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We know there's a lot to think about when you're getting started with FIRST Tech Challenge. So we wanted to start you off with some of our general building best practices so that you have a couple specific things to think about when you start building your robot.  �         Design to facilitate easy repair. Make sure that every part is accessible and easy to fix for quick and painless pit repair. �          Build the robot for competition. Consider the outcome of different types of collisions and add guards and bumpers in the design to minimize impact. Protect wires and position motors so that the end of the wire is inside the robot body. �         As screws, nuts, and washers are removed from the robot or from early prototypes, check them for damage and discard or mark parts that are no longer perfect. �         Keep drive wheels symmetrical. Asymmetrical wheels will ...

The FIRST Tech Challenge season is well underway and we are fast approaching the first events of the season , which always gets us thinking about the super volunteer community of FTC. We interviewed Outstanding Volunteers across the globe to create our first ever top ten list: Why Volunteering with FTC Rocks! #10: It is a great excuse to play with robots! For all those adults who are still kids at heart, this program is for you. At FTC, we embrace our geekiness and share our excitement over gadgets and technology. Still recall your LEGOs, erector sets, and blocks fondly? This is the place for you, too. #9: It�s a chance to use some of the knowledge locked up in your brain. Mentoring young people is important work for the young people, but also puts some of that knowledge and experience of adults to use! Whether you are a writer, planner, scientist, engineer, cheerleader, organizer, or leader, your skills are needed! #8: It�s an opportunity to learn something new. Everyone learns wi...

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...