About FIRST

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded by Dr. Woodie Flowers and Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway Human Transporter, “to create a world where science and technology are celebrated…where young people dream of becoming technology heroes.”

Each year teams of students and mentors are given a new engineering design problem to solve in six weeks using a common kit of parts and set of rules plus a variety of raw materials and high tech components as the individual design solution requires. The six week build period is intense and requires much brainstorming and cooperation to decide how to play the game and how to design, prototype, build and program a robot. This comprehensive program requires that all students actively participate in the entire robotics project including finance and budgeting (and their limitations), fundraising, project management, programming, engineering and manufacturing.

FIRST “aspires to transform culture, making science, math, engineering, and technology as cool for kids as sports are today.” The excitement and atmosphere of the regional competition events can’t adequately be described to someone who has not experienced one. But imagine a state championship sporting event and a high-tech rock concert rolled into one, and it lasts three days! It offers the opportunity for similar exhilaration and recognition for academic and technological achievement that is usually reserved for traditional sports. Though the competition is fierce, it maintains a culture of cooperation as teams share tools, spare parts and even mentor support throughout the competition. Teams are encouraged to mentor rookie teams and share experiences and knowledge.

The most successful teams form strong cooperative alliances with the two teams randomly assigned for each match. Players soon learn the consequences for unsafe behavior: hefty penalties that can wipe out any points that have been scored. But recognition for scoring the most points is only one of many awards at the competition. There are many other awards including sportsmanship, safety, team spirit, website design, animation, engineering creativity or excellence and of course the most prestigious Chairman’s award for demonstrated outreach to the community.

Colleges, universities and businesses recognize the immense value that FIRST Robotics has for these students. Many offer college scholarships, sponsor teams and encourage engineers and other employees to participate as mentors. They contribute to the community as they prepare their future work force. It is a win-win endeavor for all of us.

FIRST Robotics began in New Hampshire in 1992 with 28 teams in one high school gym. It has grown to over 1,125 multi-national teams in 33 Regional events and the Championship for the 2006 competition. Teams come from almost every state and Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Israel, Mexico, and the U. K..

For more information click on the US First logo at top right or go to www.usfirst.org