FTC Robotics for Beginners and Beyond: A Complete Guide to Building, Programming, Testing, and Competing with FIRST Tech Challenge Robots

By: Mirel, Jason

FTC Robotics for Beginners and Beyond is a practical, step-by-step guide to building, programming, testing, and competing with FIRST Tech Challenge robots. Whether you are completely new to robotics or ready to take your FTC skills further, this book provides a structured path from foundational concepts to advanced robot development.

Starting with the fundamentals of FTC robotics, readers learn how robots are designed, how motors, mechanisms, sensors, and electronics work together, and how to approach robot development using a practical engineering process. The book then moves into Java programming and the FTC SDK, providing the foundation needed to create real robot programs.

You will learn how to:

Design and build effective FTC robot mechanismsWork with motors, servos, sensors, and electronicsProgram robots with Java and the FTC SDKCreate reliable TeleOp controlsDevelop autonomous routinesUse localization, odometry, and trajectoriesApply computer vision and AprilTagsAnalyze games and develop competitive robot designsPrototype and improve mechanisms using CADTest, debug, and optimize robot performancePrepare for competitions and develop match strategiesUse scouting and alliance strategies effectivelyApply advanced programming and control techniquesOrganize an effective FTC teamDocument engineering decisions and testing resultsDevelop a continuous-improvement processBuild skills that extend beyond FTC into advanced robotics and engineering

Rather than focusing only on how to make a robot move, this book teaches the engineering mindset behind successful robotics. Readers learn how to identify problems, evaluate solutions, prototype ideas, test designs, analyze failures, and continuously improve their systems.

Practical examples, programming concepts, troubleshooting guidance, formulas, testing checklists, technical references, and development resources make this book useful both as a learning guide and as a reference throughout an FTC season.

Whether you are an FTC beginner, student programmer, robot builder, aspiring engineer, robotics mentor, or experienced team member, FTC Robotics for Beginners and Beyond provides the knowledge and practical framework needed to move from building your first robot to developing more capable, reliable, and competition-ready robotic systems.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0HFSK6KC9
• ISBN13: 9798193665243
• Release Date: August 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 222 Pages
• Weight: 1.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.5" x 11.0"