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FIRST 101

The Bionic Tigers - FTC 10464

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What is FIRST?

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

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FIRST Mission

The mission of FIRST® is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.

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More than Robots

“FIRST is more than robots. The robots are a vehicle for students to learn important life skills. Kids often come in not knowing what to expect - of the program nor of themselves. They leave, even after the first season, with a vision, with confidence, and with a sense that they can create their own future.”
-Dean Kamen

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Dean Kamen

American engineer, inventor, and businessman
Cofounder of FIRST
Inventor of the Segway

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Woodie Flowers

Mechanical engineering professor at MIT
Cofounder of FIRST
Founded the idea of
“Gracious Professionalism” and “Coopertition”

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What FIRST includes

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FIRST Lego League Jr.

Ages 6-10
Introduction of STEM
Explore real-world theme and build a model of a solution to a problem
Mechanize and program the solution with Lego EV3 or NXT parts

Example: the theme was water, a team built an irrigation system

Create a “Show Me” poster to exhibit at an expo
Reinforces students skills and values relating to: team work, critical thinking, researching, and communication.

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FIRST LEGO League

Ages 9-14
Create and program an EV3 robot to complete objectives on field
Research and create a project relating to problems in world
Present in three judging rooms: core values, robot design, and project
Big emphasis in the core values of FIRST Lego League
Advancement is based on composite score

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FIRST Tech Challenge

Ages 12-18
Challenge to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge in an alliance format (2 v 2)
Emphasis on spreading STEM and FIRST through community, school, and world
Present in one judging room to judges about their robot design, design process, programming, outreach, and the team’s journey.
Advancement is based on winning the competition or awards

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FIRST Robotics Challenge

Ages 14-18
Under strict rules, limited time and resources, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. (3 v 3)
Encouraged to spread STEM and FIRST through community, school, and world
Advancement is whole winning alliance, Chairman’s Award, and Engineering Inspiration Award

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Etiquette

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Gracious Professionalism

Definition: demonstrating gracious attitudes and behaviors during competitions, respecting others and letting that respect show through actions, and making valued contributions in a way that is pleasing to others
Why is it important to be gracious professionals at competitions?

Judges look for teams who show gracious professionalism for every award
It can preclude your team from being considered for awards
It builds respect for your team
It extends beyond your team - it applies to your supporters

Give help and don’t be afraid to ask for it! Cooperation over competition
Practicing gracious professionalism in the presence of volunteers and respecting them is important
Practice in everyday life too!

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Credits

This lesson was written by The Bionic Tigers 10464 for FTCTutorials.com
You can contact the author at:

Website:

http://lovelandrobotics.com/team10464

Twitter:

@BionicTigersFTC

Email:

BionicTigers10464@gmail.com

More lessons for FIRST Tech Challenge are available at www.FTCtutorials.com

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This work is licensed under a

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.