[FTC]: From FRC to FTC

[Megan2017]

My team has recently decided to start doing FTC as part of our robotics program. We have done FRC for years but we have never done FTC (or Vex). I have been looking at some of the resources online, and have already spotted several differences and similarities. I would really appreciate it if you could give us any tips about starting FTC or just important differences to note.
Thank you for all your help

[rockinthespecs]

Hi Megan!

My situation was the opposite of yours :) I started an FTC team last year and ended up joining a local FRC team this year!

Some things to note:

The engineering notebook is everything
Especially for rookie year teams it may seem like a pain to write out and document everything you do but the judges love it! That alone can move you onto the next event (like Chairman's). I highly recommend starting this as soon as your team is formed. Both VEX and FIRST have examples on how to correctly document your meetings and ideas (bound book and computer versions)

Keep the team small

Last year we had 7 kids and it was perfect. 2 programmers, 1 cadder, and 4 builders. Too many people on one robot can get frustrating fast. The parts are small and it's easier to break up the building into sub-assemblies (like FRC) this also makes it easier to switch out components later on

Order parts early
The parts (especially tetrix) get back ordered fast. Get them this summer if possible. We waited till September to order our starter kit last year and did not receive it until October.
Ask other local FTC (and FRC) teams for help
Asking neighboring teams last year helped us a lot. We didn't have any technical mentors and relied solely on forums and the internet to build our robot. Other FTC teams are completely open and willing to help and answer questions.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me!

[MattRain]

The engineering notebook is everything


Keep the team small



Order parts early
The parts (especially tetrix) get back ordered fast. Get them this summer if possible. We waited till September to order our starter kit last year and did not receive it until October.


Perfect answers. I can't stress enough on the ordering or parts early. Every year, for the past 8 years, (with Tetrix especially), things go on back-order.

Let me first start this off with: If you have any questions, please fell free to PM if you run into any specific questions throughout the year. I am highly active on CD and other FTC platforms talked about on this thread, with years of FTC behind me. 2008- Present.

Robot Platform Building:
My teams have been "custom" (raw stock) building for the past few years, instead of the tetrix platform, partly due to some issues we have had in the past with Pitsco/Tetix*. If your team has the capability and knowledge to work this way, it can save you some money.

If you think your team may want to have more of an erectors-set platform, I highly suggest looking into Actobotics from ServoCity.com. While they are not a direct sponsor of FIRST/FTC, they do offer a 25% discount and send out free parts every month to teams. Our FTC team is a class (& after-school)based team, and with some changes to the STEM curriculum at our school this coming year, our students will be required to create a robot with the Actobotics Platform, before going into a "custom" built robot...

https://www.servocity.com/html/firstr_hub.html

The only thing we buy from Pitsco / Tetrix are gears, servos, axle and motor hubs** and the required batteries. (We purchase the hubs from tetrix, as most of the aftermarket parts on Andymark are a tetrix based pattern, then put them into our lathe to fit them to the Actobotics platform where needed.)

Other building parts:
I highly suggest grabbing a few am-2964s, am-3102s, am-3103s from Andymark. Stay away from Tetrix Motors as much as possible. The stall to burn-out rate for a tetrix motor is 6 seconds, where as an Andymark motor is 2:54 seconds.... longer than the match. The am-2964 is almost a near match to the speed of the tetrix motor, but with a lot more torque.

http://www.andymark.com/FTC-s/274.htm

Static can and may be an issue for your team. FTC is played on foam tiles, with small electronics. Isolate your electronics with a non-conductive plastic/surface.

With the conversation of electronics, the design of the Modern Robotics modules are CRAP. Search for parts on thingiverse if you have access to a 3d-printer. All of the modules need to have some sort of support on the USBs as they come out of the modules.

Other:

If you have the budget, buy the official field walls, pads, and game elements. If you are going to purchase these, order the walls and pads now. The elements for next season will be available for purchase after kickoff. When buying the elements, do so as soon as they come available... otherwise you can wait a month or two for your field. One of the main reason I say to get the OFFICIAL field, is the fact that FTC has a tiny field compared to FRC, and every inch counts, where as in FRC, you can be a few inches off either way, and still obtain a score easily. (Field stays the same size every year. Walls and pads can be re-used)

Walls: 659 before taxes/shipment
Pads: 230 before taxes/shipment
Elements : 450-500 each year before taxes/shipment

Start learning the programming now. FTC just switched over to Java, and still doesn't have a great base out there. Basic stuff is available, but anything advanced, it dwindles fast when trying to find something.

FTC has a very small following on CD, partly due to the fact that our subreddit doesnt show up on the main feed without setting it up, and the fact that our threads dissapper alot to make room... If you want to be active in the social media of FTC, get on Twitter and follow #TipsforFTCTeams, as well as watching the FTC Fourms, and FTC reddit.
http://ftcforum.usfirst.org/forum.php
https://www.reddit.com/r/FTC/

* (Didn't receive our shipment for 5 months after they had lost it, happened again and didn't receive it for 3 months... (Nothing was back-order at the time /week of purchase)

[Megan2017]

Thank you so much for all the advice, it was super helpful

[Lhall]

My team has recently decided to start doing FTC as part of our robotics program. We have done FRC for years but we have never done FTC (or Vex). I have been looking at some of the resources online, and have already spotted several differences and similarities. I would really appreciate it if you could give us any tips about starting FTC or just important differences to note.
Thank you for all your help

When you say online resources, I'm assuming that you have seen the web page "Start a FIRST Tech Challenge Team (http://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/ftc/start-a-team)" and the May 24th FTC Blog post "Welcome to FIRST Tech Challenge! (http://firsttechchallenge.blogspot.com/2016/05/welcome-to-first-tech-challenge.html)" specifically geared toward rookie team Coaches/Mentors.

Another great source of information, keeping you in the loop, help, advice, etc is your Affiliate Partner. Being in Georgia you are lucky to have one of the BEST - Robert May. Definitely contact Robert (if you haven't done so yet) - I know that he will take care of you and steer you in the right direction.

Also feel free to PM me anytime.

YOU ARE NEVER ALONE! (http://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/ftc/start-a-team)

Welcome to the wonderful world of FTC! :) :D
Lori