VCU news

By Mike Frontiero and Eugenia Anderson-Ellis

RICHMOND, Va. – Six weeks of intense design and construction will culminate in the NASA/VCU Regional FIRST Robotics Competition. Sixty-one teams of students and professional mentors demonstrate their skill in science, math and technology in this year's ”Stack Attack” that packs the action into a two-minute game with all the excitement of sudden death. High school students from 10 states and the District of Columbia have been tasked with the challenge and excitement of designing and building an original robot in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition.

The competition takes place March 6-8, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center, 1200 W. Broad St. in Richmond. It is free and open to the public.

Founded by inventor Dean Kamen, who recently introduced the SegwayTM Human Transporter (HT), FIRST was created to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people, their schools and their communities. Currently in its twelfth year, the FIRST Robotics Competition anticipates its largest season ever with more than 800 teams from Brazil, the U.K., Canada and nearly every state in the United States competing in 24 different regional competitions, and involving over 20,000 students. Many will move on to the championship held April 10-12 at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas. 

“The FIRST Robotics Competition is not just about the design and building of sophisticated robots,” said Kamen. “These students also develop maturity, professionalism, teamwork and mentoring skills that enrich their lives. Many of our students develop an affinity for their science and math courses, go on to study engineering, technology or science in college, and also pursue employment opportunities with sponsoring companies.”

This season, participating FIRST students also are eligible to apply for $1.7 million in scholarships from leading universities, colleges and companies. All scholarship announcements will be made at the FIRST championship in April.

VCU’s School of Engineering, a title sponsor since the beginning of the Richmond area Regional, has led the FIRST effort with the full involvement of its students, administration and professors, providing extensive mentoring to the teen teams.

Over a six-week timeframe, students work with their professional mentors to design a robot that solves a problem using a “kit of parts” and a standard set of rules. Once these young inventors create the robot, their teams participate in regional competitions that measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration and the determination of students. In this year’s game, “Stack Attack,” robots are designed to collect and stack large plastic containers on their side of the court, while fighting off attacks from opposing teams – all in less than two minutes.

Since its beginning, FIRST has had a positive impact on students and academic communities. A survey by Goodman Research Group of Boston, Mass., found that participating FIRST students’ attitudes about science, math, teamwork and the working world significantly improved after participating. The students’ self-image also improved, particularly in minority groups. Also, interest in internship and employment opportunities with sponsoring companies increased.

High schools from the District of Columbia and the following states will be represented at the competition: Connecticut, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.