Mode: when or where it applies
Auto- Autonomous robot behaviors
Tele- Driver-controlled robot behaviors
Core- Shared concepts applicable to both Auto and Tele
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.
How the naming schema works
Read the name. Understand the purpose.
<Mode>-<State>-<Topic>Always use Mode, then State, then Topic. Use PascalCase for every segment, no spaces, and one dash between segments. Keep the topic concise and descriptive.
State: what kind of program it is
Learn- Educational examples and tutorials
Cal- Calibration and tuning tools
Test- Validation and subsystem testing
Prod- Competition-ready code
Lab- Experimental features and prototypes
Util- Utility or diagnostic programs
Topic: the subject or feature
Names keep specific topics such as MecanumDrive, AprilTagAlignment, or Movement. The browsing pills group related subjects, so AprilTag lessons are together and every Limelight lesson is together.
A lesson can belong to more than one topic group. Movement Calibration, for example, uses driving, AprilTags, and Limelight.
Code Lab examples use only Learn or Cal. Other state values describe the broader robot-program schema, not these teaching examples.
Put the parts together
Tele-Learn-MecanumDrive- Driver-controlled mode + learning example + mecanum driving.
Auto-Learn-AprilTagApproach- Autonomous mode + learning example + AprilTag approach behavior.
Tele-Cal-Intake- Driver-controlled mode + calibration + the intake subsystem.
Auto-Cal-Movement- Autonomous mode + calibration + movement measurement.
A name describes a purpose; it does not grant permission to run code or prove physical safety. Review each lesson's setup and study-only warnings. Existing source download names and links remain unchanged.
7 of 7 examples shown
Combine Mode, State, and Topic. Related lessons are grouped together; some appear in both AprilTags and Limelight.
For the BIOBUZZ puzzle, sign in to your own FTC SIM account, open the code panel, and select GUIDE.
Learning references, not installed team software. These examples do not establish Cookie Coders' robot configuration or competition readiness. Review hardware names, dependencies, wiring, and safe STOP behavior before any supervised hardware trial.
Program library
Choose your path
Every lesson follows the Movement Calibration format: a question, numbered code breakdowns, worked examples and predictions, paper practice, the full program in context, and a quiz.
Tele-Learn-MecanumDrive
Mecanum Drive
Basic mecanum driving with clear joystick, motor-power, and safety lessons.
- Joystick coordinates
- Mecanum mixing
- Normalization
- Telemetry
- Safety stops
Tele-Learn-AprilTagAlignment
AprilTag Alignment
Manual driving, live cluster distances, and Square-button alignment using AprilTag geometry.
- Camera coordinates
- Tag IDs
- Sine and cosine
- atan2
- Cluster centers
Auto-Learn-AprilTagApproach
AprilTag Approach
Triangulates a cluster center, turns toward it, approaches, and stops 24 inches away.
- State machines
- Vision feedback
- Timeouts
- 3D distance
- Closed-loop steering
Tele-Learn-SafetyStops
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
Auto-Learn-LimelightTracking
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
Tele-Cal-Intake
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
Auto-Cal-Movement
Movement Calibration
Calibrate and cross-check drive-motor encoder ticks, goBILDA Pinpoint odometry, and Limelight 3A AprilTag clusters against a measured trip. Compare reported movement and timing before adjusting the robot.
- Distinct frame gates
- Distance units
- Settled endpoints
- Independent reference
No examples match these filters.
The current library contains Learn and Cal examples. Choose another combination or reset the filters.
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.
Blocks Programming Autonomous Mode
Learn how to use FTC Blocks to program autonomous robot behavior.
Computational Thinking and Software Writing
Practice breaking a problem into steps and turning an idea into software.
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 a quiz and supervisor setup instructions; helper downloads are provided only for the lessons that require them. Study-only excerpts must remain study-only.
For floor trials, use a clear path and a Driver Station STOP supervisor. Movement Calibration has no automatic range, stall, timeout, or sensor-disagreement motion guards; its INIT ranges are display-only. FTCSIM offers separate driving practice and does not supply these lessons’ Pinpoint or custom helper blocks.
student@cookie-coders:~$ 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 supervisor.