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FTC Blocks // Student reference

See the robot’s logic.
Understand every block.

How does a button become a motor command? How does a robot know how far it has moved? Start with a question, learn the Blocks that answer it, and make a prediction before exploring the full visual program.

Open the programsLearn the vocabularyOfficial FIRST courses
Official FIRST Tech Challenge courses

Learn with FIRST.

Watch a course on the official FIRST Tech Challenge YouTube channel, then put an idea into practice with our guided Blocks lessons.

FTC Blocks · Official FIRST course

Blocks Programming Autonomous Mode

Learn how to use FTC Blocks to program autonomous robot behavior.

Problem solving · Official FIRST course

Computational Thinking and Software Writing

Practice breaking a problem into steps and turning an idea into software.

Program library

Choose your path

Start with joystick driving or camera-guided alignment. For step-by-step practice, try the 60-minute intake lesson: explanations first, paper traces and arithmetic next, then a self-check.

TeleOp · Begin here

Start

Basic mecanum driving with clear joystick, motor-power, and safety lessons.

  • Joystick coordinates
  • Mecanum mixing
  • Normalization
  • Telemetry
  • Safety stops
Study this program
TeleOp + Vision · Next challenge

AprilTagTeleOp

Manual driving, live cluster distances, and Square-button alignment using AprilTag geometry.

  • Camera coordinates
  • Tag IDs
  • Sine and cosine
  • atan2
  • Cluster centers
Study this program
Autonomous · Advanced

AprilTagAuto

Triangulates a cluster center, turns toward it, approaches, and stops 24 inches away.

  • State machines
  • Vision feedback
  • Timeouts
  • 3D distance
  • Closed-loop steering
Study this program
Safety · FTC Blocks · Start here

2m Sensors & Safety Stop

Explore the real right, left, and rear REV 2m sensor Blocks from Start: 24-inch toward-wall speed limit and 12-inch directional stop. This read-only study sample reports guarded joystick commands but cannot drive or protect the robot by itself.

  • Three 2m sensors
  • 24-inch slowdown
  • 12-inch stop
  • Safe escape directions
Study this program
Autonomous · FTC Blocks · Vision lesson

Blue Nectar: Center & Approach

Follow the front Limelight's fresh blue-ball contour. Center first, then adjust left and right motor power every loop while driving forward. This disabled study excerpt omits the deployed robot's wall guard and must not be run as an autonomous mode.

  • Limelight pipeline 0
  • Fresh blue contour
  • Continuous steering
  • Lost-target stop
Study this program
Buttons & Motor Control · 60-minute guided lesson

Manual Intake · 25% Calibration

Learn why a new R3 press toggles once, why DOWN release leaves the intake OFF, and how a 25% command differs from measured speed. Predict each decision before a supervised trial.

  • Rising edges
  • Motor readiness
  • Manual reverse
  • Duty cycle ≠ RPM
Study this program
You can begin with a pencil and paper.Use the guided lessons to predict inputs, follow decisions, and work with practice numbers before operating a robot. Each lesson includes mentor setup instructions and the required helper download for a supervised hardware session.

For floor trials, use a clear path and a Driver Station STOP supervisor. FTCSIM offers separate driving practice and does not supply these lessons’ Pinpoint or custom helper blocks.

student@otterbots:~$ learning-path

01 → Ask what the program is trying to do.

02 → Learn the new Blocks and predict a decision.

03 → Practice on paper and check your understanding.

04 → Explore the full program, then test with your mentor.