What is FIRST?
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an international organization dedicated to spreading engineering and robotics to students. There are programs available to all students grades K-12, each with competitions and a different game. In FIRST Lego League and FIRST Lego League Jr, the competitions for elementary school students, motorized Lego pieces are used to build a robot. In the FIRST Tech Challenge, for middle schoolers, small tabletop robots are built. ThunderChickens is a FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team. To find out more about what FIRST is, click the link here.
What is FRC?
FRC is for high school students grades 9-12. Founded in 1992, FRC is the original FIRST Program, where teams build 120-pound robots to compete in a new game each year. Combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology, FIRST Robotics Competition is called "the ultimate sport for the mind" and "the hardest fun you’ll ever have." Under strict rules, limited resources, and an intense six-week time limit, teams of students are challenged to build and program robots to play a difficult field game against and with competitors, as well as raise funds and work well with the rest of their team. It’s as close to a real-world engineering experience a student can get. Professionals often volunteer as mentors and lend their time and talents to guide their respective teams.
Each season ends with an exciting FIRST Championship.
To visit FRC's website, click here.