Are You Ready for a "Face Off!?"
FIRST Tech Challenge launches new season and new game, “Face Off!,” with new kit based on real-world experiences
With a new game, a new kit of parts, and a new online Kickoff, in September the FIRST Tech Challenge introduced a new and improved challenge for 2009 called “Face Off!”
The advanced, reality-based challenge not only deals with the real issues faced by scientists and engineers; but includes a complete robotics platform not unlike the ones used by those same scientists and engineers in their day-to-day work environment.
“We expect that ten thousand high-school students will participate in this year’s competition, where robots navigate a variety of surfaces, place hockey pucks in a center scoring area, knock pucks off racks, and get off of the playing field at the end of the match,” said Ken Johnson, FIRST Tech Challenge director. “Hockey pucks are a fun scoring element. Just like hockey, there will be fast action, teamwork, and some bumping around – but a lot more scoring.”
“Face Off!” was developed with input from professional robotics designers across the country to mirror challenges they face today, such as navigating uneven surfaces, manipulating odd-shaped objects, using sensors to determine the environment, and withstanding physical stress.
The new kit consists of an expanded TETRIX metal robot structure kit, LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robotics kit, DC drive motors, servomotors, controllers, and advanced sensors. It also includes three software platforms teams can choose to program their robots, including LEGO NXTG, National Instruments LabView for FTC, and RobotC.
At FTC events, teams compete for a series of awards honoring accomplishments in areas including engineering, design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship, and high-impact partnerships between schools, businesses, and communities. The most prestigious award is the FIRST Tech Challenge Inspire Award, a judged award that honors the team that performs well in all categories, is viewed by other teams as the most desirable alliance partner, and is viewed by judges as best exemplifying all components of the FIRST Tech Challenge philosophy. Also, participants can apply for over $7 million in scholarship funds from renowned science and engineering schools throughout the country.
In the 2008 season, approximately 1,000 FIRST Tech Challenge teams will compete in events in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, culminating at the FIRST Championship, April 16-18, 2009 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia.
Register your team for the 2008 FIRST Tech Challenge now!