FIRST® Tech Challenge

It’s way more than building robots! FIRST Tech Challenge teams (up to 15 team members, grades 7-12) are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge in an alliance format. Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, connecting with their communities, innovation, and working as a team. The robot kit is reusable from year to year and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming. Teams design and build robots, raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach to earn specific awards. Participants are eligible to apply for $80M+ in college scholarships. Each new challenge is released in September. Ohio qualifying events will be held from December through February and the Ohio FTC Championship is held in March at Hobart Arena in Troy. The season concludes with the global FIRST Championship held in Houston, TX in April.

CURRENT SEASON

2024/2025 SEASON FIRST Tech Challenge Team registration is open.  

REGISTRATION

Registering a Team will give you the ability to register and compete in official FIRST Tech Challenge events during the current season. Your team will also have access to the FIRST storefront for discounted control system components and build kits.

Shortly following the official season kick-off in September, Teams will be able to register for Ohio tournaments for an additional fee. Go to the Tournament Registration Information page for details.

More Information

 

Check out this season’s theme, INTO THE DEEP presented by RTX

The Education Outreach office reserves the right to cancel events due to surges in COVID-19 cases or changes in or elevation of health protection conditions - HPCONs. We will attempt to give as much notice as possible if a cancelation occurs. As a Wright-Patterson AFB organization, we must adhere to DoD, DAF, and/or WPAFB guidelines.