FIRST sponsor: Company donates components to inspire next generation of engineers
For the fifth consecutive season, manufacturer of plastic cable carriers, continuous-flex cables, plastic plain bearings and linear guide systems, igus, has joined FIRST as a gold supplier of its robotics competition.
By Control Engineering Staff -- Control Engineering, 1/14/2009
East Providence, RI – For the fifth consecutive season manufacturer of plastic cable carriers, continuous-flex cables, plastic plain bearings and linear guide systems, igus, has joined FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) as a gold supplier of its robotics competition. Also see:
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2009 FIRST Robotics Competition: What some young robot designers are thinking
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Safe robotics: Mythbusters star in safety video for 2009 FIRST Robotics Competition
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| Students from 10 countries will design and build robots to compete. Source: FIRST |
FIRST is a not-for-profit organization that inspires young people’s interest and participation in science and technology. The FIRST Robotics Competition gold supplier level denotes a contribution between $50,000 and $200,000. The company donated various plastic machinery components to be included in the robotic competition’s kit of parts, which was distributed to more than 1,680 high school teams on Jan. 3, 2009. The company donated the parts in conjunction with its Y.E.S. (Young Engineers Support) Program, designed to foster the mechanical design ideas of students with a passion for engineering. Through Y.E.S., thee company sponsors a number of engineering competitions, including FIRST, and also offers in-class presentations and free products to students of all ages.
“For 18 years, the FIRST organization has been working to create a culture where students not only emulate leaders in science, technology, and engineering, but also realize the potential within themselves to someday be one of those pioneers,” says FIRST president, Paul R. Gudonis. “igus is helping to instill those values and beliefs in today’s youth. Like FIRST, igus aims to excite students about pursuing careers in engineering.”
More than 42,000 students from 10 countries will design and build robots to compete in regional events with winners advancing to the FIRST Championship in Atlanta, GA, in April 2009. During the annual engineering challenge called “Lunacy,” the robots will have to use “orbit balls,” designated as moon rocks, empty cells or super cells, to score in trailer hitches attached to the robots of opposing teams. Since 1992, FIRST has brought the excitement of a sporting event to science and technology via robotics competitions.
— Edited by C.G. Masi, senior editor
Control Engineering News Desk
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