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Here at FIRST our mission is to inspire the next generation of technology leaders. That�s a pretty powerful mission, and one that�s hard to argue with.  The question is, how do we do that? Maybe more pointedly, how does the new FIRST Tech Challenge Android-based platform help? FIRST Tech Challenge teams are presented with a completely unstructured problem. They have a list of approved parts and an annual game . From those they must design, develop, build and test a robot. How does Android help better prepare students? While the mechanical and electrical engineering content of the program are about equivalent to prior years, the new Android operating system opens up many more opportunities for FIRST Tech Challenge participants to connect what they�re learning to the real world. FIRST Tech Challenge teams will learn how to program using Java , the backbone of the Android operating system. In doing so they will learn to be App Designers.  According to a January 2015 article ...

FIRST Tech Challenge participants and teams rise to the challenge each season. At Kickoff in September, they are given a game challenge , and they get right to work tackling the problem with creativity, innovation, and ingenuity. The process they go through is a vital skill in robot-building and in life. When encountering a problem, be it a professional, personal, or academic challenge, the first step to finding a resolution is understanding the problem. Look at it from all angles, measure it, poke at it, ask questions, and even get other perspectives besides your own.  After developing a full understanding of the problem or challenge, the fun begins: brainstorming possible solutions. The possibilities are endless, and maybe that is daunting, but focus first on just listing all ideas. Then go through each idea and look at its feasibility: can you do it? How much energy or effort will it take? Do you have the resources? Narrow down all of the options to three. Look closely at the...

Each season, FIRST Tech Challenge presents live "Ask an Expert" trainings for rookie and veteran teams. This year, the schedule is jam-packed, so we want to share some highlights: New Technology Series This four-part series will look closely at the new FTC Android-based technology and the various components, led by FTC teams, volunteers, and staff. Be sure to attend these live Google Hangouts on Air sessions and bring your questions (specific dates TBA): A Look at the New Parts in late August - find out what each new item is and what it does. App Inventor Overview in September - get a walk-through of the program and its capabilities. Mounting, Prep, and Assembly in October - where should you put what and how? We'll tell you the best tips and tricks we have for adding the new technology to your robot. Your Technology in Competition in November - how will this new technology affect competition? This session will help you be prepared for what to expect on the compet...

Team #2843 Under the Son A year ago FIRST Tech Challenge announced the release of a step-by-step guide to building a competition-ready robot, a project we called the PushBot. The robot was designed, built, and programmed by FTC teams (MATRIX by Team #003 from Australia and TETRIX by Team #2843 in Maryland, USA) to provide rookie FTC teams with easy instructions to build a basic competition-ready robot. The guide was clear, easy to follow, and included lots of pictures. Last year we saw many modified PushBot robots competing at FTC events all over the country. The move to the new Android-Based Technology made the old PushBot Guide obsolete, but Team #2843 Under the Son came to the rescue, willingly taking on the challenge of modifying the robot to include the new technology as well as re-writing the guide from top to bottom. Like every FTC team this season, they had to learn how to use Android Studio, App Inventor, and program with Java, and since they were one of the first teams to...