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FIRST Robotics
Tech Valley’s Capital Region is home to six high school FIRST Robotics teams. The program is a unique varsity sport of the mind helping students discover that engineering and science can be tremendously rewarding. It’s a sport where the students work side-by-side with Tech Valley mentor engineers, computer programmers, technologists, and business professionals who provide priceless hands-on learning experiences.
FIRST’s Mission
FIRST’s mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, 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. More information can be found at usfirst.org.
How it Works
The FIRST Robotics Competition is played by robots that function autonomously and by student-operated remote-control. The robots are designed and built in six weeks by a team of high school students and engineer-mentors. These robots are up to five-feet tall and weigh up to 120 pounds.
Regional competitions are typically held in university arenas. Thousands of fans cheer up to 70 teams over two and a half days. A championship has been held in recent years at the Georgia Dome. Since 1992, the FIRST Robotics Competition has grown from 28 teams to more than 1,680, including teams from more than 10 countries.
Area Teams
Team 20 The Rocketeers, Shenendehowa High School, Clifton Park
Team 20 is one of the founding teams in FIRST and has been inspiring innovation, passion, and leadership in Tech Valley robotics since 1992. The team has been growing by about 10% per year, including a 20% recent increase in young women. Team 20 organizes the Tech Valley Robotics Exhibition, volunteers in community events, assists new local FIRST teams and mentors middle school Lego League teams. In the last few years, the team has won the Motorola Quality Award at the Manchester Regional in 2009, Motorola Quality Award at the Boston regional in 2008, the UTC Delphi “Driving Tomorrow’s Technology” Award in both 2006 and 2007 and the UTC General Motors Industrial Design Award in 2005. www.team20.com
Team 250 The Dynamos, Capital Region Robotics, Albany
The Dynamos started in 1999 with students from a number of schools in the Capital Region. However, most members are from Colonie Central High School. Over the years, Team 250 has won the Engineering Inspiration award (twice), a gold medal, and a silver medal. In 2007, Team 250 won the Finger Lakes Regional Championship, and earned the UL Industrial Safety and Autodesk Visualization awards. More than 90% of its graduates go on to pursue college study in a science or technology field. www.team250.org/2006/250/comm.php
Team 1493 Falcons, Albany High School, Albany
Team 1493 is an inner-city team with a large minority membership. National Grid and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are the team’s major sponsors. The team has about 20-25 members with four high school mentors. Additional mentors include three RPI students and three professors during the build period. The team’s goal is to bring FIRST robotics to as many students as possible without imposing any financial burden on the family. Approximately 70% of team graduates have gone on to pursue college study in a science or technology field. www.ahs.albany.k12.ny.us/AHS/clubs/robotics/index.html
Team 1665 Weapons of Mass Construction, Hudson High School, Hudson
The Weapons of Mass Construction is run by two teachers. A small team of community volunteers, college students, and local engineers complete the support network for the team. The team boasts 95% of its graduating membership now attending 2 or 4 year college or vocational school. Seventy percent of these graduates are studying in the fields of math, science or engineering. The team took home the rookie All-Star award at the 2005 Hartford Regional, and placed 25th out of 68 teams in their division at the National Competition in Atlanta Georgia that same year. www.vaporizer1665.com
Team 2791 Terminal Velocity, Shaker High School, Latham
Team 2791 started competing with FIRST in the winter of 2009. In the 2009 Finger Lakes Regional, Team 2791 took home the Rookie All-Star Award. This is a team of students who wish to learn more about science and technology than is offered in regular classes. The team strives for excellence in everything they do. Because of this, they also endeavor to spread the FIRST message to others. www.team2791.com
Team 3044: 0xBE4, Ballston Spa High School, Ballston Spa
Well BE4 kickoff, the BE4ce (B-Force) started spooling up for their second year in FIRST by working hard to share their excitement with the community. Several students have taken the initiative to explore new programming directions and share that knowledge with the rest of the team. With the support of their mentors, teachers and families, these students are giving each other their first lessons in engineering and business management; This force has direction!
www.team3044.com
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