FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a mid-level robotics competition for high-school students. It offers the traditional challenge of a FIRST competition but with a more accessible and affordable robotics kit.

The FIRST Tech Challenge grew out of the existing FIRST Robotics Competition and the FIRST Robovation platform. FIRST, RadioShack, and Innovation First, Inc. collaborated to develop an improved version of the FIRST Robovation kit. The new kit is significantly upgraded and is called the Vex Robotics Design System. FIRST piloted the competition for two years under the name 'FIRST Vex Challenge' until it was approved as an official program for the 2007 season. In 2008 a new kit of parts was developed and showcased at the FTC World Championship in Atlanta. The new kit is more powerful and has more options. It also allows for a smoother transition from FLL into FTC by using the same NXT controller FLL teams have been using for a number of seasons. FTC will use the new kit beginning in the 2008 season.

The ultimate goal of FTC is to reach more young people with a lower-cost, more accessible opportunity to discover the excitement and rewards of science, technology, and engineering.

***PLEASE NOTE THAT FIRST ROBOTICS CANADA IS NOT RUNNING A REGIONAL TOURNAMENT IN ONTARIO THIS YEAR, DUE TO LOW REGISTRATION NUMBERS.  PLEASE CONTACT ftcteams@usfirst.org IF YOU HAVE REGISTERED AND WANT TO COMPETE IN A PILOT COMPETITION OR IF YOU WANT TO REGISTER AND TAKE PART IN THE PILOT COMPETITION.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE CLOSEST FTC REGIONAL, IT IS IN PENNSYLVANIA.