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Posted On: 01/25/2007

FIRST unveils 2007 game at Kickoff event

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For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) launched its 16th FIRST Robotics Competition season with the Kickoff on January 6 at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, N.H., its hometown and headquarters. The annual competition helps students discover the rewards and excitement of science, engineering and technology. More than 32,500 high-school students on 1,300 teams from Brazil, Canada, Israel, Mexico, the Netherlands, the U.K. and, for the first time, every state in the U.S., is participating in this year's competition.

At the January 6 event, teams were shown this year's game field for the first time and received a common kit of parts and a manual of game rules and regulations. Working with mentors, students now have just six weeks to design, build, and test their robots to meet the season's engineering challenge. Once these young inventors build the robots, their teams participate in regional competitions that measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration, and the determination of students.

In this year's game, “Rack ’N’ Roll,” students’ robots are designed to hang inflated colored tubes on pegs configured in rows and columns on a 10-ft.-high center rack structure. Extra points are scored by robots being in their home zone and lifted more than 4 in. off the floor by another robot before the end of the 2 min. and 15 sec. match. The kickoff in Manchester, sponsored in part by Brooks Automation and NASA, gave teams the opportunity to meet, make friends and renew old friendships, pick brains, and see the new game for the first time. Teams across the nation and in Brazil, Canada and Israel watched the proceedings via NASA TV broadcast or Webcast from 46 regional kickoff sites, many of which also offered workshops and a chance to meet other teams.

The agenda included presentations by FIRST founder Dean Kamen, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch, Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle, Rhode Island Congressman Jim Langevin, New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority Senior Vice President and Chief Engineer Connie Crawford, FIRST Advisor Dr. Woodie Flowers, FIRST Chairman John Abele, FIRST President Paul Gudonis, and NASA Program Executive Dave Lavery.

In 1992, the FIRST Robotics Competition began with 28 teams and a single 14 ft. x 14 ft. playing field in a New Hampshire high school gym. This season, more than 1,300 teams will participate. Thirty-seven regional competitions will lead up to the 2007 FIRST Championship April 12 to 14, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Since its beginning, FIRST has had a positive impact on students and academic communities. FRC participants are eligible to receive more than $7.5 million in scholarships from some of the finest science and engineering schools in the country. Research has shown that participation has significantly improved FIRST students' attitudes about science, math, teamwork and the working world . The students' self image also improved, particularly in minority groups. In addition, interest in internship and employment opportunities with sponsoring companies increased. FIRST is supported by a strong network of sponsors who provide funding, mentorship time, talent, volunteerism equipment and more.

To find FIRST Robotics Competition events and teams in your area, visit www.usfirst.org and click on the map in the top right corner.