Embedded Files
What is FIRST ?
What is FIRST ?
FIRST Robotics is an organization that was created in 1989 by Dean Kamen (Inventor of the segway) and Professor Woodie Flowers. FIRST, an acronym of "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Engineering", was made to get students interested in science, math, and technology. By 1992, FIRST consisted of 28 teams and that all competed in one New Hampshire high school gymnasium. Since then, FIRST has grown significantly. As of 2023, there are 668,000 students involved in FIRST, with 3,700 competitions all around the world. In fact, it's gotten so big that the World Championship is held in huge sport stadiums and convention centers, like the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.
FIRST Programs
FIRST Programs
FIRST consists of three programs, for kids of all ages.
FIRST LEGO League (FLL).
Grades: PreK-8 (Ages: 4-16)
This program was created to inspire children at a younger age and to give them skills to be used later on in FTC and FRC. They use Legos to build little machines to run on courses.
FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)
Grades: 7-12 (Ages: 12-18)
It involves building a robot that is around 18 x 18 x 18 inches.
This program helps grow skills such as coding, metalworking, engineering designing, along with public speaking and many more!
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)
Grades: 9-12 (Ages: 14-18)
In FRC, teams build robots that are much bigger, about 100 pounds.
All of these programs have their own games that are different each year. They all have the same goal though, to inspire kids to become interested in fields of science, engineering, and math.
What Does Our Season Look Like?
What Does Our Season Look Like?
Since we are an FRC team, our season begins in early January. Everyone across the whole world gathers at the same time to hear what the year's new game is going to be. It is quite an event. From the moment the new game is unveiled, we have approximately six weeks to design, build, program, and test our robot. During this time, all we think about is robots. We build the robot to fit the needs and challenges of the game. At the end of the six weeks, we host an open house and demonstrate our robot to people in our community.
We usually compete in the Minnesota 10,000 Lakes Regional, held at Williams Arena at the University of Minnesota. The competition lasts three days and takes place at the end of March or in early April. The first day is usually practice and inspection, the second day and part of the third day is qualification matches, and the last half of the third day is the playoff matches. Based on the results of the tournament, some teams are able to advance to the World Championship in Houston, Texas. There are other ways to be able to go to the World Championship as well. One such way is by being awarded the Impact Award. This award goes out to the team who exhibits the most community involvement, mentors other teams, and other various deeds in the community.
During the actual game, teams are put into alliances of three teams. During the practice and qualification matches, we are randomly grouped together. This brings up the important point of communication. When you are on the alliances, you have to communicate each teams' strategies and you have to have it all figured out before you get on the field. Before the playoff matches start, the top eight teams get to pick who they want on their alliances. This is based off the place that you ended up in after the qualification matches. There is a lot of strategy that goes into building the strongest alliance.
We have qualified for the World Championship twice. In 2010, we won the 10,000 Lakes Regional and secured a trip to the world championship, which was held in Atlanta, GA. We also qualified in 2018, where we were the Medtronic Foundation Regional finalists. In 2018 Worlds was held in two locations, Houston, TX and Detroit, MI, our championship was the latter.
What is "Gracious Professionalism"?
What is "Gracious Professionalism"?
"Gracious Professionalism" is the phrase that was coined by Professor Woodie Flowers, and it's what everyone in FIRST lives by. To the people of FIRST, this means that it isn't winning that matters, it's how you act, how you treat others, and if you are having fun. In the games, you can get points not just from scoring them with your robot, but by helping other teams. Going to a competition for this sport is an experience like none other. Everyone is just there to have a good time, not necessarily to win. If you need help with your robot, all you have to do is ask and you will have a plethora of people coming to help you. Everyone is super friendly. Ask anyone and they'll say that going to the competition is one of the most memorable things they have done.
How Does it Work?
How Does it Work?
FIRST is here to get kids involved with real people in engineering and science fields. All teams have mentors that volunteer their time and skills. Sometimes they are professionals that want to be involved with a team that their company sponsors, other times they are our own teachers. Companies also sponsor individual teams and the entire program. If we didn't have sponsors, we wouldn't have this great program. Sponsors and mentors are what make this program work. We have wonderful mentors that do so much for us as well as great sponsors. We are always thankful for their time and effort.
You can ask anyone on our team or someone involved with the program. This is one of the best things we have. Everyone has a great time and learns so much more than what they would have gotten out of the classroom. In fact, students who are involved in FIRST are a lot more likely to go to college and study science, math or engineering. One in three students applying for college will get a scholarship from FIRST as well. Many connections are made to help students find internships and careers after college. Students involved with this program will get so much out of it now and in the future.
For more information, check out this link, www.firstinspires.org.
Google Sites
Report abuse