For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) released its new FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) game, Aerial Assist, to participating schools on Jan. 4.
FIRST is an organization founded by Dean Kamen in 1989. FIRST provides five programs: FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) for grades 9-12, FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) for grades 7-12, FIRST LEGO League (FLL) for grades 4-8, Junior FIRST LEGO League for grades K-3 and FIRST Place for ages 6 to adult.
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.”
Teams have six weeks to design, build, program and do necessary tasks to make their robot capable of vying in competitions.
Aerial Assist consists of two alliances of three teams which compete to score as many balls as possible in one of two goals in 2-minute 30-second match play. All team members of an alliance who assist other team members also earn points for their individual team.
Team captain, senior Angela Wong, said, “I hope that we can create an effective, innovative robot, something that we’re proud of and that works well. At the end of the year, I hope we will have created new memories and trained the younger students so that they’re prepared for next year.”
Wong has participated in FIRST competition since she was a freshman.
This competition is the first for new robotics adviser and engineering teacher, Peter Park.
Park said, “For the new FRC season, I plan to achieve a sense of pride, excellence and ownership. As Lancer Robotics’ new robotics teacher, I hope to develop a well structured robotics curriculum from first grade up. By the time they are in HS, students will have a good foundation to tackle FRC challenges.”
Freshman Ashley Marie Lardizabal said, “As a new member of the team, I hope to find a new skill or two to build. Also, since it is my first year, even being exposed to a robotics team, I’d like to learn and experience the building and creating in an environment such as this.”
Lancer Robotics will travel to the 2014 FRC Utah Regionals at Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah, from Mar. 11 to 16. Eight team members, including seniors Angela Wong, Dominique Dold and Lynse Chock, juniors Jessica Alyssa Manuel and Kristen Kate Tumacder, sophomore Michaela Graves, and freshmen Sydney Chock and Ji-Won Ha will be traveling to West Valley City with electronics mentor Brian Chock and robotics adviser Park.
Park said, “I hope that the team will do our best, fight a good fight for the Utah and Hawaii FRC Regionals. We may not come out at the top but have fun doing our best.”
