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Down to the wire
We're down to the last two days and I know everyone is as anxious and excited as we are at FTC headquarters for the release of the new game. I've followed all the comments on Facebook and the forums...
View ArticleHow did you spend your Saturday?
by JoAnn HalloranFTC Partner Services ManagerUsually, my kickoff Saturday is spent in the office, (wo)manning the phones and crossing my fingers that everything will run flawlessly. This year, I had...
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Game hints round up
We had a lot of fun here at FTC HQ putting up game hints and seeing all the guesses and theories. I thought I'd go ahead and repost all of the game hints (and non-hints) and explain them....
View ArticleThe Ring It Up! Game Forum is now open!
Almost two weeks have passed since the Ring It Up! manuals were released and I'm sure you've got some questions on what is and isn't legal.To get the official answers to your questions, visit the FTC...
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Weighty Matters
by Tom EngFTC EngineerThis year’s game, Ring It Up!, has a Corner Goal Bonus where an alliance can earn extra points by placing special weighted rings on a Corner Goal structure. The weighted rings...
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Jr.FLL and FTC, a potentially EXPLOSIVE relationship!
By Dana Chism, Jr.FLL Program ManagerGreetings FTC Teams,First off, let me congratulate you on starting another successful FTC Season. I hope you are hard at work mastering the plans for an awesome...
View ArticleWhat makes FIRST, FIRST?
There are a plethora of STEM groups and activities available to students today, everything from underwater robots to the local science fair. So what sets FIRST apart? Gracious Professionalism®.It's...
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Introducing the FTC League/Meet format
By Ken JohnsonFIRST Acting Senior VP of Programs and Chief Program OfficerFIRST is unique from other extra curricular activities. Our mission, volunteers, and our impact are different than what was...
View ArticlePreparation is key
As I write this, Hurricane Sandy is poised and ready to pounce on us here in the northeastern United States. Everywhere I turn there's a reminder. The wind picking up outside, the rain, the constant...
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Seeing the light
By Tom EngFTC EngineerThis year’s game, Ring It Up!, provides infrared (IR) beacons that can be used as navigational aids for the autonomous operation of a robot. The light that is emitted by these...
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The Samantha Module explained
By John ToebesFTC Volunteer, creator of the Samantha ModuleFor the past three years, FIRST has used the Samantha Module as a key part of the robot control system to allow the field to control and...
View ArticleCracking the code
At the heart of every high-performing FTC robot is the programming code telling each mechanism how and when to perform a task. If you're a new (or old) team, the challenge of programming may loom...
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Making the connection
I'm always impressed with what students in FTC are accomplishing. At least once a week, something comes across the FTC Facebook page that simply amazes me. The ingenuity and creativity of the...
View ArticleFTC-Iowa Blog: FTC MAGIC - It Does Exist!
FTC-Iowa Blog: FTC MAGIC - It Does Exist!: Have you ever been frustrated with FTC? Like, really frustrated?? Ever ask yourself: “WHY doesn’t the robot work?”; “Are we REALLY ready for...
View ArticleAlphabet soup and robot parts
Acronyms are a real pain. During my time in the Air Force, I thought I'd seen every possible combination of alphabet soup. Then I came to FIRST. There are many acronyms FTC teams should know. An...
View ArticleTell your story
Everyone loves a good story and FTC is full of amazing ones. But because teams are spread out across the globe, we don't always get to hear about them. To fix this problem, I'm going to start...
View ArticleHappy Holidays from the FIRST Tech Challenge!
The holiday season is a hectic time for everyone and the FIRST community is no exception. For FTC'ers, it's the middle of competition season, for FRC, kick-off is just around the corner. So, we would...
View Article2012: A look back
Since its inception, the FIRST Tech Challenge has had one big year after another. 2012 was no exception. Here's a look back at some of the year's highlights.New kit of parts - In 2012, the FTC game...
View ArticleThank you Mentors and Coaches!
FTC is about inspiring kids in STEM, but the program wouldn't work without all of the amazing mentors and coaches who give up their valuable time to guide their students. So, since January is National...
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What I love most about FIRST
This past weekend I had the privilege of traveling to Flagstaff, AZ, for the FTC state championship, hosted by Coconino High School and FRC Team 2486, the CocoNuts.AHERT Ravens - AZ Inspire...
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