FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics is an organization that is dedicated to bringing engineering opportunities to students, elementary through high school; before they step into the halls of whatever college they choose to attend. Not only is this an organization that puts an emphasis on engineering, but it also places an incredibly strong emphasis on teamwork, sportsmanship, cooperation, and gracious professionalism.
FIRST announces a game every year on the first Saturday of January in a broadcast. It is filled with tips, interviews, game hints, as well as an animation of the general game play/rules of the game. Teams worldwide then have 6 weeks to design and program a robot that is able to play the game. Once those 6 weeks are up, teams travel to compete in different competitions around the world. During competitions, teams are randomly put in groups of three, or "alliances". Those alliances then compete in a match. Each match lasts for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. In the first 15 seconds, or "Autonomous Period", robots must be operated independently of their drivers. After the autonomous period, alliance members can use the remaining time to control their robots and score as many points as they can. This is also known as the "Teleoperated (Teleop) Period". There are two types of matches in each competition: qualification and playoffs. During the qualification matches, teams compete with and against each other to receive points. The top 8 teams with the most points at the end of the qualification matches become "Alliance Captains". The Alliance Captains pick 2 other teams from the remaining list to join them on their alliance. After they are made, the 8 alliances go head to head (or robot to robot) in a series of matches called the "playoffs". The playoffs are organized in a bracket, and the winner at the end of the bracket is declared the winner of that competition. |
Game 2018
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This year’s game is called Power Up, which involves two alliances of three teams each, with each team controlling a robot and performing specific tasks on a field to score points. The game has a retro 8-bit theme and teams are required to place milk crates, or "power cubes", on large balancing scales to tip the scale and gain ownership. Alliances can also trade power cubes for power ups, giving them a temporary advantage in a match.
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- 2018: FIRST Power Up
- 2017: FIRST Steamworks
- 2016: FIRST Stronghold
- 2015: Recycle Rush
- 2014: Aerial Assist
- 2013: Ultimate Ascent
- 2012: Rebound Rumble
- 2011: Logomotion
- 2010: Breakaway
- 2009: Lunacy
- 2008: FIRST Overdrive
- 2007: Rack 'n Roll
- 2006: Aim High
- 2005: Triple Play
- 2004: FIRST Frenzy: Raising the Bar
- 2003: Stack Attack