I volunteered last Saturday at the robotics championship for the state of Iowa. It was called the FIRST® Tech Challenge. I served as the pit manager for 32 high school robotics teams. We made sure each team was queued and ready to compete for each round of competition. The event was hosted by the University of Iowa College of Engineering. The department has a strong K-12 outreach program to interest future students in engineering. The teams represented high schools mostly from Iowa. A few were from neighboring states. Over 60 teams had started the quest last fall by building their robots and programming them to compete. Each team is guided by an adult coach and mentor. The mentor is often from a business in the area. The mentors understand the importance of their help and guidance for the students in getting software to talk to hardware. As one of the mentors put it...
"You are trying to solve a challenging problem, within a team of people, using a limited set of tools and equipment, in a limited time, and within a limited budget."
Sound familiar? Their insight and assistance to the teams is crucial.
After qualifying matches in several regions, the field was reduced. The state winners advance to the world championships. The 2011-2012 FTC World Championship is April 25-28 at the Edward Jones Dome, America's Center, St. Louis, Mo. It is held alongside the FIRST® Robotics Competition and FIRST® LEGO League World Championships.
Below is an example of some action from one of the qualifying matches in Iowa. What you see here is typical of the machines and action in the events nationwide. Each match involved 4 robots. During the first 30 seconds, the robots are programmed to be autonomous. The robots are then operated by drivers with game pad controllers for another 2 minutes. Watch the persistence of the team with robot 5253 trying to get the ball into a basket, and then raised up for more points.
Pictured here is a team from Des Moines highlighted by the newspaper when they qualified for the state championship. Click the image for the story. The high school aged boys and girls had a great time. The innovation and enthusiasm for the science and engineering involved was impressive. By the end of the day, they were exhausted. These young people are our future. They want to be doing interesting and challenging things. We adults have the responsibility to give them those opportunities.
More about the robotics competitions, the mission, and the founder below the squiggle.
What Are the Parameters of the Game? |
The game this year is called Bowled Over. The arena is a 12x12 space. Matches last 2 m 30 s.
The "body" of the FTC robot is made of a kit of TETRIX pieces. TETRIX is a division of LEGO education.
Two alliances of red and blue compete in each match. The object is to score more points than your opponents alliance by placing racquet balls into crates and then stacking the crates. There are 25 racquet balls in each of the cylinders atop 2 stacked upside down crates. Some balls have a magnet inside for special scores. There are also 2 bowling balls available for other scoring opportunities. They can be pushed up the ramp and set into the circle for maximum scores. Each successful maneuver is scored for the alliances. The following animation explains the concept of the game in just a few minutes.
Video Animation of the Match and Scoring |
FIRST® was founded in 1989 by
inventor and businessman Dean Kamen. It offers several programs.
Specifics can be found here.
FIRST Robotics Competition for Grades 9-12 (ages 14-18)
FIRST Tech Challenge for Grades 9-12 (ages 14-18)
FIRST LEGO League for Grades 4-8 (ages 9-16; 9-14 in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico)
Junior FIRST LEGO League for Grades K-3 (ages 6-9)
FIRST Place for ages 6 to adult
All of the programs reach a combined total of hundreds of thousands.
293,000+ students
26,800+ teams
24,000+ robots
51,000 Mentors/adult supporters
50,000 other Volunteers (e.g. events Volunteers, Operational and Affiliate Partners)
Dean Kamen is an inventor, entrepreneur, and tireless advocate for science and technology. His passion and determination to help young people discover the excitement and rewards of science and technology are the cornerstones of FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).
FIRST was founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, NH, the 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit public charity designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.
The FIRST
® program values professionalism and cooperation in an atmosphere of competition. The students and expected to exhibit these values in their participation. The term Gracious Professionalism was coined by
Dr. Woodie Flowers of MIT to describe this quality.
With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions. Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. They avoid treating anyone like losers. No chest thumping tough talk, but no sticky-sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, competition, and empathy are comfortably blended.
In the long run, Gracious Professionalism is part of pursuing a meaningful life. One can add to society and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing one has acted with integrity and sensitivity.
As I watched the young men and women during the day at the Iowa Championships, I felt the goals of the program are being met. These young people are our future in science, technology, and engineering of the solutions for our world. There are many problems faced by our schools and institutions. But, the students I pleasantly experienced on Saturday bring a positive feeling and an enthusiasm that give me hope.