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FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)

The initial year FIRST developed a robotics competition and called it the FIRST Robotics Competition. It's focus was to hold FIRST's philosophy of developing a student's interest in engineering and science fields through hands on fun with teachers and mentors all while maintaining a Gracious Professionalism. The FRC program is aimed at high school students who, with the help of mentors who can be teachers, engineers, or any other volunteer, compete in a robot played game on a team. Teams are given numbers with larger numbers meaning the team is newer to FIRST. Teams are given six weeks in FRC to design, develop, and create a robot that is capable of playing the game FIRST makes up each year. Robots are radio controlled by human players and competitions also allow for an autonomous mode where only the robot can control itself.

The Robots

Robots build for FIRST Robotics Competitions are the largest beasts you will find in any FIRST competition. The rules vary from year to year, however generally robots can be 60" tall, 38" long,  28" wide, and weigh no more than 120lbs. There is a wide range of materials allowed to use so robots can vary widely between one another in any competition.

Teams tend to have a style to designing robots, so some parts of the robot like the chassis or electronics board may seem very similar from year to year if you were to look at teams' robots. However, because the game changes each year the robots will change drastically each year to play that game well. Some games may require a giant claw to manipulate game objects, other years robots may need a large ball shooting mechanism. Even with all these differences one thing remains the same between every robot every year: the students. FIRST was created to get more students into engineering ans science so the students design these robots with help from mentors so the students don't stray too far into the realm of impossible components.

Another important distinction is that in unlike other non-FIRST robotics competitions these robots must be solely built for playing fair games. FIRST's gracious professionalism does not permit other teams to build robots with the sole intent of destroying the competition literally like in a battle-bots type competition. Instead robots are encouraged to form teams that compliment one another.

FRC Robots are built during a six week period after the game for each season is revealed. Each competing team is given a kit of parts that comes with all the basics to play that season's games. Traditionally they have wheels, gar boxes, various DC motors, pneumatic actuators, an air compressor, as well as an entire wireless control system among other things. These kits also may contain game pieces to test the future robot with.

Competitions

FRC regional competitions are held in many states in the US, as well as a few international competitions. 41 different regional events exist and are all held in March, which culminates in the finals taking place at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, MO in late April. Unlike most championship events all teams are invited to join.

Also at a competition FIRST's ideal of Gracious Professionalism runs strong. Teams are encouraged to both ask for and give help when necessary. whether it be a tool you need to borrow to work on your robot, or if you have the robot to loan out to that team, FIRST competitions are full of hundreds of these "incidents" of Gracious Professionalism.

At a competition the event is broken physically broken up into two sections. The primary section is the field. The field is where all the fun happens. You watch the game, teams are introduced, speakers give speeches, and awards are handed out. The games are first played as practice rounds on the Thursday and early Friday of competition. After a few practice matches teams play around 7 matches that give them rankings for the finals. The top 8 teams from those rankings then do an alliance selection teaming up with 2 of the lower placing teams. The 8 alliances then go at it to see who wins. The field is always a fun place to be; you could be a spectator enjoying the results of all the teams hard work over the course of their 6 weeks culminating in the cleaning of mental and excitement of close games, or a scout trying to decide who the best robots are for your team to form an alliance with in the finals.

The second half of any competition is literally behind the scenes. It is called the pit, and it is where teams work on their robot in between matches. Don't forget your safety glasses.

Every team is given a small space to work on their robot at their discretion in the pit. Teams are expected to bring their own tools and parts, however in the spirit of Gracious Professionalism other teams are always willing to assist if someone forgets something. The pit is also equipped with a practice field to test any modifications or repairs you do. Many teams also bring in decorations to really show off the uniqueness of their team.

Because of the cramped quarters in the pit and often fast and furious work needed to get the robots back in working order safety is always of a concern. Each team assigns a student as the safety officer who must stay in the pit and ensure a safe environment is always followed.

If you are still interested in FRIST's FRC program you find out much more on FIRST's website.