Jump to content

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected fromFIRST Robotics)
For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology
Founded1989
FounderDean Kamen
Type501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity
22-2990908
HeadquartersManchester, New Hampshire,U.S.
Members
  • 660,000+ students
  • 51,000+ robots
  • 300,000+ mentors/volunteers
  • 79,000+ teams[1]
Key people
  • Dean Kamen,Founder & President
  • Kelly Ortberg, Chairman of the Board
  • Christopher Moore, CEO
Revenue
$84,789,893 (2020)[2]
Employees135 (2013)[3]
Websitewww.firstinspires.org

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology(FIRST) is an international youth organization that operates theFIRSTRobotics Competition,FIRSTLego League Challenge,FIRSTLego League Explore,FIRSTLego League Discover, andFIRSTTech Challengecompetitions.[4] Founded byDean KamenandWoodie Flowersin 1989, its expressed goal is to develop ways to inspire students inengineeringandtechnologyfields. Its philosophy is expressed by the organization asCoopertitionand Gracious Professionalism.

FIRSTalso operatesFIRSTPlace, a research facility atFIRSTHeadquarters inManchester, New Hampshire,where it holds educational programs and day camps for students and teachers.[5]

Structure

[edit]

FIRSToperates as a non-profit public charity corporation. It licenses qualified teams, usually affiliated with schools or other youth organizations, to participate in its competitions. The teams in turn pay a fee toFIRST;these fees, the majority of which are redistributed to pay for teams' kit of parts and other services, comprise the majority of revenue ofFIRST.[6]

The supreme body ofFIRSTis itsboard of directors,which includes corporate executives and former government officials.FIRSTalso has an executive advisory board and several senior advisors; these advisors include engineers, involved volunteers, and other senior organizers. Day-to-day operations are run by asenior managementteam, consisting of a CEO and a variety of vice presidents and additional officers for a total of 10 individuals.[7]

Activities

[edit]

FIRSTRobotics Competition

[edit]
Main article:FIRST Robotics Competition
"Barrage", Team 254's 2014 World Champion FIRST Robotics Competition robot

The first and highest-scale program developed throughFIRSTis theFIRSTRobotics Competition, which is designed to inspirehigh schoolstudents to become engineers by giving them real world experience working with engineers to develop a robot. The inauguralFIRSTRobotics Competition was held in 1992 in theManchester Memorial High Schoolgymnasium.[8]As of 2019,over 3,700 high school teams totaling over 46,000 students from Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Turkey, Israel, Mexico, the Netherlands, the United States, the United Kingdom,[1]and more compete in the annual competition, with more than 9000 teams (active and inactive) in existence.

The competition challenge changes each year, and the teams can reuse only certain components from previous years. The robots weigh at most 125 pounds (56.7 kg), without batteries and bumpers. The kit issued to each team contains a base set of parts. Registration and the kit of parts together cost aboutUS$6,000. In addition to that, teams are allowed to spend another $5,500 on their robot. The purpose of this rule is to lessen the influence of money on teams' competitiveness. Details of the game have been released on the first Saturday in January (except when that Saturday falls on January 1 or 2), and the teams have been given six weeks to construct a robot that can accomplish the game's tasks.[9]

In 2011, teams participated in 48 regional and district competitions[10][11]throughout March in an effort to qualify for theFIRSTChampionshipin St. Louis in April. Previous years' Championships have been held inAtlanta, Georgia,Houston, Texasand atWalt Disney World'sEpcot.[12]On October 7, 2009,FIRSTannounced that the Championship Event will be held inSt. Louis, Missourifor 2011 through 2013.[13] Each year theFIRSTRobotics Competition has scholarships for the participants in the program. In 2011, there were over $14 million worth of scholarships from more than 128 colleges and universities, associations, and corporations.[citation needed]

The district competition system was introduced in Michigan and as of 2017 has expanded to include districts in the Pacific Northwest, the Mid-Atlantic, the Washington DC area, New England, Georgia, North Carolina, Ontario, and Israel. When they were created in 2017, the Ontario and Israel districts became the first districts outside of the United States. The district competition system changed the traditional "regional" events by allowing teams to compete in multiple smaller events and using an associated ranking algorithm to determine which teams would advance to the next level of the competition. In general, there have been pushes to move more regions to the districts system; California, Texas, and New York have especially been pushed to move to the district system.

FIRSTTech Challenge

[edit]
Main article:FIRST Tech Challenge
A 2007FIRSTTech Challenge robot

TheFIRSTTech Challenge, formerlyFIRSTVex Challenge, is a mid-level robotics competition announced byFIRSTon March 22, 2005. According toFIRST,this competition was designed to be a more accessible and affordable option for schools.FIRSThas also said that theFIRSTTech Challenge program was created for those of an intermediate skill level.FIRSTTech Challenge robots are approximately one-third the scale of theirFIRSTRobotics Competition counterparts. TheFIRSTTech Challenge is meant to provide a transition for students from theFIRSTLEGO League Challengecompetition to theFIRSTRobotics Competition.FIRSTTech Challenge was developed for the Vex Robotics Design System, which is available commercially.[14]

The 2005 FVC pilot season featured a demonstration of the FIRST Vex Challenge using a 1/3 linear scale mock-up of the 2004FIRSTRobotics Competition,FIRST Frenzy: Raising the Bar.For their 2005-2006 Pilot Season, FVC teams played theHalf-Pipe Hustlegame using racquet balls and ramps.

For the 2006-2007FIRSTTech Challenge season, the teams competed in theHangin'-A-Roundchallenge using softballs, rotating platforms, a hanging bar, and a larger 'Atlas' ball which is significantly larger than most Vex robots and harder to manipulate.[15][16]Competitions were held around the United States, Canada, and Mexico.[17]

For the 2008-2009FIRSTTech Challenge season, a new kit was introduced, asFIRSTmoved away from the VEX platform and worked with several different vendors to create a custom kit and control system forFIRSTTech Challenge known asTETRIX.Based around the LEGO Mindstorms NXT "brain" and including secondary specialized controllers to overcome the limitations of the NXT, teams use a Bluetooth link between the NXT and a laptop runningFIRSTTech Challenge driver station software. A team's drivers then use either one or two USB gamepads to control their robots.

For the 2015-2016FIRSTTech Challenge season, in a partnership withQualcomm,the LEGO Mindstorms NXT was replaced as the "brain" of the robot by an android device that communicates to a separate "driver station" android device via WiFi Direct. In addition, students were allowed to use either MIT App Inventor or Android Studio (Java language) to program their robots.

FIRSTLEGO League Challenge

[edit]
'Power Puzzle' (2007) robot playing field and robot
Main article:FIRST Lego League Challenge

In 1998, theFIRSTLEGO League Challenge (formerly known asFIRSTLEGO League), a program similar to theFIRSTRobotics Competition was formed. It is aimed at 9 to 14-year-old students and utilizesLEGO Mindstormssets (EV3, NXT, RCX) to build palm-sized LEGO robots, which are then programmed using either the ROBOLAB software (RCX-based systems) or Mindstorms NXT or EV3 software (for NXT or EV3-based systems respectively) to autonomously compete against other teams.[18]The ROBOLAB software is based onNational Instruments'LabVIEWindustrial control engineering software. The combination of interchangeable LEGO parts, computer 'bricks', sensors, and the aforementioned software, provide preteens and teenagers with the capability to build simple models of real-life robotic systems.[19]This competition also utilizes a research element that is themed with each year's game, and deals with a real-world situation for students to learn about through the season. In 2020, the program was re-branded toFIRSTLEGO League Challenge.

The simplistic nature of its games, its relatively low team startup costs, and its association with theLEGO Groupmean that it is the most extensive of allFIRSTcompetitions, despite a lower profile and fewer sponsors thanFIRSTTech Challenge orFIRSTRobotics Competition. In 2009, 14,725 teams from 56 countries participated in local, regional, national, and international competitions, compared with around 1,600 teams in roughly 10 countries forFIRSTRobotics Competition.[20][21]

FIRSTLEGO League Explore

[edit]
Main article:FIRST Lego League Explore

FIRSTLEGO League Explore (formerly known asFIRSTLEGO League Jr.) is a variation of theFIRSTLEGO League Challenge, aimed towards elementary school children, in which kids ages 5 to 8 build LEGO models dealing with that year's challenge. At least one part of a model has a moving component. The teams participate in exhibitions around the country, where they demonstrate and explain their models and research for award opportunities.

FIRSTLEGO League Discover

[edit]

Unveiled in 2019,FIRSTLEGO League Discover is designed for children ages 4 to 6 and centers on a playful introduction to STEM concepts and ideas. Teams useLEGO Duplokits to complete each year's challenge and present their models at exhibitions similar to those found inFIRSTLEGO League Explore.[22]

FIRST Championship

[edit]
Main article:FIRST Championship

TheFIRSTChampionship is the annual event which celebrates the finale of all of their programs by bringing them all together for their final rounds in the same event. TheFIRSTChampionship was split into two events, initially held in St. Louis, Missouri, and Houston, Texas, in 2017 due to the rise in teams. From 2018 through 2020, theFIRSTChampionship will be held in Detroit, Michigan, and Houston, Texas.[23]At the 2014 Championship,FIRSTannounced changes to the 2015 structure that will bring a more "Olympic Village"feeling, and involves a rearrangement of the programs around the city.

Support

[edit]

FIRSTitself is a self-supporting organization; however, individual teams typically rely on outside funding sources. It also takes significant outside funds to run regional events and theFIRSTChampionship. In 2010,FIRSTwas a recipient of aGoogleProject 10^100 grant.[24]

Intra-team

[edit]

Teams may request that team members, whether mentors or students, contribute to the costs of running a team. For example, members may pay a fee or donate tools and facilities.

Inter-team

[edit]

Teams frequently give other teams support. This may mean providing funds, tools, facilities, or mentorship.Gracious professionalismandCoopertitionare core tenets of theFIRSTphilosophy.

Gracious Professionalism

[edit]

Gracious Professionalism is a major belief in theFIRSTcommunity. At every regional and national competition, the judges look for teams that are graciously professional. Gracious professionalism is about "competing on an even playing field". That means that each team wants their competition at the best. The way the team system is set up is that every team is matched up with two other teams per match at random. Therefore, a team's opponent in one match may become an ally in the next match. Traditionally, outside ofFIRST,when one shares resources in a competition, one does so only with their allies.

However, with the element of gracious professionalism, one would share resources with their opponent as well. For example, if a team needs a part or tool to fix their robot, it is expected that any team, even an opposing team would give that team a hand in order to compete. This helps students learn that success is in learning and helping others no matter the circumstances. With this in mind, the judges give a Gracious Professionalism award at everyFIRSTRobotics Competition tournament, to a team that shows outstanding gracious professionalism.

The term "Gracious Professionalism" was created by Dr.Woodie Flowers,formerFIRSTNational Advisor and Pappalardo Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[25]

Community

[edit]

The most common method of monetary and resource sponsorship teams comes through the community surrounding the team. Since the majority of teams are based around a school or a school district, schools often provide the infrastructure needed to run a team. Local governments and individual citizens may provide funds and other support to teams. Local universities and colleges often give significant funds to teams.

Corporate

[edit]

Corporate donations and grants usually provide the majority of a mature team's funds. Major donors includeBAE Systems,Google,Raytheon,Apple Inc.,NASAandNational Instruments.

Government

[edit]

Each year during his speech at the kickoff event, founder Dean Kamen gives the student participants a homework assignment. It often involves spreading the word aboutFIRSTin various ways, such as increasing attendance at regionals (2005),[26]mentoring rookie teams, making sure thatFIRST-specific scholarships are applied for (2004),[27]and researching the capabilities of motors and disseminating that information to other teams (2006).[28]In 2007, Dean's homework was for each team to contact their government officials (e.g.mayors,legislators,governors,federal officials) and invite them to aFIRSTregional or the championship to expose them to the competition and increase the level of political awareness ofFIRST.In 2008, it was to inform the media more aboutFIRST.In 2009, the homework was for each team to have all students, mentors, and other persons involved with their team (past or present) register withFIRST.[29]One goal of this registration process was to provideFIRSTwith data to demonstrate that many people had benefited from their experiences inFIRSTrobotics and to encourage more funding of robotics-related events.

At the World Championship in Atlanta, speakers included formerPresident of the United StatesGeorge Herbert Walker Bushin 2008 andUnited States Secretary of EducationArne Duncanin 2010. In 2010, former U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce and Director of theU.S. Patent and Trademark OfficeJon Dudaswas selected to be the President ofFIRST.[30]

At the Championship in St. Louis, formerPresident of the United StatesBarack Obamaspoke via a pre-recorded message from 2011 to 2014.

FIRSThas received the attention of politicians in Canada as well.OntarioMPPBob Delaney[31]andOntarioMPPVic Fedeli[32]have made remarks in theLegislative Assembly of Ontarioregarding theirFIRSTRobotics Competition experiences and showing their support.

NASA,through its Robotics Alliance Project, is a major supporter ofFIRST.

In 2018, the first episode of season five ofSTEM in 30,theNational Air and Space Museum's television show for middle school students, featuredFIRST.

Philosophy

[edit]

FIRSTseeks to promote a philosophy ofteamworkandcollaborationamong engineers and encourages competing teams to remain friendly, helping each other out when necessary. Terms frequently applied to this ethos areGracious ProfessionalismandCoopertition;terms coined byWoodie Flowersand Kamen that support respect towards one's competitors and integrity in one's actions.[33]The concept of Gracious Professionalism grew from a robotics class that Flowers taught at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[34]Coopertition is patented under US Patent 7,507,169 by Dean Kamen.[35]

Timeline

[edit]
TheFIRSTSTEAMWORKS Field at the Menora Mivtachim Arena, 2017 Israel District Championship
Team 2283's robot forRack 'n Rollin 2007

Note: All years indicate the year that thechampionshipfor that game was held.

Year Season FIRSTLEGO League Explore FIRSTLEGO League Challenge FIRSTTech Challenge FIRSTRobotics Competition
1992 — — — — Maize Craze
1993 — — — — Rug Rage
1994 — — — — Tower Power
1995 — — — — Ramp 'n Roll
1996 — — — — Hexagon Havoc
1997 — — — — Toroid Terror
1998 — — — — Ladder Logic
1999 — — — — Double Trouble
2000 — — FIRSTContact — Co-OpertitionFIRST
2001 — — Volcanic Panic — Diabolical Dynamics
2002 — — Arctic Impact — Zone Zeal
2003 — — City Sights — Stack Attack
2004 — — Mission Mars — FIRSTFrenzy: Raising the Bar
2005 — No Limits — Triple Play
2006 — Ocean Odyssey Half-Pipe Hustle Aim High
2007 — Nano Quest Hangin'-A-Round Rack 'n Roll
2008 — Power Puzzle Quad Quandary FIRSTOverdrive
2009 — Climate Connections Face Off Lunacy
2010 — Smart Move Hot Shot! Breakaway
2011 — Body Forward Get Over It! Logo Motion
2012 — Food Factor Bowled Over! Rebound Rumble
2013 — Super Seniors Senior Solutions Ring It Up! Ultimate Ascent
2014 — Disaster Blaster Nature's Fury! Block Party! Aerial Assist
2015 — Think Tank World Class Cascade Effect Recycle Rush
2016 — Waste Wise Trash Trek RES-Q FIRSTStronghold
2017 — Creature Craze Animal Allies Velocity Vortex FIRSTSteamworks
2018 — Aqua Adventure Hydrodynamics Relic Recovery FIRSTPower Up
2019 FIRSTLAUNCH Mission Moon Into Orbit Rover Ruckus Destination: Deep Space
2020 FIRSTRISE powered by Star Wars: Force for Change Boomtown Build City Shaper Skystone Infinite Recharge
2021 FIRSTGAME CHANGERS powered by Star Wars: Force for Change Playmakers RePlay Ultimate Goal Infinite Recharge (2021)
2022 FIRSTFORWARD presented by Qualcomm Cargo Connect Freight Frenzy Rapid React
2023 FIRSTENERGIZE presented by Qualcomm Superpowered Powerplay Charged Up
2024 FIRSTIN SHOW presented by Qualcomm Masterpiece Centerstage Crescendo
2025 FIRST DIVE presented by Qualcomm Submerged Into The Deep Reefscape

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ab"FIRSTAt A Glance ".firstinspires.org.Retrieved14 December2014.
  2. ^"Financial Report".firstinspires.org. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 12 August 2020.Retrieved30 January2020.
  3. ^"990 Return"(PDF).Guidestar.org.Retrieved14 December2014.
  4. ^"Vision".Usfirst.org.Archivedfrom the original on 21 November 2015.Retrieved14 December2014.
  5. ^"FIRSTPlace ".Usfirst.org. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-09-25.Retrieved14 December2014.
  6. ^"FIRST Five-Year Strategic Plan"(PDF).Usfirst.org. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2015-03-14.Retrieved14 December2014.
  7. ^"Leadership".Archivedfrom the original on 2 May 2024.Retrieved2 May2024.
  8. ^"FIRSTHistory ".Usfirst.org.Archivedfrom the original on 3 December 2015.Retrieved14 December2014.
  9. ^"2008 Competition Manual and Related Documents".Usfirst.org. Archived fromthe originalon 2015-09-05.Retrieved14 December2014.
  10. ^"FRC Regional Event List - 2010".FIRST. Archived fromthe originalon 3 October 2009.Retrieved31 May2010.
  11. ^"FRC Michigan District Events - 2010".Archived fromthe originalon 7 December 2009.Retrieved31 May2010.
  12. ^"FIRST Robotics Competition".FIRST.Archived fromthe originalon 2006-04-27.Retrieved2006-06-09.
  13. ^"FIRSTSelects the City of St. Louis as Site of Annual Robotics Championship from 2011 Through 2013 ".2009-10-07. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-06.Retrieved2010-02-26.
  14. ^"What Is FVC?".usfirst.org.US FIRST. Archived fromthe originalon January 12, 2007.
  15. ^"Welcome to the 2006FIRSTVex Challenge season! ".usfirst.org.FIRST. Archived fromthe originalon December 18, 2006.
  16. ^"Hangin'-A-Round"(PDF).usfirst.org.FIRST. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on April 8, 2008.
  17. ^[1]ArchivedJanuary 29, 2007, at theWayback Machine
  18. ^"History".firstlegoleague.org.FIRST. Archived fromthe originalon July 17, 2011.
  19. ^"Support Our Mission".Firstlegoleague.org.Archived fromthe originalon 2015-12-08.Retrieved14 December2014.
  20. ^"Global Contracts".firstlegoleague.org.FIRST. Archived fromthe originalon January 16, 2010.
  21. ^"Past FLL Challenges".usfirst.org.FIRST. Archived fromthe originalon March 22, 2009.
  22. ^"FIRST Lego League Jr. Discovery Edition".firstlegoleaguejr.org.Retrieved27 May2019.
  23. ^"Save the dates".firstchampionship.org.Archived fromthe originalon 12 April 2009.Retrieved1 May2018.
  24. ^"$10 million for Project 10^100 winner".Google. 24 September 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 26 September 2010.Retrieved11 April2011.
  25. ^"Gracious Professionalism".usfirst.org.Archivedfrom the original on 27 October 2014.Retrieved14 December2014.
  26. ^"Robotics Education Project -FIRSTNationals ".Robotics.nasa.gov.Archivedfrom the original on 4 March 2016.Retrieved14 December2014.
  27. ^"Untitled Document".Robotics.nasa.gov.Archivedfrom the original on 24 January 2016.Retrieved14 December2014.
  28. ^"Untitled Document".Robotics.nasa.gov.Archivedfrom the original on 4 March 2016.Retrieved14 December2014.
  29. ^"Welcome to our Online Community!".usfirst.org.FIRST. Archived fromthe originalon March 10, 2009.
  30. ^Havenstein, Walt; Kamen, Dean."Appointment of Jon Dudas asFIRSTPresident ".usfirst.org.FIRST. Archived fromthe originalon June 12, 2010.
  31. ^"Bob Delaney Statement re Robotics Competition 4-11-11".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on 12 July 2014.Retrieved14 December2014.
  32. ^"YouTube".Youtube.com.Archivedfrom the original on 19 July 2015.Retrieved14 December2014.
  33. ^"Gracious Professionalism".FIRST.Archivedfrom the original on 2011-09-17.Retrieved2008-01-12.
  34. ^Chandler, David L. (May 7, 2012)."Woodie Flowers, a pioneer of hands-on engineering education".MITnews.Archivedfrom the original on September 22, 2015.RetrievedMay 9,2012.
  35. ^"US Patent 7507169"(PDF).Retrieved2010-03-08.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related toFIRST.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=For_Inspiration_and_Recognition_of_Science_and_Technology&oldid=1258977558"