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What is FIRST?
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a multinational non-profit organization, that aspires to transform culture, making science, math, engineering, and technology as cool for kids as sports are today. FIRST was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen, the innovator of the Segway, the iBOT Independence wheelchair, and many other inventions in the medical field. The purpose of FIRST is to educate high school age students about the growing fields of math, science, and technology through a fun and engaging robotics competition. It also provides for a chance for students to meet one-on-one with real industry leaders, engineers, and more through the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). Without FIRST, this possibility would never be available to students.>> The Official FIRST Website |
Are you interested?
FIRST has 4 robotics competitions, they are listed below.FIRST Lego League (FLL)
Teams of students (ages 9-14) design, build, & program robots using the LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Invention System. Teams create an FLL robot during a given Challenge Season capable of accomplishing the challenge objectives (problems emulating real-world need). The teams then compete in the tournament using their robots. Teams are recognized for teamwork, programming, problem solving, strategy, project management, creativity, persistence and design concept.Get More Information here at the Poudre FIRST Lego League (PLL) Website. More information here at the FIRST Lego League page. FIRST Vex Challenge (FVC)
The FIRST Vex Challenge (FVC) is a mid-level robotics competition for high-school students. It offers the traditional challenge of a FIRST competition but with a more accessible and affordable robotics kit.The FIRST Vex Challenge grew out of the existing FIRST Robotics Competition and the FIRST Robovation platform. FIRST, RadioShack, and Innovation First collaborated to develop an improved version of the FIRST Robovation kit. The new kit is significantly upgraded and is called the Vex Robotics Design System. More information here at the FIRST Vex Competition page. FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)
The FIRST Robotics Competition (high school age) is an exciting, multinational competition that teams professionals and young people to solve an engineering design problem in an intense and competitive way. The program is a life-changing, career-molding experience and a lot of fun. In 2006, the competition will reach over 28,000 high-school-aged young people on over 1,125 teams in 33 regional events. Our teams came from Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Israel, Mexico, the U.K., and almost every U.S. state. The competitions are high-tech spectator sporting events, the result of lots of focused brainstorming, real-world teamwork, dedicated mentoring, project timelines, and deadlines.More information here at the FIRST Robotics Competition page. Other Benefits
Colleges, universities, corporations, businesses, and individuals provide scholarships to our participants. Involved engineers experience again many of the reasons they chose engineering as a profession, and the companies they work for contribute to the community while they prepare and create their future workforce. The competition shows students that the technological fields hold many opportunities and that the basic concepts of science, math, engineering, and invention are exciting and interesting. |
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