What is FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge)?
Your best bet is to research it on the FIRST website, but in brief, it is another FIRST program for grades 7-12. Glastonbury Public Schools (GPS) does not have any FTC teams at this time. GPS offers FLL-C for students in grades 7 & 8 and FRC is available at our high school for grades 9-12. I am aware of one FTC team in Glastonbury (not affiliated with Glastonbury Public Schools): https://officialis.wixsite.com/armoredartemises
Comparing FTC and FRC:
In both programs, the students build a robot to do certain tasks according to the rules of the challenge that year. Both teams purchase a starting kit, and there are specific rules and regulations for the robots in each program. There are no LEGO pieces to be found, and the kids use real coding languages, like Java, instead of drag-and-drop programming software. Both programs participate in the annual "World Competition," along with FLL-C and FLL-E. Both FRC and FTC must participate in fundraising and should do community outreach.
Comparing FTC and FRC:
In both programs, the students build a robot to do certain tasks according to the rules of the challenge that year. Both teams purchase a starting kit, and there are specific rules and regulations for the robots in each program. There are no LEGO pieces to be found, and the kids use real coding languages, like Java, instead of drag-and-drop programming software. Both programs participate in the annual "World Competition," along with FLL-C and FLL-E. Both FRC and FTC must participate in fundraising and should do community outreach.
FIRST Tech Challenge
~Smaller robot - needs to fit into an 18-inch cube ~Smaller teams - limited to 15 students ~Smaller playing field - 12'x12' ~Games played with four robots on the field (two alliances of two robots each) |
FIRST Robotics Competition
~Bigger robots - typically weighs about 120 pounds ~Bigger teams - unlimited number of students ~Bigger playing field - 27' x 54' (basketball court) ~Games played with six robots on the field (two alliances of three robots each) |