FIRST Robotics Competition
Here's how FIRST describes FRC:
The varsity Sport for the Mind, FRC combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams of 25 students or more are challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. It’s as close to "real-world engineering" as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team.
Students get to:
Learn from professional engineers
Build and compete with a robot of their own design
Learn and use sophisticated software and hardware
Compete and cooperate in alliances and tournaments
Earn a place in the World Championship
Qualify for over $20 million in college scholarships
You can go here to find out about teams in your area, starting a team, volunteering, mentoring, or anything else about FRC!
The 2016 FRC Competition was FIRST Stronghold. Teams were tasked with building a robot to play in a medieval game with two Alliances of three robots each. Robots score points by breaking down defences, shooting balls in the tower, and scaling the tower. In keeping with the mideval theme of the game, all game pieces look like parts of a castle this includes drawbridges, moats, boulders, gates, etc. You can find out more about Recycle Rush here or watch the game video here.
Photos and information courtesy of www.USFIRST.org