FRC: FIRST® Robotics Competition

FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC®) is an international competition for high school students. In January of each year, a new challenge is presented at Kickoff that determines the functions that the robot must perform. Teams have only six weeks to design, build and test a robot to compete in the year's game. Just like a 'real world' situation, teams have guidelines (in the form of a rulebook), limited budget and time constraints. Teams participate in Regional competitions, and work together in alliances to perform the required tasks as quickly and efficiently as possible. Awards are given for the playing field competition winners, best design, Engineering Inspiration and other fields important to the FIRST experience.

The most prestigious award is the Chairman's Award. The Chairman's award is given to one FRC team each year at the World Championships and is about "...the partnership among people who are part of the FIRST community and the impact on those who participate in FIRST programs with a united goal of achieving FIRST's mission." A Regional Chairman's award is also given to one team at each Regional competition. The FIRST mission encourages teams to reach out to their communities, to find mentors and sponsors, and to spread the message of FIRST.

FRC Games

2011: LOGO MOTION™

In LOGO MOTION, robots must hang large inflated plastic game pieces, one for each shape of the FIRST triangle-circle-square logo, on a scoreboard with pegs that range from just over 2 feet to 9 feet off of the ground. The game ends with each large robot, or "hostbot", deploying a "minibot" which must latch onto a ten-foot pole and then race to be the first to the top. The video explaining this year’s game that was aired during Kickoff can found at http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=18762 for anyone interested in a more detailed description.

2010: Breakaway®

Breakaway is a game where robots in alliances of three must score standard soccer balls in one of their two goals for points. Robots may not carry a ball, nor may they possess more than one at a time. Two bumps divide the field into three zones. In the centre of each bump, there is a tunnel, which allows robots to easily move from zone to zone. On top of each tunnel there is a tower. At the end of the game, there is a bonus awarded if your robot is suspended from the tower.

2009: Lunacy®

Played on a low friction surface with special wheels, robots in alliances of three must score 'moon rocks' (9-inch diameter balls pictured in the logo) into trailers. Trailers are hitched up to every robot, and points are given for scoring in the opposing alliance's trailers. There are also two Empty Cells per alliance that can be traded in for Super Cells. During the last 15 seconds of the game, Super Cells can be scored. They are worth 15 points as opposed to the single point awarded for a normal Moon Rock.

2008: Overdrive™

In Overdrive, robots in alliances of three get points for driving around the track. In addition to that, points are awarded for herding or hurdling 'track balls'. Hurdling involves getting the seven-pound, 40-inch diameter ball over a 6.5-foot overpass. Balls must move all the way around the track before they can score again, and robots cannot drive backwards around the track.

2007: Rack N' Roll™

Rack n' Roll is played by two alliances of three robots each. The objective is to score 32-inch diameter pool rings called 'keepers' and 'ringers' onto a structure in the center of the field called 'the rack'. The rack is a structure with protrusions specifically designed to be able to hang pool rings on. It is arranged in a cylindrical fashion with three different rows. However, there is a twist: the rack is suspended by chains, and will move when touched. Scoring is done tic-tac-toe style, with alliances getting points for having their tubes arranged in columns and rows on the rack. Bonus points are available for robots that can elevate themselves at the end of the match.

2006: Aim High™

In Aim High, robots play on two alliances consisting of three robots each. The objective is to score the game pieces, 7-inch foam balls, into one of three goals located at the ends of the field. There are two goals located on the floor, in which balls can be rolled into, and one 8½-feet above the floor, into which balls must be shot. More points are awarded for the higher goal, and robots can score additional points by elevating themselves on a 4-foot high platform, accessible by a ramp.

2005: Triple Play

2004: Raise the Bar