Jan 06, 2014

FIRST Robotics Competition global kickoff event

(Nanowerk News) FIRSTÂŽ (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) will be joined by public figures to launch the 2014 season of the FIRSTÂŽ Robotics Competition (FRCÂŽ) with a worldwide Kickoff event originating from Manchester, N.H on Saturday, January 4, 2014.

The 2014 season will include more than 2,700 teams (nearly 70,000 high-school students) participating in 98 Regional and District events. All teams, grades 9-12, will be shown the new 2014 robotics game field and challenge for the first time and will receive an exciting, new Kit of Parts made up of motors, batteries, a control system, and a mix of automation components â with limited instructions.

Teams will have six weeks to design and build robots to meet this yearâs engineering challenge.

Dignitaries and public figures will deliver remarks on video and in person, including:

Dean Kamen, President, DEKA Research & Development and Founder, FIRST;

Dr. Woodie Flowers, FIRST Executive Advisory Board Chairman & Pappalardo Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology;

Donald E. Bossi, President, FIRST;

Sheri S. McCoy, Co-Chair, Board of Directors, FIRST;

Jim Heppelmann, President and Chief Executive Officer, PTC;

Maggie Hassan, Governor of New Hampshire;

John Lynch, Former Governor of New Hampshire;

Jeanne Shaheen, U.S. Senator for New Hampshire; and

FIRST students & special guests

Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is an annual competition that challenges high-school studentsâworking alongside professional Mentorsâto construct a robot of their own, and compete in the ultimate Sport for the Mindâ˘ that measures the effectiveness of each robot, the power of teamwork and collaboration, and Gracious ProfessionalismÂŽ. Through their participation in FRC, students experience the excitement of science, engineering, technology, and innovation, and qualify for over $18 million in college scholarships.

Source: FIRST