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Competition at Purdue pits teams from Midwest high schools in robot 'soccer'
By Eric Weddle / Lafayette Journal and Courier

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Soccer-playing robots and day-glow wigs are the norm here.

This is not a science fiction rock 'n' roll concert, but it's close.
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It's FIRST, an acronym for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. And it's an organization dedicated to inspiring in students an appreciation for science and engineering.

"We're building robots and doing outreach into the community and our school," said Robert Squires, a Jefferson High School senior and leader of the Boiler Precision Guessworks team. "It is a lot about us learning and helping others."

Squires' team is joining about 40 others from Midwest schools in the Boilermaker Regional at Purdue University today and Saturday. They're competing for a chance to go to the national competition in Atlanta next month.

For this year's competition, teams had six weeks to build and design boxy, low-riding droids and the computer programs that control them for a game similar to soccer.

In addition to zipping around on wheels, making quick turns and "kicking" soccer balls, these remote-controlled 'bots can climb over humps in the playing field or use various means to dangle from suspension bars.

Three teams of robots will create an alliance to battle three other teams on a 54-foot field. The teams will try to push or knock balls into the other team's goals.

"It is much more challenging this year," said Hiroshi Fukada, a senior on West Lafayette High School's Westside Boiler Invasion Team. "It is not for rookies."

FIRST was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway human transporter.

"They come out of this program, no matter what they did in the team, a lot more prepared for life and especially college," said Amy Przybylinski, Boilermaker Regional co-chairwoman and a Purdue mechanical engineering graduate.

"These are high school students and they are learning so much, a lot more than what I knew before going to college. They get a lot of real-world experience."

The 2010 game was released over NASA broadcast as part of the kickoff event on January 9th 2010. Rules can be found here: http://usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=452
We are eagerly anticipating the regional events and cant wait to see what our teams come up with!

Tournament registrations are open for the Vex tournament. Please check on information relating to these tournaments as further information is added.

The current information can be found by clicking on "VEX Registration" on the left hand menu.

For more or detailed information, please email juniorrobotics@purduefirst.org.

Purdue FIRST Programs will hold its fall call-out/cookout in the MSEE atrium from 4-8pm on September 1st. Everyone is welcome to stop by to learn more about the organization, talk to members and grab a bite to eat!

Hope to see you there!

Cant make it to the call out, but are still interested? Email president@purduefirst.org or click the Join PFP button in the bottom border of the screen!

Purdue FIRST Programs will be part of Purdue Day at the 2009 State Fair on Friday August 7th. The Program will have a booth in Purdue Avenue and host a presentation at 1pm on the Purdue Live! Stage. Members from all three high school teams are expected to attend along with several collegiate members of the organization. The program will present how robotics has influenced elementary and high school students and taught college students valuable leadership skills. Of course several robot will be available for guests to watch or drive, if they are brave enough!

On July 31st and August 1st all three PFP-FRC teams will be heading to IRI (Indiana Robotics Invitational) to join in some intense off-season competition. Many PFP members will act as integral volunteers to run the event. This weekend will also host the 2009 Executive Retreat where the members will discuss their expectations and plans for the year. The program will also help man a Purdue Engineering Recruitment booth. More information about this event can be found at www.indianaroboticsinvitational.org/2009

A few years ago, Gracie Conrad didn't know a lick about building robots.

But since the Harrison High School junior joined the Harrison Boiler Robotics team, she's seen how science, technology, and life skills merge.

"It's an amazing mental challenge, and when you put blood, sweat and tears into a robot for six weeks and then you watch it go out and compete -- it is so completely exciting," she said Friday during the seeding matches of the Boilermaker Regional of the FIRST Robotics Competition at the Purdue Armory. The finals are today.

Publication Date: 03/05/2009

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development on Monday awarded 30 high schools and colleges a total of $117,000 in grants to fund teams competing in the FIRST Robotics program.

Local recipients were:

• Lafayette School Corp., $4,000
• North White School Corp., $4,000
• Purdue University FIRST, $5,000
• West Lafayette Community School Corp., $2,500