What is FIRST?

      For

      Inspiration and

      Recognition of

      Science and

      Technology

This, in its essence, means that this organization, and all three of its competitions, is training high school and middle school students to be the next generation of scientists, engineers, designers, inventors, and members of other disciplines of science.

FIRST's ultimate goal is to inspire students to pursue careers in science and technology related fields.

FIRST Competitions:

FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)

This is the competition that us high school students compete in. Our robots are usually large in size (the maximum allowable size is 5 feet tall!) and have a relatively large playing field (27' by 54') and have tasks that, on paper, seem relatively simple, yet are very demanding in strategy and skill.

PHS Thunderprise playing the 2013 Game, Ultimate Ascent

 

FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)

FIRST tech challenge is a robotics challenge that usually has something to do with a task that must be done entirely by the robot (Flipping switches, turning mechanisms, putting Tab A into slot B, etc.). Their fields and robots are almost always much smaller than that of FRC, but are mequired to carry out much more difficult tasks in the course of the game. This competition is also for high school students.

1st Annual Rochester FTC Tournament at St. John Fisher College

 

First Lego League (FLL)

FIRST Lego League is the middle school level competition that FIRST created. Using the Lego Mindstorm kit, these students are tasked with programming the robot to successfully complete as many of the varied objectives they are given as possible.

Razzle Dazzle, FLL pre-competition scrimmage

FIRST Lego League Jr. (FLLJr)

FIRST LEGO League Jr.* is designed to introduce STEM concepts to kids ages 6 to 10 while exciting them through a brand they know and love − LEGO^®.

Guided by adult coaches and FIRST LEGO League Jr. Core Values, students build models using LEGO^® Education WeDo and create Show Me posters to present what they learned. The program focuses on building interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through a real-world challenge – to be solved by research, critical thinking, and imagination.

 

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