2009 FIRST Robotics Competition: What some young robot designers are thinking
What goes through the heads of young robot designers participating in the 2009 FIRST Robotics Competition? (FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.) See what one team is thinking. Link to safety video.
By Control Engineering Staff -- Control Engineering, 1/9/2009
Aurora, IL – What goes through the heads of young robot designers participating in the 2009 FIRST Robotics Competition (FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)? See what one team is thinking, below. Learn more about FIRST Robotics Competition, including the FIRST Robotics Control System, competition manual, and video.
is offered to those participating.
One local team: what are they thinking?
More than 20 Reed Business Information publications share an Oak Brook, IL, office with Control Engineering. One editor’s 15-year old son, who attends the Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA), is excited and challenged by his team’s robotics project. In the first week back at school after the holidays, students participated in an “intersession” period in which they devoted time to projects of particular interest to them, including the design, building, and testing involved with the robotics competition, part of a six-week period of intense and stimulating effort.
According to Jim Gerry, the Team 2022 sponsor, “We are very excited about participating in this year's competition and we believe that game strategy will be very important as our robots slide around on the ice-like game surface. An entirely new robotics control system raises the bar for the entire competition.”
Gerry gathered comments from his team members who tell what it’s like to become a dedicated robot builder.
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| www.usfirst.org has more about the FIRST Robotics Competition for 2009. |
“Playing games is hard. FIRST Robotics is not just some event where some students are told to
build a robot to play some game in six weeks. It is when students are challenged to do things that they never would have thought of doing before and encouraged to reach out in their community and ask people of various professions to work with them and dared to create something through their hard work that they are truly proud of. And what results from this? Strong bonds are made with people. Memories are formed. Students realize the importance of teamwork, hard work, and gracious professionalism in the real world. In other words, we have a ton of fun!”
– Monica Kozbial class of 2011
“Robotics is important. Gracious professionalism is the key to life. Agreeing on a robot design is harder than building the actual robot.”
– Aryssa Burton class of 2011
“FIRST is a wonderful experience for young students to learn first-hand about being an engineer. By getting involved, students are choosing to participate in a worldwide organization that supports more than just building robots; it supports strengthening the relationship between real engineer mentors in order to prepare the world’s next engineers.”
– Caitlin Bunt – Senior class of 2009 – 3rd year robotics
“Programming a robot is a challenge. Its not the writing, but the troubleshooting that takes forever.” – Sara Akgul class of 2010
“Building a robot takes more than one person or one skill set. There’s a place for carpenters, programmers, engineers- there’s even a place for me, and probably for you too.”
– Emily Weiland class of 2011
“The best part of FRC is the people. They make everyone feel safe and respected. It also builds self-confident and creative individuals.”
– Cameron Breedlove class 0f 2009
“FIRST is about more than robots. It’s about uniting a group of individuals who would have been unable to accomplish the goal, and showing them that math and science and teamwork have real value in this world.”
– Scott Page class of 2009
“FIRST and FRC gives high school students like us an opportunity to work with the most advanced technology in an environment and situations unlike anything else. We have the ability to work with sponsors from industry, leading corporations, and their advice teaches us in ways we wouldn’t otherwise learn.”
– Jake Armenta class of 2010
“FIRST is unique in its field. It taps our creativity into something that will matter.”
– Alina Kononov, Junior – class of 2010
“The FIRST robotics program has pioneered creativity in technology at IMSA.”
– Jonathan Munoz class of 2011
“FIRST breaks down the walls of the classroom and expresses students (us) to the real world; the world where deadlines loom and problems arise that require addressing. Throughout the season the team must evolve and adapt.”
– A.J. Kalkowski class of 2011
“We have motors, but no motor keys, what now?”
– Brian Page class of 2011
“FIRST has shown me what engineering is – much more than you could ever learn on paper.”
– Renny O’Connor class of 2009
“FIRST has, as one of its stated goals, the transformation of our society into one which values science and technology. I think it’s working. It has transformed my friends into capable and confident engineers. The kids in FIRST now are the ones who you are going to see building the future, one bolt at a time.”
– Adam Novak IMSA ’08 FRC #2022 Alum
More about IMSA: As a teaching and learning laboratory created by the State of Illinois, IMSA enrolls academically talented Illinois students (grades 10-12) in its advanced, residential college preparatory program, and it serves thousands of educators and students in Illinois and beyond through innovative instructional programs that foster imagination and inquiry. IMSA also advances education through research, groundbreaking ventures and strategic partnerships, such as the FIRST Robotics Competition.
Want to help with FIRST Robotics Competition?
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– Control Engineering News Desk
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