.
AprilTag Guide for FTC
How to detect and use AprilTags for localization in FTC autonomous using VisionPortal.
TensorFlow Object Detection (FTC)
Using TensorFlow Lite for detecting game elements in FTC with the VisionPortal API.
FTC Machine Learning Toolchain
Official toolchain for training custom TensorFlow models for FTC game element detection.
Color Detection with OpenCV
HSV color range detection for finding game elements. Works with EasyOpenCV and EOCV-Sim.
Limelight 3A for FTC
Plug-and-play smart camera with onboard processing. Supports AprilTags and neural detectors.
Camera Setup for FTC (gm0)
Which cameras to use, USB vs. webcam vs. phone, and how to mount them effectively.
GRIP Pipeline Designer
GUI tool for designing OpenCV pipelines visually. Export generated Java code to your FTC project.
AprilTag Field Layout Reference
Official FTC AprilTag IDs, positions, and coordinate systems for each game season.
CVZone for FTC
High-level OpenCV wrapper by Computer Vision Zone. Simplifies hand tracking, face detection, and more.
DeltaCV Vision Library
Advanced vision library from the EOCV-Sim team. Pipeline chaining and hardware acceleration.
HSV Color Range Creator
Browser tool to find the right HSV range for detecting a specific color with OpenCV.
Multi-Camera Setup in FTC
Using multiple cameras simultaneously via VisionPortal for front and side detection coverage.
Contour Detection in FTC
Finding and filtering contours with OpenCV to isolate game elements by shape and size.
ArUco Marker Detection for FTC
Detecting ArUco markers for localization, similar to AprilTags but with OpenCV directly.
Camera Calibration for FTC Vision
Calibrating lens distortion for accurate AprilTag pose estimation and distance calculations.
Vision Frame Rate Optimization
Improving camera pipeline performance: resolution, decimation, and processing on a background thread.
Vision Telemetry & Live Preview
Streaming camera output to the Driver Station and FTC Dashboard for vision debugging.
Game Element Detection Pipeline
Step-by-step tutorial for detecting the current season's game elements with a custom pipeline.
Pixel Counting Strategy in Vision
Using pixel area (contour area) to determine object distance and presence in FTC vision.
OpenCV Basics for FTC
Introduction to OpenCV concepts: Mat, color spaces, thresholding, and morphological operations.
Webcam vs Phone Camera for Vision
Comparing USB webcams (Logitech C270, C920) vs. phone cameras for FTC vision tasks.
Training Custom Neural Models for FTC
Workflow for collecting data, labeling images, and training TensorFlow Lite models for FTC.
Depth Estimation with a Single Camera
Estimating object distance using known object size and focal length — no depth sensor needed.
Vision Pipeline Testing Workflow
Test your vision pipeline offline using EOCV-Sim with recorded footage before competition.
AprilTag Pose Estimation
Using AprilTag pose data (translation + rotation) to correct robot position in autonomous.
Vision-Based State Machine
Using vision results to drive autonomous state transitions in real time.
Region of Interest (ROI) in OpenCV
Cropping Mat to a region of interest for faster, more targeted game-element detection.
Limelight Neural Detector
Using Limelight 3A's built-in neural network for game element detection without custom training.
Libraries & Frameworks
32 resources
FTCLib
A comprehensive library providing command-based programming, PID controllers, gamepad wrappers, and more.
FTCLib Documentation
Full documentation for FTCLib: commands, subsystems, controllers, and hardware wrappers.
FTC Dashboard
Real-time telemetry dashboard in your browser. Graph variables, tune PID live, and visualize field.
goBILDA Pinpoint Odometry
Dead-wheel odometry computer from goBILDA. I2C device with built-in encoder processing.
Road Runner 1.0 (New API)
The rewritten Road Runner 1.0 with a cleaner API, better performance, and Actions-based autonomous.
Kotlin for FTC
Guide on using Kotlin with FTC SDK. Coroutines, extension functions, and cleaner code patterns.
REV Extensions Library
Community library that extends REV hardware API. Simplifies bulk reads, motor groups, and more.
Photon FTC
Hardware-accelerated vision library for FTC. Faster frame processing using native methods.
VisionEasy
Simplified wrapper for FTC VisionPortal. Reduces boilerplate for AprilTag and color detection.
Advanced Control Library (FTC)
Motion profiles, feedforward controllers, and cascaded PID implementations for FTC.
OpenRC-Turbo
Optimized RC app fork with faster deployment, enabling faster code iteration cycles.
goBILDA Ratio Calculator
Online calculator for gear ratios, torque, speed, and motor selection for FTC mechanisms.
Road Runner Actions API Guide
Understanding the new Actions paradigm in Road Runner 1.0: composing, sequencing, and parallelism.
FTC Common Code Patterns
Collection of reusable code patterns for FTC: subsystem abstraction, op-mode lifecycle, caching.
Control Theory Basics for FTC
P, I, D terms explained intuitively with FTC examples. Tuning strategy and common mistakes.
Hazel FTC Library
Lightweight FTC utility library with hardware wrappers, motion profiles, and concise async patterns.
Mercurial FTC Framework
A command-based FTC framework inspired by WPILib's Mercurial scheduler. Clean, testable code.
Hardware Abstraction Layer in FTC
Design pattern for wrapping hardware devices to enable simulation and easier unit testing.
Kotlin Coroutines for FTC
Using Kotlin coroutines for non-blocking async patterns and concurrent subsystem control.
Unit Testing FTC Code
Writing JUnit tests for FTC robot logic without hardware. Mock controllers and simulate inputs.
CI/CD for FTC Projects
Set up GitHub Actions for automatic builds, linting, and test runs on every commit.
Gradle Build Optimization for FTC
Speed up Android Gradle builds: incremental compilation, build cache, and dependency trimming.
Software Design Patterns for FTC
Singleton, Observer, Command, and Builder patterns applied to FTC robot code architecture.
Structured Logging for FTC
Implementing structured logging for competition debugging: log levels, file output, and timestamps.
FTC Robot Simulation
Simulate robot physics and sensor behavior in software to test autonomous before building hardware.
Async OpMode Framework
Building non-blocking OpModes with state queues, timers, and concurrent subsystem management.
Reactive Programming Concepts for FTC
Event-driven robot control: subscribing to sensor events rather than polling in a loop.
Configurable Variables via FTC Dashboard
Using @Config annotations to expose tuning variables at runtime through FTC Dashboard.
goBILDA Servo & Motor API Guide
Using the goBILDA API extension for easier servo and motor configuration in the FTC SDK.
Action Scheduler Pattern
Building a lightweight action scheduler for sequencing complex multi-step robot operations.
Kotlin Extension Functions for FTC
Writing Kotlin extensions to make FTC hardware code more concise and expressive.
Motor Output Caching for Performance
Cache and diff motor power values to skip redundant I2C writes and improve loop frequency.
CAD & Mechanical
36 resources
OnShape for FTC
Free browser-based CAD. goBILDA, REV, and TETRIX parts available in the public library.
goBILDA CAD Library (OnShape)
Full OnShape library of every goBILDA part. Copy to your workspace and start designing.
REV Parts CAD Library
Official CAD files for all REV Robotics structural parts, electronics, and accessories.
gm0 — CAD Resources
Tips on CAD workflow for FTC: part libraries, design patterns, and tolerance guidelines.
Linear Slide Guide (gm0)
Comprehensive guide on linear slide types, configurations, motor choices, and string/belt rigging.
Drivetrain Guide (gm0)
Mecanum, tank, H-drive, swerve — complete comparison with build tips for each drivetrain type.
Servo Guide (gm0)
Choosing servos, servo programmers, continuous rotation, and servo-based mechanisms.
Intake Guide (gm0)
Roller intakes, hopper intakes, and claw designs. Geometry, compliance, and game element tips.
Arms & Linkages (gm0)
Four-bar linkages, six-bar, virtual four-bar, and parallel plate arm configurations.
TETRIX CAD Parts Library
Official TETRIX CAD files for structural parts, motors, servos, and accessories.
Legal Parts Matrix
Official FIRST document listing all legal parts, motors, servos, and electronics for FTC.
FTC CAD Best Practices
File organization, version control, assembly structure, and tolerancing for FTC CAD projects.
OnShape Learning Tutorials
Free OnShape tutorials: sketching, part design, assemblies, and multi-part documents.
Chain & Sprocket Guide (gm0)
When to use chain vs. belt, sizing sprockets, tensioning, and FTC-legal chain kits.
Belt Drive Guide (gm0)
GT2 and HTD belts, pulley selection, and belt tension for FTC power transmission.
Gearbox Guide (gm0)
Planetary vs. spur gearboxes, gear ratios for common FTC applications, and stall torque.
Gripper & Claw Guide (gm0)
Passive and active claw designs, compliance, and servo selection for grippers.
OnShape Assemblies & Mates
How to build robot assemblies in OnShape: mates, subassemblies, and animation for verification.
Fusion 360 for FTC
Free Autodesk Fusion 360 for students. CAD, simulation, and CAM for 3D-printed parts.
3D Printing for FTC (gm0)
Legal 3D printing materials, infill settings, tolerances for functional robot parts.
Spring-Loaded Mechanisms Guide
Using springs for passive retraction, constant-force slides, and anti-gravity arm assist.
Telescoping Arm Design
Multi-stage telescoping arm design: inner tube sizing, gear/string drive, and extension ratios.
Cascade Slide Systems
Rigging cascade (continuous) slides with string or surgical tubing for multi-stage extension.
Dead Axle vs. Live Axle Guide
When to use dead axles with bearings vs. live axles. Stiffness, assembly, and power transmission.
Wheel Selection Guide (gm0)
Omni, mecanum, traction, and compliant wheels — choosing the right wheel for each robot position.
Bearing Selection for FTC
Ball bearings, flanged bearings, and pillow blocks for FTC applications. Sizing and sources.
Aluminum Extrusion in FTC
Using 15mm and 20mm aluminum extrusion for robot structures. Cutting, tapping, and connecting.
TPU 3D Printing for Compliant Parts
Printing compliant wheels, intakes, and bumpers with flexible TPU filament for FTC robots.
Robot Weight Management
Strategies for staying under the FTC weight limit: material choices, hole patterns, and priorities.
Claw Geometry & Design Physics
Link lengths, grip force, and geometry for designing effective gripper claws in FTC.
Mechanical Hard Stops Guide
Using physical hard stops to define consistent mechanism positions without relying on sensors.
Symmetric Robot Design Benefits
Building a symmetric drivetrain for predictable handling, easier auto, and simpler CAD.
Mechanism Tensioning Methods
Strategies for tensioning belts, chains, and strings: slotted holes, turnbuckles, and tensioners.
Universal Joints in FTC
Using universal joints and flexible couplings for transmitting power across angles in FTC.
Fasteners & Hardware Selection
M3, M4, 10-32 screws, locknuts, and thread-locking compounds for FTC robot assembly.
Laser Cutting for FTC
Using laser cutters for custom polycarbonate and acrylic robot parts. Tolerances and materials.
Software & Programming
39 resources
Android Studio Setup for FTC
Step-by-step guide to setting up Android Studio, ADB, and deploying code to your Control Hub.
OnBot Java Programming
Write and deploy Java code directly from a browser without Android Studio. Great for beginners.
PID Controller Tuning Guide
How to implement and tune PID controllers for precise motor and arm control in FTC.
TeleOp Code Patterns
Common TeleOp patterns: toggle buttons, state machines, driver 1/2 split, fine control modes.
State Machines in FTC
Using state machines for autonomous — more reliable than sequential sleep-based code.
Localization & Odometry Guide
Dead wheels, IMU, and encoder-based localization. When to use each and how to set them up.
Bulk Reading Sensors (FTC)
Speed up your control loop by reading all sensors in one I2C transaction using bulk reads.
Command-Based Programming
WPILib-inspired command-based architecture adapted for FTC. Clean separation of subsystems.
Motor Encoders Guide
Understanding encoder ticks, using encoders for position control, and debugging encoder issues.
IMU & Gyroscope in FTC
Using the built-in IMU for heading control. Field-centric drive, turn-to-angle, and drift correction.
Field-Centric Drive Implementation
How to implement field-centric mecanum drive using IMU heading in your TeleOp.
Async & Non-Blocking Code in FTC
Avoiding sleep() calls with async patterns, timers, and LinearOpMode vs. OpMode.
Telemetry & Debugging
Using telemetry, logs, and FTC Dashboard to debug your robot in real time.
Hardware Map Configuration Guide
Naming, configuring, and accessing motors, servos, and sensors through the Hardware Map.
Wireless ADB Deployment
Deploy code wirelessly to your Control Hub via ADB over Wi-Fi — no USB cable needed.
Git & GitHub for FTC Teams
Version control for FTC code: branching, pull requests, and collaborating as a team.
Motion Profiling Explained
Trapezoidal and S-curve motion profiles for smooth, consistent motor movement.
LinearOpMode vs OpMode
When to use LinearOpMode vs iterative OpMode, and how the thread model differs.
Java Basics for FTC (gm0)
Java syntax refresher tailored for FTC: loops, classes, inheritance, and interfaces.
ElapsedTime & Scheduling in FTC
Using ElapsedTime for non-blocking delays, timeouts, and scheduling periodic tasks.
FTC Blocks Programming Guide
Getting started with FTC Blocks: drag-and-drop programming for beginners, no Java needed.
Feedforward Control for FTC
Adding feedforward (gravity, friction, velocity) to your PID loops for better performance.
Action-Based Autonomous Architecture
Designing autonomous routines using the Road Runner 1.0 Actions API for clean composition.
Driver Hub Display & Telemetry
Customizing Driver Hub telemetry: color-coded messages, font size, and runtime HUD elements.
Thread Safety in FTC Code
Avoiding race conditions in multi-threaded FTC code: volatile, synchronized, and AtomicInteger.
Coordinate Systems in FTC
Robot-centric vs. field-centric coordinates. Understanding frame transforms for autonomous.
OpMode Lifecycle Deep Dive
init, start, loop, and stop lifecycle. Thread model, garbage collection, and resource cleanup.
Dual Gamepad Programming Patterns
Splitting robot control between driver 1 and driver 2. Macro buttons, toggle states, and modes.
Error Handling in FTC Code
Catching hardware exceptions, handling null devices gracefully, and safe fallback behaviors.
FTC Code Organization Best Practices
Folder structure, naming conventions, and package organization for large FTC Java projects.
Precise Servo Position Control
Mapping servo positions to physical angles, speed control, and multi-servo synchronization.
RUN_TO_POSITION Motor Mode
Using the built-in RUN_TO_POSITION mode for reliable position-based motor control in FTC.
Debugging Tools for FTC
Android logcat, FTC Dashboard graphs, telemetry, and remote ADB for diagnosing robot issues.
Test-Driven Development for FTC
Writing tests before implementation to catch bugs early and maintain code confidence.
Subsystem Abstraction in FTC
Encapsulating hardware groups (drivetrain, arm, intake) into clean subsystem classes.
Sensor Fusion in FTC
Combining multiple sensor inputs (encoder + IMU + vision) for more reliable state estimation.
Java Review for FTC Programmers
Key Java concepts for FTC: generics, lambdas, interfaces, and Java 8 features used in the SDK.
FTC OpMode Templates & Snippets
Ready-to-use OpMode templates for TeleOp, autonomous, and tuning routines.
Advanced State Machine Patterns
Hierarchical state machines, sub-states, and event-based transitions for complex autonomous.
Electronics & Wiring
34 resources
REV Control Hub Guide
Complete setup guide for REV Control Hub: wiring motors, servos, sensors, and network config.
REV Expansion Hub Guide
How to add a second hub for more motor/servo ports. I2C bus, USB connection, and configuration.
Motor Selection Guide (gm0)
Comparing GoBILDA, REV, TETRIX, and Andymark motors. Torque, speed, and power budget.
Servo Selection Guide (gm0)
Axon, REV Smart Servo, HS-485HB comparison. Torque ratings, feedback, and use cases.
Power Budget Calculator
How to calculate current draw for your robot. Avoiding brownouts and planning your power system.
REV Servo Power Module
Boost servo power delivery to up to 6A per channel. Required for high-torque servo loads.
I2C Sensors in FTC
Wiring and coding I2C sensors: distance sensors, color sensors, IMU, and custom devices.
Robot Wiring Guide (gm0)
Cable management, XT30 connectors, Anderson powerpole, and avoiding interference.
REV Blinkin LED Controller
Control LED strips for alliance indicators, game state feedback, and driver signals.
Digital & Analog Sensors Guide
Limit switches, touch sensors, magnetic encoders, and analog distance sensors in FTC.
Driver Station App Guide
Configuring the Driver Station app: match timers, telemetry, OpMode selection, and settings.
Battery Care & Management
FTC legal batteries, charging cycles, voltage monitoring, and competition-day battery rotation.
Control Hub OS Updates
How to update Control Hub firmware and OS. Release notes and known issues for each version.
REV Smart Servo Programmer
Using the REV servo programmer to set servo limits, direction, and speed without code.
goBILDA Yellow Jacket Motors
Full specs, gear ratio options, and encoder counts for all goBILDA Yellow Jacket motors.
REV UltraHex Motor
Specs, encoder configuration, and use cases for the REV UltraHex and Core Hex motors.
Axon Robotics Servos
High-performance servos popular in FTC: Mini, MAX, and MICRO. Specs and programming guide.
SparkFun Optical Tracking Odometry Sensor
Optical flow-based odometry sensor. Plug-and-play localization without dead wheels.
Color Sensor Selection Guide
Comparing REV Color/Distance, Adafruit TCS34725, and other FTC-legal color sensors.
Limit Switch Wiring & Code
Connecting mechanical and magnetic limit switches to the Control Hub for position detection.
Magnetic Encoder Integration
Using AS5048, AS5600, and similar magnetic encoders for absolute position sensing in FTC.
Preventing Control Hub Overheating
Ventilation, heatsinks, and cable routing to prevent REV Control Hub thermal throttling.
Avoiding Signal Interference in FTC
Separating power and signal cables, shielding, and routing to reduce electromagnetic interference.
Proper Grounding for FTC Robots
Chassis grounding, ground loops, and common grounding mistakes that cause sensor noise.
Connector Types & Selection Guide
XT30, Anderson Powerpole, JST, and Dupont connectors used in FTC robots. When to use each.
Robot Power Switch Options
Choosing a robot main power switch: REV main breaker, snap-action switches, and mounting.
Voltage Monitoring in FTC Code
Reading battery voltage via VoltageSensor API to warn about low battery and adapt behavior.
REV Power Distribution Overview
Understanding power distribution in FTC: hub ports, current limits, and fuse ratings.
Cable Management Best Practices
Zip ties, cable chains, velcro ties, and routing strategies for reliable, serviceable robots.
REV Touch Sensor Guide
Using the REV magnetic limit switch and touch sensor for zero-position reset in FTC.
Distance Sensor Guide (REV 2m)
Using the REV 2m Distance Sensor for obstacle detection and game element distance measurement.
goBILDA Motor Power Ports Guide
Understanding motor port pairing and power limitations on REV hubs for goBILDA motor setups.
Pneumatics in FTC (Legal Rules)
Legal pneumatic components for FTC: REV Robotics pneumatics kit rules and use cases.
Heat Shrink & Cable Finishing
Using heat shrink tubing for professional wiring quality, strain relief, and electrical protection.
Competition & Strategy
32 resources
FTCScout
Advanced FTC scouting and statistics platform. OPR, predictive rankings, and team analysis.
The Orange Alliance (TOA)
FTC event results database. Find match scores, rankings, and team stats from any competition.
Statbotics FTC
EPA ratings and predictive analytics for FTC teams and events.
Match Scouting Guide (gm0)
How to scout matches effectively: data collection, alliance selection, and tracking opponent patterns.
Alliance Selection Strategy
Understanding alliance selection order, picking criteria, and how to make the most of your ranking.
Pit Scouting Guide
What to look for when scouting in the pits: robot capabilities, driver experience, and reliability.
Driver Practice & Optimization
Structuring driver practice sessions, scoring routes, and refining TeleOp for competition.
Pre-Match Checklist
Essential robot inspection checklist before each match: wiring, code, batteries, and servos.
Game Scoring Analysis
Calculating expected points per cycle, identifying highest-value game elements, and endgame priority.
FTC Event Finder
Find FTC qualifier events, league meets, and championships near you using the FIRST event search.
Robot Inspection Guide
Preparing for robot inspection: size limits, weight, legal parts, and common inspection failures.
Gracious Professionalism in FTC
What GP means at competitions: helping other teams, sharing knowledge, and FIRST culture.
FTC Scouting Spreadsheet Template
Google Sheets template for tracking match performance, auto scores, endgame, and driver notes.
Autonomous Route Selection
Dashboard-driven autonomous selection at match start: choosing side, park, or full auto.
Robot Reveal Video Guide
Tips for recording a great robot reveal: lighting, angles, showcasing mechanisms, and editing.
FTC Match Strategy Guide
Optimizing your match strategy: auto-to-teleop handoff, endgame timing, and communication.
Qualifier Competition Prep Guide
Day-before and morning-of checklist for FTC qualifier events: tools, spares, and schedule.
FTC World Championship Preparation
What to expect at Worlds: division format, pit setup, judging panels, and travel logistics.
TeleOp Optimization Strategy
Cycle time analysis, driver efficiency, and control scheme optimization for TeleOp scoring.
Endgame Timing Guide
When to transition to endgame: scoring analysis, climb timing, and match clock management.
Drive Coach Best Practices
Role of the drive coach: calling plays, managing timeouts, communicating with the human player.
Match Performance Logging
Recording match scores, cycle times, and autonomous results for post-competition analysis.
FTC Scouting App Resources
Popular scouting apps used at FTC events: LimelightScout, Scouts, and custom Android apps.
Maximizing Robot Reliability
Design and testing strategies to minimize failures at competition: backup systems and fail-safes.
Cycle Counting Strategy
How to count and optimize cycles per match to maximize expected score in TeleOp.
Penalty Avoidance Guide
Common FTC penalty situations, referee signals, and robot design choices to avoid violations.
Contingency Planning in Competition
What to do when your robot breaks at an event: quick fixes, spare parts, and triage priorities.
Field Awareness During Matches
Training drivers to track field state, opponent position, and autonomous zone boundaries.
Alliance Partner Communication
Pre-match communication with alliance partners: role division, auto coordination, and endgame.
Tournament Advancement Guide
Understanding FTC advancement: league rankings, wildcard spots, and how teams advance to state.
Division Strategy at Championships
Navigating division play at FTC States/Worlds: scouting during qualifications and alliance strategy.
Communicating with Referees
How to politely question referee calls, request clarifications, and understand common rulings.
Inspire & Team Building
35 resources
Inspire Award Criteria
Official rubric for the Inspire Award. What judges look for in portfolio, outreach, and interview.
Engineering Portfolio Guide (gm0)
How to write, design, and structure your Engineering Portfolio for maximum impact.
Outreach & Community Impact
Ideas and strategies for meaningful outreach programs that impress judges and grow FIRST.
Team Management Guide
Organizing your team: roles, meeting structure, documentation, and keeping everyone engaged.
FIRST Core Values
Official FIRST Core Values: Discovery, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork, Fun.
Judge Interview Preparation
Common judge questions, how to present your robot and season story confidently.
Engineering Notebook Guide
Daily notebook practice: documenting decisions, sketches, test results, and iteration.
Team Roles & Structure
Common FTC team roles: captain, lead programmer, build lead, drive coach, and outreach lead.
Engineering Design Process
Applying formal engineering design: problem statement, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.
Connect Award Guide
Strategies for the Connect Award: engaging STEM professionals and industry sponsors.
Think Award Guide
What the Think Award judges want: software innovation, documentation, and problem-solving.
Innovate Award Guide
Creating novel hardware solutions. Documenting your design with CAD, prototypes, and testing.
Sample Engineering Portfolios
Public examples of award-winning FTC engineering portfolios from top teams.
Team Sustainability & Alumni
Keeping your team alive year to year: recruiting, mentoring, and building institutional knowledge.
FTC Business Plan Guide
Writing a compelling business plan for sponsorships, grant applications, and the Compass Award.
Control Award Guide
Winning the Control Award: innovative use of sensors, software, and control systems in FTC.
Understanding Judge Feedback
How to interpret judge score sheets, identify weaknesses, and improve between competitions.
Team Branding & Identity
Creating a team logo, uniform, and consistent branding that strengthens your Inspire presentation.
Sponsorship & Fundraising Guide
Finding and securing sponsors: cold outreach, proposal templates, and what sponsors expect.
Multimedia Engineering Portfolio Tips
Adding photos, CAD renders, code snippets, and data charts to create a standout portfolio.
Team Video Production Guide
Filming robot reveals and engineering process videos: gear, editing software, and upload tips.
FTC Team Social Media Guide
Building a team presence on Instagram, Twitter/X, and LinkedIn to attract sponsors and recruits.
STEM Ambassador Role
How to represent your team at school events, career fairs, and community demos as a STEM ambassador.
Team Recruitment Guide
Strategies for recruiting new team members: demos, presentations, and retention in early season.
Building Mentor Relationships
Finding, approaching, and keeping mentors: engineers, coaches, and industry professionals.
Effective Meeting Structure
Meeting agendas, stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives adapted for FTC build seasons.
Season Planning Guide
Pre-season goal setting, kickoff planning, build schedule, and milestone tracking for FTC.
Knowledge Transfer Between Seasons
Documenting lessons learned, creating training materials, and mentoring incoming members.
Building Positive Team Culture
Creating an inclusive, supportive environment where all team members feel valued and heard.
Conflict Resolution in Teams
Handling disagreements, managing workload conflicts, and maintaining team cohesion under pressure.
Grant Writing for FTC Teams
Finding STEM grants, writing compelling applications, and reporting outcomes for FTC funding.
Team Skills Matrix
Mapping team member skills to roles, identifying gaps, and planning training for weak areas.
Season Retrospective Guide
End-of-season review: what worked, what didn't, and how to carry lessons into next season.
Public Speaking for FTC Interviews
Presentation skills, Q&A preparation, and confident delivery for judge and sponsor meetings.
Planning a Community STEM Event
Organizing FTC demos, workshops, and school visits to build community impact for the Inspire award.
Community & Tools
48 resources
FTC Discord Server
The main FTC community Discord. 40,000+ members, channels for software, hardware, awards, and more.
r/FTC Subreddit
Active FTC subreddit for questions, reveal videos, and competition results.
GitHub FTC Community
Hundreds of open-source FTC team repositories on GitHub. Search for your game season.
Android Studio IDE
The recommended IDE for FTC programming. Free download from JetBrains/Google.
GM0 Community Discord
Discord for Game Manual 0 contributors and readers. Ask questions and discuss FTC topics.
FTC YouTube Channel
Official FIRST YouTube channel with FTC reveal videos, tutorials, and championship streams.
goBILDA YouTube Channel
Build tutorials, mechanism ideas, and product spotlights from goBILDA's engineering team.
REV Robotics YouTube
Official REV Robotics channel: Control Hub setup, hardware tutorials, and firmware updates.
Acme Robotics GitHub
Open-source repos from Acme Robotics: Road Runner, FTC Dashboard, and utility libraries.
OpenFTC GitHub
Open FTC community GitHub: EasyOpenCV, AprilTag, and other FTC open-source projects.
FTCLib GitHub
Full source for FTCLib: command-based framework, geometry utils, and controller implementations.
Pedro Pathing GitHub
Full source for Pedro Pathing: path followers, localization, and tuning OpModes.
WPILib Docs (adapted for FTC)
Control theory concepts from WPILib that apply directly to FTC: PID, feedforward, motion profiling.
FIRST Tech Challenge Forums
Official FIRST Q&A forums. Ask rules questions and get official answers from game designers.
Team 10303 (Brainstormers) GitHub
Open-source code from one of the top FTC teams. Advanced autonomous, vision, and mechanisms.
Team 19922 (Thermal Equilibrium) GitHub
Award-winning team code with well-documented Road Runner and vision implementations.
FTC Tech Toolkit
Curated tools for FTC teams: field simulation, motor calculators, and wiring diagrams.
FIRST Community Network
Official FIRST alumni and mentor network. Find local mentors and connect with the FIRST community.
FTC Season Archive
Historical FTC game archives: past game manuals, rules, field layouts, and scoring systems.
IntelliJ / Android Studio Tips
Productivity shortcuts, live templates, and refactoring tools for FTC Java development.
gm0 — Robot Building Tips
Build quality tips: squareness, rigidity, tolerances, and common rookie build mistakes.
Building a Team Website
Free hosting options, templates, and content strategy for a professional FTC team website.
FTC Events API
Official FTC REST API for querying event results, team info, and match scores programmatically.
FTC Field Simulation Tools
2D and 3D field simulators for planning autonomous paths and checking robot fit on the field.
Digital Engineering Notebook Apps
Apps and platforms for maintaining a digital engineering notebook: Notion, Confluence, and GitHub Wiki.
Project Management Tools for FTC
Using Trello, Notion, or GitHub Projects to track build tasks, code issues, and deadlines.
Team Communication Tools
Comparing Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, and email for FTC team communication and file sharing.
Top FTC Teams Open-Source Code
Curated list of GitHub repositories from world-class FTC teams available for learning and reference.
Volunteering at FTC Events
How your team members can volunteer as referees, field reset, and scorekeepers at FTC events.
Finding Your Regional FTC League
Locating your state/regional FTC league, league coordinator contacts, and local event calendar.
General Coding Resources for FTC Programmers
Free Java learning resources: Oracle tutorials, Codecademy, and CS courses applicable to FTC.
Design Tools for FTC Teams
Canva, Figma, and Google Slides templates for team logos, engineering portfolio, and presentations.
FTC Community Newsletter & Blog
Stay up to date with FTC news, season reveals, and technical articles from the community.
FTC Game Simulator & Scorer
Browser-based game score calculator and simulator to analyze scoring strategies before competition.
Collaborative CAD Workflow
Using OnShape branching, version history, and teams features for collaborative robot design.
Time Tracking for FTC Projects
Logging build hours, coding time, and outreach hours for grant reports and award documentation.
Useful Discord Bots for FTC Teams
FTCScout bots, score-tracking bots, and GitHub integration bots useful for FTC team servers.
FTC Team Finder
Find FTC teams near you to collaborate with, scrimmage against, or borrow tools and parts.
Setting Up a GitHub Team Organization
Create a GitHub organization for your FTC team: repos, branches, permissions, and PR workflows.
FTC Community YouTube Channels
Community YouTube channels with FTC tutorials, reveals, and match breakdowns from top teams.
Curated Open-Source FTC Projects
A maintained list of notable open-source FTC projects across GitHub covering all skill levels.
Inspire FTC YouTube — Tutorials
Video tutorials and guides from the Inspire FTC community covering software, hardware, and awards.
Android Studio Keyboard Shortcuts for FTC
Essential Android Studio shortcuts for FTC devs: refactor, find usages, and live templates.
FTC Build Season Timeline Guide
Week-by-week build season planning from kickoff to first qualifier: milestones and deliverables.
Mecanum Drive Mathematics
Understanding the math behind mecanum drive: wheel vectors, strafing, and field-centric transforms.
FTC Parts Suppliers Directory
Where to buy FTC-legal parts: goBILDA, REV, Andymark, ServoCity, and Amazon options compared.
Emergency Robot Repair Guide
Fast fixes for common competition failures: stripped screws, broken wires, and dead servos.
Trigger & Bumper Control Patterns
Using analog triggers for variable speed, and bumper combos for mode switching in TeleOp.
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