The FIRST Robotics Competition challenges teams of young people and their mentors to solve a common problem in a six-week timeframe using a standard "kit of parts" and a common set of rules. Teams build robots from the parts and enter them in a series of competitions designed by Dean Kamen, Woodie Flowers, and a committee of engineers and other professionals. Since its debut in a New Hampshire high school gym in 1992, with its 28 teams, the competition has grown to 1,125 teams competing in 33 Regional Events, and The Championship held at the Georgia Dome and World Congress Center in Atlanta where more than 8,500 high-school-aged young people participate.
FIRST redefines winning for these students. Teams are rewarded for excellence in design, demonstrated team spirit, gracious professionalism and maturity, and ability to overcome obstacles. Scoring the most points is a secondary goal. Winning means building partnerships that last.
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