Getting Started with FTC Programming

Welcome to the world of FTC programming! Whether you’re a complete beginner or transitioning from another programming environment, this guide will help you understand the basics and get your robot moving.

What You’ll Need

Before we dive in, make sure you have:

• Android Studio - The official IDE for FTC development
• FTC SDK - The software development kit provided by FIRST
• A Control Hub or Phone - Your robot’s brain
• Basic Java knowledge - Don’t worry, we’ll cover the essentials!

Setting Up Your Environment

Step 1: Install Android Studio

Download Android Studio from the official website. During installation, make sure to include the Android SDK and emulator tools.

Step 2: Clone the FTC SDK

git clone https://github.com/FIRST-Tech-Challenge/FtcRobotController.git

Open the project in Android Studio and let Gradle sync. This might take a few minutes on first run.

Step 3: Connect Your Control Hub

Connect your Control Hub to your computer via USB. Android Studio should recognize it as a device.

Your First OpMode

An OpMode is the code that runs on your robot. There are two types:

1. LinearOpMode - Runs sequentially from top to bottom
2. OpMode - Uses a loop-based structure with init, loop, and stop methods

For beginners, we recommend starting with LinearOpMode:

@TeleOp(name = "My First OpMode", group = "Tutorial")
public class MyFirstOpMode extends LinearOpMode {
    
    // Declare motors
    private DcMotor leftMotor;
    private DcMotor rightMotor;
    
    @Override
    public void runOpMode() {
        // Initialize hardware
        leftMotor = hardwareMap.get(DcMotor.class, "left_motor");
        rightMotor = hardwareMap.get(DcMotor.class, "right_motor");
        
        // Wait for the game to start
        telemetry.addData("Status", "Initialized");
        telemetry.update();
        waitForStart();
        
        // Run until the end of the match
        while (opModeIsActive()) {
            // Get gamepad input
            double drive = -gamepad1.left_stick_y;
            double turn = gamepad1.right_stick_x;
            
            // Calculate motor powers
            double leftPower = drive + turn;
            double rightPower = drive - turn;
            
            // Set motor powers
            leftMotor.setPower(leftPower);
            rightMotor.setPower(rightPower);
            
            // Show telemetry
            telemetry.addData("Left Power", leftPower);
            telemetry.addData("Right Power", rightPower);
            telemetry.update();
        }
    }
}

Understanding the Code

Let’s break down what’s happening:

Hardware Mapping

leftMotor = hardwareMap.get(DcMotor.class, "left_motor");

This line tells the code to look for a motor named “left_motor” in your robot configuration. Make sure the name matches exactly!

The Game Loop

while (opModeIsActive()) {
    // Your code here
}

This loop runs continuously while your OpMode is active. It’s where you read inputs and control outputs.

Telemetry

telemetry.addData("Status", "Running");
telemetry.update();

Telemetry displays information on the Driver Station. It’s incredibly useful for debugging!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Forgetting telemetry.update() - Data won’t show without this call
2. Wrong hardware names - Double-check your configuration
3. Not reversing motors - One side usually needs to be reversed for proper driving
4. Blocking in the loop - Avoid sleep() calls that freeze everything

Next Steps

Now that you have the basics down, explore these topics:

• Autonomous programming - Pre-programmed routines
• Sensors - Adding touch, color, and distance sensors
• Encoders - Precise motor control
• Computer Vision - Using the camera for detection

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Happy coding! Remember, every expert was once a beginner. Keep practicing, keep learning, and most importantly—have fun!