The North Carolina FIRST® Tech Challenge Season Kickoff is a wonderful place for Rookie and Veteran teams to come and learn more about this season's Challenge, attend detailed training workshops, and network with other teams.
Thinking about starting or joining a team, but need more information? We invite you to attend as well!
The NC FTC® Planning Committee along with veteran coaches, volunteers, and teams will be on hand to assist with any questions you may have about becoming apart of the NC FTC® community. Attending the workshops at the Kickoff is a great way to learn more about the program and to network with teams from around the state.
Thinking about starting or joining a team, but need more information? We invite you to attend as well!
The NC FTC® Planning Committee along with veteran coaches, volunteers, and teams will be on hand to assist with any questions you may have about becoming apart of the NC FTC® community. Attending the workshops at the Kickoff is a great way to learn more about the program and to network with teams from around the state.
NC FTC® 2020 Virtual Season Kickoff Session Recordings:
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To view Kickoff Recordings:
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Workshop Descriptions & Handouts:
Opening Session Presentation - Download the Handout!
Presenter - Dr. Kory Bennett, NC FLL & NC FTC Program Delivery Partner
SESSION 1 8:45AM - 9:30AM
Beginning Programming with Android Studio –
Presenter – Ethan Dominic, FTC Team 2901, Purple Gears
This kick-off session is going to cover the basics of getting started with programming your robot, which will cover configuring phones, setting up the development environment using Android Studio, and downloading your first Tele-Op program to your robot.
Introduction to CAD With Onshape – Download the Handout!
Presenter – Thomas Greene, FTC Team 2901, Purple Gears
In the Introduction to CAD with Onshape presentation, attendees will learn the fundamentals of Onshape. Even with no prior CAD experience, they will learn how to use Onshape, a unique browser-based CAD software that runs on almost every standard device, including Chromebooks and mobile devices. Attendees will learn the skills they need to model their team's robots, including generating accurate motion of gears, bills of materials, and gaining access to an extensive, curated Onshape Parts Library
Outreach - Download the Handout!
Presenters - The RoboKnights, FTC Team 8569
How to approach outreach as a team, while engaging and educating the public about FIRST.
Building Options – Download the Handout!
Presenters – Tundrabots, FTC Team 7083 & Cut the Red Wire, FTC Team 6078
In this session, we will go over the advantages and disadvantages of the different building systems commonly used in FTC. We will discuss systems like Gobilda, Andymark, Rev, Acto, Vex, Tetrix, and full custom.
Marketing - Download the Handout!
Presenters – Wannabee Strange FTC Team 731
Learn about multiple approaches, activities, tactics and resources that can be used to market your team to increase visibility of your team, FTC and FIRST in your community.
Tips for a Virtual Season – Download the Handout!
Presenters – Alan Smith, Rick Hallihan, John Toebes
A season with virtual meetings is new for almost all of us. Come hear from a panel of coaches that have been doing off-season virtual meetings for things that have worked (and things that have not.)
Judging in the time of COVID-19 – Download the Handout!
Presenter - Fiona Last-Powell, NC FTC Lead Judge Advisor
There are several changes to the FIRST Tech Challenge Judging Process this season and all our events in NC will be remote, so let’s think through how to do a great team interview whilst home alone on a web-meeting!
SESSION 2 9:45AM - 10:30AM
Autonomous Programming Basics – Download the Handout!
Presenter – Nikki Allen and Will Meyers, FTC Team 2901, Purple Gears
In this session the programmers of team 2901 purple gears will be teaching you the basics of an autonomous program. This includes driving by encoders, turning using a gyroscope that is built into the REV Expansion Hub, and vision processing using VuForia and TensorFlow.
Advanced CAD With Onshape – Room 2
Presenter – Ilam Maya, FTC Team 2901, Purple Gears
This Onshape session is to familiarize you with the more advanced aspect of Onshape, from talking about Part Studios and making custom parts to editing parts in context and creating a part in an assembly from context.
Engineering Notebooks - Download the Handout!
Presenter – SWIFT Robotics FTC Team 7105
Insight on how to put together a great Journal whilst following all the rules and guidelines. This year there is also the Portfolio so we will talk about that and the importance of a strong virtual notebook.
Setting up and using a Virtual Robot Simulator - Room 4
Presenter – Alan Smith FTC Team 16072 Quantum Quacks
Tired of trying to write your autonomous code the night before because the robot isn't ready any earlier? In this workshop, we'll show how to setup and use the Beta8397 simulator so that you can write and test software without your robot present.
Scoring Mechanisms - Download the Handout!
Presenters – Tundrabots FTC Team 7083 & Aperture Science FTC Team 5064
In this session, we will overview the different types of scoring mechanisms that can be used for FTC. We will go overactive intakes, lift systems, and how scoring mechanisms interact with each other.
Strategy Session - Room 6
Presenter - Jan Fischer, FTC Alum
This year is going to be really different. How do you strategize effectively to play alone on a “half” field”?
Season Overview, Tournament Structure, and Competition Schedule - Click here to view the season structure!
Presenter – Shayla Sharpe, Sharpe Pursuits, Inc. - NC FTC Event Planner
In this session, we will provide an overview of the virtual season tournament structure. Due to COVID-19, registration, team communication and tournament week procedures have changed to conform to an online environment.
SESSION 3 10:45AM - 11:30AM
Designing for Consistent Autonomous - Download the Handout!
Presenters – Tundrabots FTC Team 7083 & Quantum Quacks FTC Team 16072
We will discuss how to balance software and mechanical needs for autonomous. This presentation will also go over the different hardware options to improve your consistency for autonomous touch sensors, encoders, odometry, etc.
Drive Trains; Designs and Decisions – Room 2
Presenter – Wannabee Strange FTC Team 731
This presentation outlines the basic types of drive trains and which drive trains to use in different situations. We will also go over the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of drive trains.
Control Theory - Download the Handout!
Presenters – Phi Rho Eagles FTC Team 8300 & Highly Combustible FRT Team 9548
This session will be a simple explanation of control theory in FTC and how it can be used for auto, pseudocode we will be covering topics such as Primitive control methods, PID, and Feedforward control. We will also have take-home Java Examples
Linear Motion - Download the Handout!
Presenters – Beren Hollingsworth – Alum Aperture Science, Team 5064
An overview of options for all sorts of sliders and linear expansion systems.
On-Bot Java – Download the Handout!
Presenter – Sushen Kolakaleti, FTC Team 4653, Irrational Door Keepers
The basics of how to program your robot using Java and Android Studio. Starting with how to setup the programming environment and ending with methods of getting the code to the bot, including On-Bot Java.
Running a Rookie Team – Download the Handout!
Presenters – Rick and Tammy Hallihan Infinite Turtles FTC Team 16461, Sanjita Srinath, Iniya Ilamparithi
This session will cover all aspects of running a rookie team - planning sessions, design, hardware, software, notebook, outreach, virtual ideas, etc. They will share their insights to having a successful season and valuable lessons learned from their first year in FTC. If you're a rookie team, come learn top tips from an experienced FIRST team that just completed their first season in FTC.
Coaches’ Round Table (no handout for this session)
Facilitator – Robyn Stephens, The RoboKnights FTC Team 8569
Let’s get together and build community whilst discussing typical season challenges and celebrations as well as unique ones for 2020-2021.
Opening Session Presentation - Download the Handout!
Presenter - Dr. Kory Bennett, NC FLL & NC FTC Program Delivery Partner
SESSION 1 8:45AM - 9:30AM
Beginning Programming with Android Studio –
Presenter – Ethan Dominic, FTC Team 2901, Purple Gears
This kick-off session is going to cover the basics of getting started with programming your robot, which will cover configuring phones, setting up the development environment using Android Studio, and downloading your first Tele-Op program to your robot.
Introduction to CAD With Onshape – Download the Handout!
Presenter – Thomas Greene, FTC Team 2901, Purple Gears
In the Introduction to CAD with Onshape presentation, attendees will learn the fundamentals of Onshape. Even with no prior CAD experience, they will learn how to use Onshape, a unique browser-based CAD software that runs on almost every standard device, including Chromebooks and mobile devices. Attendees will learn the skills they need to model their team's robots, including generating accurate motion of gears, bills of materials, and gaining access to an extensive, curated Onshape Parts Library
Outreach - Download the Handout!
Presenters - The RoboKnights, FTC Team 8569
How to approach outreach as a team, while engaging and educating the public about FIRST.
Building Options – Download the Handout!
Presenters – Tundrabots, FTC Team 7083 & Cut the Red Wire, FTC Team 6078
In this session, we will go over the advantages and disadvantages of the different building systems commonly used in FTC. We will discuss systems like Gobilda, Andymark, Rev, Acto, Vex, Tetrix, and full custom.
Marketing - Download the Handout!
Presenters – Wannabee Strange FTC Team 731
Learn about multiple approaches, activities, tactics and resources that can be used to market your team to increase visibility of your team, FTC and FIRST in your community.
Tips for a Virtual Season – Download the Handout!
Presenters – Alan Smith, Rick Hallihan, John Toebes
A season with virtual meetings is new for almost all of us. Come hear from a panel of coaches that have been doing off-season virtual meetings for things that have worked (and things that have not.)
Judging in the time of COVID-19 – Download the Handout!
Presenter - Fiona Last-Powell, NC FTC Lead Judge Advisor
There are several changes to the FIRST Tech Challenge Judging Process this season and all our events in NC will be remote, so let’s think through how to do a great team interview whilst home alone on a web-meeting!
SESSION 2 9:45AM - 10:30AM
Autonomous Programming Basics – Download the Handout!
Presenter – Nikki Allen and Will Meyers, FTC Team 2901, Purple Gears
In this session the programmers of team 2901 purple gears will be teaching you the basics of an autonomous program. This includes driving by encoders, turning using a gyroscope that is built into the REV Expansion Hub, and vision processing using VuForia and TensorFlow.
Advanced CAD With Onshape – Room 2
Presenter – Ilam Maya, FTC Team 2901, Purple Gears
This Onshape session is to familiarize you with the more advanced aspect of Onshape, from talking about Part Studios and making custom parts to editing parts in context and creating a part in an assembly from context.
Engineering Notebooks - Download the Handout!
Presenter – SWIFT Robotics FTC Team 7105
Insight on how to put together a great Journal whilst following all the rules and guidelines. This year there is also the Portfolio so we will talk about that and the importance of a strong virtual notebook.
Setting up and using a Virtual Robot Simulator - Room 4
Presenter – Alan Smith FTC Team 16072 Quantum Quacks
Tired of trying to write your autonomous code the night before because the robot isn't ready any earlier? In this workshop, we'll show how to setup and use the Beta8397 simulator so that you can write and test software without your robot present.
Scoring Mechanisms - Download the Handout!
Presenters – Tundrabots FTC Team 7083 & Aperture Science FTC Team 5064
In this session, we will overview the different types of scoring mechanisms that can be used for FTC. We will go overactive intakes, lift systems, and how scoring mechanisms interact with each other.
Strategy Session - Room 6
Presenter - Jan Fischer, FTC Alum
This year is going to be really different. How do you strategize effectively to play alone on a “half” field”?
Season Overview, Tournament Structure, and Competition Schedule - Click here to view the season structure!
Presenter – Shayla Sharpe, Sharpe Pursuits, Inc. - NC FTC Event Planner
In this session, we will provide an overview of the virtual season tournament structure. Due to COVID-19, registration, team communication and tournament week procedures have changed to conform to an online environment.
SESSION 3 10:45AM - 11:30AM
Designing for Consistent Autonomous - Download the Handout!
Presenters – Tundrabots FTC Team 7083 & Quantum Quacks FTC Team 16072
We will discuss how to balance software and mechanical needs for autonomous. This presentation will also go over the different hardware options to improve your consistency for autonomous touch sensors, encoders, odometry, etc.
Drive Trains; Designs and Decisions – Room 2
Presenter – Wannabee Strange FTC Team 731
This presentation outlines the basic types of drive trains and which drive trains to use in different situations. We will also go over the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of drive trains.
Control Theory - Download the Handout!
Presenters – Phi Rho Eagles FTC Team 8300 & Highly Combustible FRT Team 9548
This session will be a simple explanation of control theory in FTC and how it can be used for auto, pseudocode we will be covering topics such as Primitive control methods, PID, and Feedforward control. We will also have take-home Java Examples
Linear Motion - Download the Handout!
Presenters – Beren Hollingsworth – Alum Aperture Science, Team 5064
An overview of options for all sorts of sliders and linear expansion systems.
On-Bot Java – Download the Handout!
Presenter – Sushen Kolakaleti, FTC Team 4653, Irrational Door Keepers
The basics of how to program your robot using Java and Android Studio. Starting with how to setup the programming environment and ending with methods of getting the code to the bot, including On-Bot Java.
Running a Rookie Team – Download the Handout!
Presenters – Rick and Tammy Hallihan Infinite Turtles FTC Team 16461, Sanjita Srinath, Iniya Ilamparithi
This session will cover all aspects of running a rookie team - planning sessions, design, hardware, software, notebook, outreach, virtual ideas, etc. They will share their insights to having a successful season and valuable lessons learned from their first year in FTC. If you're a rookie team, come learn top tips from an experienced FIRST team that just completed their first season in FTC.
Coaches’ Round Table (no handout for this session)
Facilitator – Robyn Stephens, The RoboKnights FTC Team 8569
Let’s get together and build community whilst discussing typical season challenges and celebrations as well as unique ones for 2020-2021.
