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Robotics

 

A red triangle and a blue square interlock with a white circular shape in the foreground, set against a white background with the word %22FIRST%22 in bold black letters below.


FIRST Robotics, or For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Robotics, is a global nonprofit organization that inspires students to get involved in science and technology through robotics competitions: 

  • What it's like

    The competitions are intense and combine the excitement of sports with the challenges of science and technology. 

  • What it teaches

    FIRST programs help students build self-confidence and collaborative problem-solving skills. They also encourage students to develop core values like: 
    • Gracious Professionalism: Respecting other teams and the spirit of competition 
    • Coopertition: Cooperating with other teams while still competing against them 

  • Who founded it

    Dean Kamen and Woodie Flowers founded FIRST in 1989

  • What it is

    Students build robots to compete in challenges that test their teamwork, problem-solving, and engineering skills. 

  • Who it's for

    Students ages 4–18 can participate in FIRST programs, which are suitable for schools or afterschool activities. 

  • How it works

    Teams of 25 or more students work with technology companies to design, build, and program robots to perform tasks against other teams. 

A student in the foreground operates a robot with a laptop and controller, while in the background, a wooden structure and computer stations are visible.