STEM THROUGH ACTION
FIRST gives students a chance to move beyond classroom theory and build something real. It blends engineering, coding, strategy and communication into one memorable experience.
FIRST TECH CHALLENGE / ABOUT FTC
BUILDING SMARTER.
FIRST is a global STEM community that helps students learn by doing. Through robotics, teamwork and creative problem-solving, students grow as engineers, leaders and innovators.
FIRST COMMUNITY
WHAT FIRST IS ALL ABOUT
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a nonprofit organization that inspires students to explore science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on challenge-based learning. In FIRST Tech Challenge, students design, build, program and test robots while learning how to work as a team under real-world constraints.
SKILLS THAT LAST
From prototyping and testing to project planning and teamwork, students learn practical skills that carry into school, internships and future careers in STEM.
GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM
FIRST encourages students to compete with passion while also supporting one another, learning from each other and growing through collaboration and respect.
2026–2027 SEASON
BIOBUZZ SEASON
The 2026–2027 FIRST Tech Challenge season, BioBuzz, keeps the focus on innovative design, adaptive strategy and high-performance teamwork. The game challenges teams to create solutions that balance speed, precision and smart decision-making under competition pressure.
BioBuzz
This year's challenge centers on a fast-moving robotics objective that rewards creative problem-solving, efficient mechanisms and resilient execution.
STRATEGY + EXECUTION
Teams must balance scoring opportunities, robot reliability and tactical choices while adapting to the dynamic flow of the match.
BUILD · PROGRAM · TEST
Our team is learning how to refine hardware, improve software and develop a consistent game strategy to compete with confidence.
GAME OVERVIEW
WHAT BIOBUZZ IS ALL ABOUT
BIOBUZZ is a fast-paced FTC robotics challenge inspired by pollination and teamwork. In a match, two alliances of two teams each compete on a 12-foot by 12-foot field, collecting and moving game pieces while maximizing value through autonomous actions, driver-controlled scoring and an endgame finish.
MOVE. SORT. SCORE.
Each alliance is tasked with building a robot that can collect POLLEN and NECTAR, move it efficiently and place it in strategic targets. The game rewards not only speed, but also repeatable, reliable execution.
POLLEN + NECTAR + HIVE
Key BioBuzz field elements include POLLEN, NECTAR, the HIVE, FLOWERS and Gardens. Teams must learn how to interact with those elements in a way that creates points without sacrificing precision or safety.
SMART ACTIONS = BIGGER RETURN
Points are earned by completing high-value tasks such as tipping the HIVE, placing game pieces in FLOWERS, parking in designated zones and finishing the match with a strong endgame state. Consistency usually wins over one-off risky plays.
POLLEN
Yellow game pieces that can be collected, carried and placed to score points.
NECTAR
Higher-value scoring objects used to unlock opportunities and support FLOWER control.
HIVE
A central structure that can be tipped for a major scoring action and a strong strategic swing.
PHASE 1
Autonomous
Teams score early by executing reliable pre-programmed actions such as leaving the wall, collecting pieces, tipping the HIVE and parking.
PHASE 2
Driver Control
Student drivers focus on scoring efficiently, moving pieces into FLOWERS, controlling the field and adapting to the flow of the match.
PHASE 3
Endgame
Late-match actions reward a strong finish, including secure positioning and well-timed scoring to maximize the final result.
SCORING BREAKDOWN
HOW BIOBUZZ IS SCORED
The alliance with the higher total score wins a match. Some actions are worth a few points, but the biggest scoring swings often come from repeated HIVE tips and strong FLOWER control. The table below captures the main action categories used in the game.
| Scoring action | Autonomous | Driver-controlled / end of match |
|---|---|---|
| Leave the field perimeter | 3 points | — |
| Park in the loading zone | 5 points | 5 points |
| Complete a HIVE tip | 20 points | 20 points |
| POLLEN or NECTAR in the upward-facing CELL | — | 2 points each |
| Bottom NECTAR bonus in a FLOWER | — | 5 points |
| POLLEN or NECTAR in an owned FLOWER | — | 2 points each |
| POLLEN or NECTAR in an alliance GARDEN | — | 1 point each |
GAME REVEAL