FIRST Robotics
What is FIRST?
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a multinational non-profit organization. Its mission is to make students around the world aware of technology and engineering, and inspire them to take interest in these fields. Like the popularity of sports, such as baseball and basketball, FIRST hopes to make engineering just as 'cool' as these activities in youth throughout the globe.
Participants in FIRST qualify for exclusive scholarships, with over $9.6 million dollars given out to students involved in FIRST, from top universities and colleges worldwide. As FIRST believes, it's not about the robots. It's about the people. FIRST Robotics gives students a rare and special opportunity to excel in a plethora of fields, including engineering, teamwork, programming, design, leadership, time-management, and more. FIRST was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway and portable dialysis, with one goal in mind: to make engineering and science just as popular in high schools as football or basketball. Each January, a new season begins with a world-wide broadcast of the new challenge, which gives thousands of teams around the world just 6 weeks to design, build, and test their robot.
FRC - FIRST Robotics Competition
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is a unique varsity sport of the mind designed to help high-school-aged young people discover how interesting and rewarding the life of engineers and researchers can be.
The FIRST Robotics Competition challenges teams of young people and their mentors to solve a common problem in a six-week timeframe using a standard "kit of parts" and a common set of rules. Teams build robots from the parts and enter them in competitions designed by Dean Kamen, Dr. Woodie Flowers, and a committee of engineers and other professionals.
FIRST redefines winning for these students because they are rewarded for excellence in design, demonstrated team spirit, gracious professionalism and maturity, and the ability to overcome obstacles. Scoring the most points is a secondary goal. Winning means building partnerships that last.
What is unique about the FRC program?
- It is a sport where the participants play with the pros and learn from them
- Designing and building a robot is a fascinating real-world professional experience
- Competing on stage brings participants as much excitement and adrenaline rush as conventional varsity tournaments
- The game rules are a surprise every year
FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is an exciting and fun global robotics program that ignites an enthusiasm for discovery, science, and technology in kids ages 9 to 14 (16 outside of the U.S. and Canada).
Each year FLL teams embark on an adventurous Challenge based on current, real-world issues. Guided by a team coach and assisted by mentors, the kids:
- Research and solve a real-world problem based on the Challenge theme
- Present their research and solutions
- Build an autonomous robot using engineering concepts
Using the yearly Challenges, FLL:
- Entices kids to think like scientists and engineers
- Provides a fun, creative, hands-on learning experience
- Teaches kids to experiment and overcome obstacles
- Builds self-esteem and confidence
- Inspires kids to participate in science and technology
No matter what the child’s subject interest, FLL offers an opportunity for engagement. Whether it is by creativity, technology, or research, FLL dares kids to test, explore, expand, or completely change thoughts and approaches for different sciences each year.
FTC - FIRST Tech Challenge
The FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a mid-level robotics competition for high-school students. It offers the traditional challenge of a FIRST Robotics Competition but with a more accessible and affordable robotics kit. The ultimate goal of FTC is to reach more young people with a lower-cost, more accessible opportunity to discover the excitement and rewards of science, technology, and engineering.
In 2005, FIRST and RadioShack teamed up to present the FIRST Vex Challenge (FVC) demonstration at the FIRST Championship in Atlanta, GA. The purpose of the FTC demonstration tournament was to stimulate and explore interest in FIRST Vex competitions. The event was an overwhelming success. FIRST began a full pilot of the program during the 2005-2006 FIRST season. After two years as a pilot program, the FIRST Board of Directors approved FTC as an official FIRST program, changing the name to FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) in 2007.
During the first official season, FTC grew to 799 teams and 31 official events, reaching about 8,000 students across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In 2008 a new kit of parts was developed and showcased at the FTC World Championship in Atlanta. The new kit is more powerful and has more options. It also allows for a smoother transition from FLL into FTC by using the same NXT controller FLL teams have been using for a number of seasons. FTC will use the new kit beginning in the 2008 season.
2009 Challenge: FIRST Lunacy
The 2009 challenge, Lunacy, is a game played on a Crater covered in “Glasliner FRP” to simulate Regolith on the Moon’s surface. The two Alliances, one red and one blue, composed of three teams each, compete in each match. The object of the game is to attain a higher score than the opposing Alliance by placing more Game Pieces in the Trailers attached to their robots. Moon Rocks and Empty Cells, each worth 2 points, and Super Cells, worth 15 points, are the three scoring game pieces.
As usual, the game is divided into three periods. The first is a 15-second Autonomous period, during which robots will be operated by pre-programmed instructions. Afterwards, the teams assume control of their robots and maneuver around the Crater for 2 minutes. Payload Specialists, 3 human players per alliance, will throw game pieces onto the field – moon rocks over the alliance wall and outposts and empty cells through the port on the outposts – for the robots to control. Empty cells must be traded at the Fueling Station in order to play super cells during the last 20 seconds of the match. All of the points scored will be determined by the game pieces in the Trailers of the opposing Alliance at the end of the match. The contents of tipped trailers will count towards the final score.
The competition is simplistic in scoring, but the surface is much more complicated than the carpeted field in the past. With the mandatory Rover Wheels on the Glasliner FRP surface of the crater, the loss of traction is a crucial component of the strategy. Even the most accurate shooters will have difficulty while sliding around the arena. Teams will have to focus just as heavily on drive trains as on game piece handling for this year’s challenge. There is also new cRIO and Driver Station to use for the electronics side of the robots and the Jaguar controllers to work with the victors. Finally, the infamous camera component is tied into the competition by the central almost 7-foot tall center pieces on the Trailers with illuminated squares for robots to follow. In the chaos of sliding and thrown game pieces, robots are expected to potentially use cameras to follow Trailers on opponent robots. The robots must be shipped on February 17, 2009!
Finally, teams compete after the allotted 6 week period in local Regional competitions. The New Jersey Regional takes place at the Sovereign Bank Arena from February 26th-28th. Over these 3 days, teams will be randomly allied and work with each others' strengths to win the matches at hand. After 8 matches per team, the 8 teams with the most wins will choose their own alliance to move on to a Semifinal round. Those 8 teams will scout the pit for robots that perform consistently and contribute a valuable skill to the alliance. Quarterfinals and Finals follow soon after and eliminate all but the winning final alliance. Teams are allowed to compete in multiple Regionals, as Team 41 will be doing for the second time this year in the New York Regional from March 6th-8th.
The final alliance advances on to Atlanta, Georgia for Nationals along with the winners of the Chairman's Award, Engineering Inspiration Award, and Rookie All-Star Award from each Regional to compete from April 16-18th with all other alliances, national and international.
2008 Challenge: FIRST Overdrive
The 2008 challenge, Overdrive, is a game played on a Track with opposing Alliance teams. The two Alliances, one red and one blue, composed of three teams each, compete in each match. The object of the game is to attain a higher score than your opponent Alliance by making counter-clockwise laps around the Track while Herding large Trackballs (approx. 10lbs) under the Overpass or Hurling the Trackballs over it (6 1/2 feet high).
As usual, the game is divided into three periods. The first is a 15-second Hybrid period, during which robots will be operated by pre-programmed instructions or transmitted information from the Robocoach. Afterwards, the teams assume control of their robots and maneuver around the track for 2 minutes. Making a single, counter-clockwise lap over your Alliance finish line is worth 2 points. These laps will be recorded by the mandatory Lap Indicator on each robot, but scoring these matches will be challenging for this year's referees. Herding a trackball with your Alliance color below the Overpass is worth another 2 points, whereas Hurling the trackball over the Overpass is worth 8 points. In order to earn points for either Herding or Hurling, the trackball must complete a full lap, crossing the opponent's finish line. The final component is to have the trackball on the Overpass above your Alliance finish line for an additional 12 points. However, an opposing robot may knock off your trackball before the end of the match.
The competition this year does not present much of a defensive strategy, since robots are not allowed to pose as a traffic obstruction. Also, if bumped gently by another robot, teams must move their robot out of the way and maintain a clear path around the entire track. On the other hand, "arm" structures and other devices to move the ball from the 6 and 1/2 foot Overpass, around the track and Herd or Hurl it present the true complexities. A completely new aspect of this year's game is the transmitted instructions during the Hybrid period from the Robocoach. This year FIRST has supplied teams with a new sensor board that can be remote controlled by the Robocoach during the previously autonomous first 15-second period. However, if multiple teams have similar remotes, the commands may be cancelled and the robots may not respond at all.
Finally, teams compete after the allotted 6 week period in local Regional competitions. The New Jersey Regional takes place at the Sovereign Bank Arena from February 28th to March 1st. Over these 3 days, teams will be randomly allied and work with each others' strengths to win the matches at hand. After 8 matches per team, the 8 teams with the most wins will choose their own alliance to move on to a Semifinal round. Those 8 teams will scout the pit for robots that perform consistently and contribute a valuable skill to the alliance. Quarterfinals and Finals follow soon after and eliminate all but the winning final alliance. Teams are allowed to compete in multiple Regionals, as Team 41 will be doing for the first time this year in the New York Regional from April 4th-6th.
The final alliance advances on to Atlanta, Georgia for Nationals along with the winners of the Chairman's Award, Engineering Inspiration Award, and Rookie All-Star Award from each Regional to compete from April 17-19th with all other alliances, national and international.