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FIRST gets ready

Near North Student Robotics Initiative Team News Release ********************* FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people’s interest and participation in s
Near North Student Robotics Initiative Team
News Release

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FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology, today officially launched its 2007 FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) season with an online Kickoff. Eight thousand high-school-aged young people are expected to participate in this year’s competition.

FIRST unveiled this year’s challenge, “Quad Quandary,” where students’ robots place 3-inch PVC rings on movable single or paired goals, side goals, or posts. Extra points are scored by moving single or paired goals into an alliance’s playing field quadrant. The fast-paced matches include a twenty-second autonomous period followed by two minutes of driver-controlled play.

Teams of up to ten students work alongside mentors, applying real-world math and science concepts to solve the annual challenge. They compete and cooperate in alliances at high-energy regional tournaments that measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration, and the determination of students. Through their FIRST involvement, students discover the rewarding and engaging process of innovation and engineering.

During the 2007 season, approximately 800 FIRST Tech Challenge teams will compete in events in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico and the FIRST Championship, April 17-19, 2008 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. During the 2007 FIRST Tech Challenge, NNSRI won the Toronto Tech Inspire Award, the top award to win at a regional.

Teams must determine their strategy and program, build, and test a robot using the innovative Vex Robotics Design System. Developed by Innovation First, the kit includes over 500 parts and is customizable, making it easy and fun to create and test innovative designs and explore robotics concepts.

The goal of the FIRST Tech Challenge is to reach young people so they can discover the excitement and rewards of science, technology, and engineering. Working alongside engineers and other professionals, students experience the real-world application of science and math concepts. The hands-on problem solving required in the FIRST Tech Challenge develops valuable skills students will need as they progress toward higher education and eventually professional careers.

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