Thursday, April 3, 2014

The FIRST Robotics


vxb.com is a Proud Sponor

The FIRST Robotics Competition is an international high school robotics competition organized by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). Each year, teams of high school students compete to build robots weighing up to 120 pounds (not including battery and bumpers) that can complete a game that changes yearly. While teams are given a standard set of parts, they are also allowed a budget and encouraged to buy or make specialized parts as long as they conform to FIRST safety rules. Game details are given at the beginning of January and the teams are allowed six weeks to construct a competitive robot, that can operate autonomously as well as when guided by wireless controls, to accomplish the game's tasks.

          Every year, a different game is played. However, many of the game rules have not changed. Teams are randomly assigned in groups of 3 people, which are paired into qualification matches, where they earn 'qualifying points', the calculation of which changes each year. The game changes every year, but for the most part, they involve some autonomous (computer controlled) robot operation for 10–15 seconds at the beginning of a match, followed by a much longer period (usually 2 minutes) of remote control. The FIRST Robotics Competition involves teams of mentors (corporate employees, teachers, or college students) and high school students who collaborate to design and build the robot. The game is designed by FIRST and changes from year to year. This game is announced at a nationally simulcast kickoff event in January. VXB.com is a proud sponsor of a team in the First Robotics Competition. We encourage the participants as they may be responsible for some significant technological advances in years to come.