F.I.R.S.T. in Traverse City

F.I.R.S.T. (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)

Traverse City, MI Hosts F.I.R.S.T. Event

For three days, Feb. 26, 27, 28, 2009 Traverse City, MI had the distinction of hosting the 2009 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) District Competition at the Traverse City Central High School Gym. Forty Regional competitions funnel down to seven District competition, the winners of which go to the National Championship. $9.7 million dollars in scholarships are available as prizes for the winners. When I drove up to the Central High school Gym, I was surprised to find the parking lot full and had to park elsewhere. When I walked into the building, I was nearly bowled over by a huge roar from the packed bleachers as a favorite made another. The announcer was shouting at the top of his voice over the PA system that was cranked up to a near ear splitting volume to a packed house. Patches of crowd formed cheer blocks wearing their team’s colors, cheerleaders with pom-poms lined the edge of the court, and each team had people in plush robot mascot suits to join in inciting the crowd to cheer. While I have followed the 18-year journey of Dean Kamen’s invention, FIRST, I had never before attended an event in person. This was my first FIRST. I was surprised by how different the experience was from what I had expected. Webcasts and still photographs of earlier events had not prepared me for the full immersion experience of being in the pits and on the competition floor surrounded by a roaring crowd. The sound of the event was overwhelming, the smell of machinery, fiberglass resin, and sporting event concession food was an unusual combination that maybe we should plan on getting used to.

The FIRST teams use pin-on buttons as business cards. Collect the whole set.

Basketball Move Over, Geek sports have arrived

The 400 volunteers that it took to put on the Traverse City robotics competition want F.I.R.S.T. to be recognized as a sporting event equal in importance to any high school athletic event and would like to see it reported as part of the Sports segment of the evening news. This is an interesting idea that I had never really considered before. What would the effect be on society if Science, Math, and Engineering student completions were reported as high school athletic events? 

left: My guide Veton Krasniqi -VIP Ambassador from team  #2771 Code Red Robotics, me, and two of his fellow team mates.  Their robot was out and about with the other members of the team at the time of the photo.  Part of the near capacity crowd at this sporting event can be seen through the door.

In this sport, Every Player Can Turn Pro

With an all access pass and the wealth of background information provided by my escort, Veton from team #2771 Code Red Robotics, I was able to spend most of my time in the pit area interviewing people from each of the 39 teams and getting to see the robots up close.   The high school students that participate in the FIRST sporting events are the people who will soon be the scientist and engineers of this country, they are worth watching closely.  As the event spokesperson said at the media orientation, this is the only sport where every player can turn pro. 

Preparing the playing field for the next round in the science and engineering sporting event known as FIRST.

LUNACY
The game is called Lunacy, referring to the 1/6 gravity moon exploring theme. The robots were equipped with smooth hard Delron tire wheels and the competition floor was a pebble surface plastic sheeting that gave the vehicles very little traction. The team’s drivers explained the whole effect as being much like driving on ice. Between the matches, a fine white dust of ground tires and flooring was swept off the floor by the human Zamboni. 

Thursday, February 26, 2009
11:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. Field and pit set up
6:00 P.M - 10:00 P.M. Team load in, open pits, inspection and practice

Friday, February 27, 2009
8:30 A.M. Pits and machine shop open
8:30 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. Inspection and practice
11:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. Opening Ceremonies
11:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. Seeding Matches
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Lunch
2:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Seeding matches
7:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Dinner
9:00 P.M. Pits close

Saturday, February 28, 2009
7:30 A.M. Pits and Machine shop open
8:30 A.M. – 9:00 A.M Opening Ceremonies
9:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. Seeding matches
12:30 P.M. – 1:30 P.M. Lunch
1:30 P.M. – 2:00 P.M. Alliance selections
2:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. Final rounds
5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. Awards Ceremony
6:30 P.M. Pits close and field broken down

Traverse City Central High School
1150 Milliken Drive
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 933-3500
Contact John Failor at failorjo@csh.tcaps.net or 231-933-3554 with any questions.

GO ROBOTS !

Paul F. Grayson - Chief Engineer
AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL MAGIC, LLC
Racing to build technology that saves soldier’s lives.
390 4-Mile Rd. S.
Traverse City, MI 49686-8411
(231) 946-0187, (231) 883-4463 Cell
pgrayson@aimagic.org
AIM: http://aimagic.org
Robot Club: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/robotcluboftraversecitymi/
CE Magazine: /blog/1180000318.html
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