FIRST Tech Challenge (or FTC) is a robotics competition run by the organization FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). Each year, teams like ours compete by designing and building robots to solve a set challenge. The 2025/2026 archeologically themed challenge involves collecting and launching balls into hoppers to score points.
Challenge Details
At the start of each match, the obelisk at the center back of the field is rotated randomly. The obelisk displays a pattern of balls where each ball scored in this pattern at the end earns extra points.
Each match is split up into two main sections: Auto and Teleop. The Auto period takes up the first 30 seconds of the match where robots must operate fully autonomously. The remaining 2 minutes of the match is Teleoperational where drivers take control of the robot and are able to pilot their robot manually.
How is FTC different from FLL and FRC?
FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a competition where people build robots from materials like metal and plastic to fit within an 18 by 18 inch cube. In the FIRST Lego League (FLL) challenge, teams construct robots from lego based components and the robots are generally significantly smaller then robots in FTC. The FIRST Robotics Competition scales things up with teams manufacturing robots that can come out to be around 4 feet tall!
Advancement
Teams can choose to qualify with either the qualifying tournaments or league meets. If they are one of the few teams that make it, they'll progress to the regional championship where they have the opportunity to make it to the championship (also known as "worlds").
(Super Qualifying Tournament isn't offered in Northern California)
Where We're At
Our team has advanced from our local league meets and final league tournament, ending the season at the NorCal regional championships.
