What is the FIRST^® Robotics Competition?

Combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology, FIRST^® Robotics Competition (FRC) is often called the ultimate Sport for the Mind. Thousands of high-school student robotics teams from across the globe participate each year. Under strict rules and an intense 45 calendar day time limit, each team of students is challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. The students learn real-world skills and technology from mentors who work in business and industry.

In Georgia, teams compete under a District Qualification model. Each year in early January, teams from across the state gather at Georgia Tech and virtually to learn of the rules and challenge for the year’s competition. Following the completion of the 45-day build season, each in-state team competes in a minimum of two qualification events. During the competition season, Georgia Peachtree District qualification events will be held in five locations across the state – Gainesville, Dalton, Albany, Columbus, and Gwinnett. Teams that qualify during the district events will continue on to the State Championships that will be held in Athens at The University of Georgia in April. Teams from Georgia that qualify during State continue on to the FIRST^® World Championships later in April in Houston, TX.

Any high school student can participate in FRC – regardless of technical skills or experience. Teams need students to design webpages, build business plans, decorate a pit-stall booth, handle financial reports, make presentations, and various other roles in addition to the more technical roles of programming, fabrication, 3-D design, electrical, mechanical, etc.

According to the FIRST^® research, the results of participating in FIRST^® are impressive:

• FIRST^® Participants are 2x as likely to major in science or engineering
• 41% of FIRST^® Participants major in engineering
• 33% percent of women FIRST^® Participants major in engineering
• 88% of FRC Participants are more interested in school
• 90% of FRC Participants plan to take a more challenging math or science course
• 91% of FRC Participants are more interested in going to college
• 98% of FIRST® Participants improved problem-solving skills
• 95% of FIRST® Participants increased time management skills
• 93% of FIRST® Participants increased conflict resolution skills
• 76% of FIRST® Participants strengthened communication skills