[FTC]: Rookie Team Help

Other FIRST Tech Challenge
1

Hi, I am an alum from my schools robotics team and I continue to mentor remotely from my highschool. This year is our third year in FIRST and first year competing in FTC. I have a few questions, some of which ive asked my team, but they have been to busy to reply. I appologize in advance if any of my questions are answered in the manual. I have read it already, however I have not yet found these answers.

  1. How long is the build period?
  2. Are robots allowed to knock the opposing alliance’s pucks down from the rack?
  3. Can a robot play defence on an opposing robot trying to go back up the ramp for the extra 10 pts? Even in the last 30, 15, 10 seconds?
  4. Can a robot possess opposing alliance’s pucks?
  5. Can pucks be descored from the central circle? The central triangle?
  6. Do the kits come with tank treads of any sort? If so, what size are these and how many are there?
  7. Is there a kit/instructions on building a cheap, practice FTC arena?
  8. Is FIRST selling any of the game components, ie. the rack, the rollers, central triangle, the ramp, ect.
  9. How high are the racks?
  10. Is there a weight limit to the robots?

Thats all I can think of for now, sorry about the number of questions.

Thanks for your help!

2

The best thing I can do for you is to point you towards the manual and the Offical FTC Q&A forums.

3

I took a quick read and the answers to the first five are/appear to be:

  1. until your last competition.
    2-5) nothing against it.

I don’t know about the rest.

4

I’m not sure which racks you are referring to but I assume that you mean the ones that you flip the pucks out for 10 points.

There’s nothing against it but it will not count on your score (almost positive about that) You will still be scoring 10 points for the other alliance but yes, you would be holding their pucks from their possession.

5
  1. Starts the moment the game was released and ends when the world championship takes place.
  2. I am pretty sure that is legal, go look in the game manual and FAQ.
  3. I see no reason why not.
  4. If there is no rule against it then its legal.
  5. Same as above
  6. Nope there are no tank treads this year unless you make some.
  7. Should be soon you can look at field drawings to get ideas.
  8. I don’t think so. The stuff should be some what available from other sources.
  9. Look at field drawings.
  10. Nope

http://usfirst.org/community/ftc/content.aspx?id=962
http://usfirst.org/community/FTC/content.aspx?id=6654

Good resource right now as well http://theroboticsuniverse.com/ftclab/phpBB3/.

6

Yes, I do mean these racks, however, as far as I understand, only 1 of the 4 racks will award 10 pts for knocking down the pucks, and this can only be done in autonomous. Is this correct?

7

Yes, I do mean these racks, however, as far as I understand, only 1 of the 4 racks will award 10 pts for knocking down the pucks, and this can only be done in autonomous. Is this correct?

Yes it is. You can refer to section 2.4.2 in the manual for this.
Clearing the far rack in the autonomous mode is worth 10 points and any of the other 3 racks worth 5 points each.