Our rookie FTC team, 26635 COLTronics, represents the junior high division of our robotics program. Composed of dedicated 7th and 8th-grade students, this team serves as a bridge between FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC).

FTC is a mid-level robotics competition designed for smaller teams and robots. Each season, a new game is released with a unique theme. Teams compete on a 12-foot by 12-foot foam-tile field, where matches begin with an autonomous period—a preprogrammed sequence that allows the robot to score points without driver input. Afterward, drivers take control during the teleoperated period, scoring points through a variety of challenges. In the final moments of the match, teams can earn additional points by positioning their robots strategically on the field.

COLTronics frequently collaborates with our FRC team, gaining hands-on experience and mentorship that prepares them for future competition at the high school level. This mentorship builds a strong foundation in engineering, teamwork, and problem-solving—skills that are essential for success in robotics and beyond.

This season's robot, Stanley, is a versatile machine designed for precision and efficiency in competition. Equipped with a robust game specimen intake mechanism, it efficiently collects specimens from the field, ensuring quick and reliable handling during game play.  

Stanley is built on the original 6WD TileRunner from AndyMark, with the REV Robotics 2024-2025 Starter Kit arm custom-mounted to the chassis. After testing, we identified several ways to improve the arm’s stability and durability when fully extended. To reinforce it, we added two 45° supports on either side. Additionally, we replaced the slow intake servo with a REV Robotics Core Hex Motor for faster and more reliable operation. 

For electronics, we use a REV Control Hub to power the drive train and an Expansion Hub for the arm. A REV Driver Hub allows us to connect and control the robot efficiently.  

While we currently use standard wheels, we plan to upgrade to Mecanum wheels during the off season for improved maneuverability.

Our robot is programmed in Java using the FTC SDK in Android Studio. We use GitHub to manage our code, keeping it updated and publicly accessible.

Our new autonomous routine enables the robot to preload a sample, drive forward into the net zone, drop the sample, and then reverse into the observation zone to park, earning a total of 5 points.

We regularly push updates to GitHub to ensure our code stays current.

During our last competition, we quickly implemented support for two drivers—one controlling the drivetrain and the other operating the arm. This reduced the workload for each driver, improving efficiency and control.