5 routes / 23 stops
Every route is a reading order for one job.
The catalogue is filed by department, because that is how a team is organised. A route cuts across it: five or six stops, in the order that stops them being confusing.
what is in this section
- 5
- routes, one per job people ask about
- 23
- stops, in the order they stop being confusing
- 11
- departments the routes pass through
the first one is for anyone in their first season
All 5 routes, with every stop showing.
Each stop is a whole department guide, so a route is a reading order and not a separate set of lessons. Nothing on it is locked, and you can leave a route at any stop and stay in that department.
pick by the stops, not by the title
route 01 / new-member-onboarding
New Member Onboarding
Brand new to the team? This is the path that turns a curious rookie into a contributing member — culture, shop safety, and your first real hands on the robot.
where it goes
- 01Learn how FRC worksdept / getting-started
- 02Earn your shop safety basicsdept / safety
- 03Get hands on the robotdept / mechanical-build
- 04See how it gets powereddept / electrical-wiring
- 05Find your voice on the teamdept / media-outreach
route 02 / become-a-robot-programmer
Become a Robot Programmer
Go from zero code to writing real, competition-ready robot software — command-based WPILib, sensors, and tuned autonomous routines.
where it goes
- 01Ground yourself in FRCdept / getting-started
- 02Learn WPILib & command-baseddept / programming-software
- 03Understand the hardware you controldept / electrical-wiring
- 04Know the mechanisms you drivedept / mechanical-build
- 05Code for the strategydept / scouting-strategy
route 03 / build-and-design-track
Build & Design Track
Design it in CAD, build it in the shop, and bring it to life — the full mechanical engineering pipeline from a sketch to a working subsystem.
where it goes
- 01Understand the build seasondept / getting-started
- 02Design it in CADdept / cad-design
- 03Build it in the shopdept / mechanical-build
- 04Wire and power itdept / electrical-wiring
- 05Build it safelydept / safety
route 04 / win-the-impact-award
Win the Impact Award
FIRST's most prestigious award goes to the team that best embodies the mission. Build the sustainable program, outreach, and story that earns it.
where it goes
- 01Know what FIRST valuesdept / getting-started
- 02Build a sustainable teamdept / business-operations
- 03Run impactful outreach & mediadept / media-outreach
- 04Craft the submissiondept / impact-award
route 05 / game-day-ready
Game Day Ready
Competition is its own skill. Scout smart, drive sharp, and run a calm, safe pit — everything that turns a good robot into match wins.
where it goes
- 01Understand event flowdept / getting-started
- 02Scout and strategizedept / scouting-strategy
- 03Drive and operatedept / drive-team
- 04Run a safe pitdept / safety
none of them is your job
Open the department instead.
All eleven stand on their own, with their modules already in the order a rookie should read them. A route only decides which tabs you open and when.
running this for other people
Point a whole team down one.
Everyone who signs up with the same FRC team number is grouped together, so you can hand new members a route and then see who actually finished it.