not only in design and fabrication, but also strategy and along the way promotes sportsmanship. The underlying spirit of the competition is always "Gracious Professionalism"
The first FRC game was held in 1992 in Manchester, New Hampshire which was Maize Craze. This game was much different than compared to the most recent challenges. The game was played on a table, and had four robots collecting tennis balls to a starting base. Plus, the floor was made of corn (hence, Maize Craze was the title)!
Since then, annual challenges have been introduced (listed chronologically): Rug Rage, Tower Power, Ramp ‘n Roll, Hexagon Havoc, Toroid Terror, Ladder Logic, Double Trouble, Co-Opertition FIRST, Diabolical Dynamics, Zone Zeal, Stack Attack, FIRST Frenzy: Raising the Bar, Triple Play, Aim High, Rack 'n Roll, FIRST Overdrive, Lunacy. This year’s game is Breakaway, a game in which robots must trek over 12 inch high bumps to score soccer balls. During the last 20 seconds of the match, robots are expected to lift themselves up onto a 7 ft tower for bonus points.
Gradually, robots and the playing fields grew in size over time. In recent years, robots are now at human heights and play on fields larger than table tops. (Corn is served as a snack during regionals, and not used for flooring). The organization has grown in size through awareness too! In 1992, only 28 teams existed and the championship was in Manchester Memorial High School’s Gymnasium. As of 2007, there are 1307 teams, 37 regionals across the country, and championships have been held at Epcot, Houston, and Atlanta. There are even teams across the globe in countries Israel, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
Awards
The awards are not limited to the field of play. FIRST recognizes that so much effort goes into Robotics that many prestigious awards have been set up in different areas. Awards such as Chairman’s or Regional Finalist are always coveted by every team. Other awards such as Animation, Website, Judge’s, Motorola Quality, just to name a few, are also nice to have. Even a fairly new team to FIRST have much to shoot for and not be discouraged if a win in the field of play seems elusive.
Young FIRSTers
FIRST Lego League prepares students for high school robotics and the FRC competition. The FLL is a program for students 9-14 years old and provides students LEGO Mindstorm kits and software. The program has an annual competition much like its older brother and is composed of two parts. One part is the assembly of a robot to complete tasks for a specific mission announced every year. The other is the Project in which students must answer a question related to the mission through a presentation that is preceded by research. The FLL started in 1999 with the challenge First Contact. Volcanic Panic, Artic Impact, City Sights, Mission Mars, No Limits, Ocean Odyssey, Nano Quest, Power Puzzle, Climate Connection, and 2009's Smart Move followed. There is also a Junior First Lego League for students 6-9 years old.
Many high school Robotics students mentor the FIRSTers in elementary schools and middle schools. We at Vanden mentor LEGO leagues at Foxboro Elementary School and Golden West Middle School.
Other programs
The FIRST Tech Challenge is the most recent program to be added. It was started in 2005. It was originally known as FIRST Vex Challenge (or FVC). This program is aimed towards high school students who are looking for a more affordable option than FRC. The first game in 2005 was Half-Pipe Hustle. In 2006, Hangin’-A-Round was introduced 2007, Quad Quandary, 2008, Face Off and in 2009, Hot Shot.
Spirit of FIRST
Anyone that has been to a FIRST regional will tell you it has the atmosphere and the excitement of a major sporting event. For a few weeks in March the competitions take center stage and make all the long hours of the build season worthwhile. But success does not come without a lot of ground work. The work is year round, in and outside the class room. Students learn not only engineering but project management, C programming, AutoCAD programs and learn to build with their hands. A life long love of science and engineering is instilled in the FIRSTers, just as the founders intended. If the fantastic growth of the league is any evidence, FIRST will continue to instill and foster a love of engineering, science and a spirit of Gracious Professionalism in generations of FIRSTers to come.
Sources
http://www.usfirst.org/
http://firstlegoleague.org/what-is-fll/default.aspx?id=164
As written: December 2007, Priya Rangan
Edited: February 2010, Priya Rangan
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