FIRST Tech Challenge
What is FTC for us?
Planck Team FTC competes in FIRST Tech Challenge, where we bring the same collaborative mindset and relentless problem-solving from FLL into a more complex, head-to-head robotics environment. We’ve earned the national title in FTC Scrimmage 2023 and competed internationally in Singapore and beyond, staying committed to representing Italy at the highest competitive levels.
How we build differently
In FTC, we’re designing and programming robots built from reusable metal chassis, powered by modular electronics and Java-based code. The constraints are tighter, the competition fiercer, and the engineering decisions more consequential — but the core principle stays the same: every person has a role that matters.
Unlike FLL’s autonomous missions, FTC is head-to-head alliance competition — two teams square off on the same field in real time. Your robot has to be fast, reliable, and adaptable. Our engineering notebook becomes not just documentation, but a record of every decision, every failure, every iteration. We learn to think like engineers because FTC forces you to: there’s nowhere to hide when your design choice fails during a match.
Why FTC pushes us further
FTC is where we deepen our skills. We’re not just competing; we’re building capabilities that matter beyond robotics — troubleshooting under pressure, communicating complex technical ideas clearly, and staying composed when things go wrong. Some of us will carry these skills into engineering careers. All of us will carry the experience of having built something real, something that worked, and something we’re genuinely proud of.
Learn more: About Planck Team | FIRST LEGO League