For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

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For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and
Technology

• FIRST

Inspiring Students, Educators, Professionals and
Communities
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FIRST
Vision

• To positively transform culture by inspiring
  young people, their schools, and communities to
  appreciate science and technology.

Mission
To design accessible, innovative programs that
build not only science and technology skills and
interests but also self-confidence, leadership,
and life skills.
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FIRST

• Founded 1989, by inventor Dean Kamen
• National Medal of Technology recipient
• Inventor of the first portable drug-infusion pump
  
• Inventor of the Segway

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The FIRST Experience

• Gracious Professionalism is part of the ethos of
  FIRST. It's a way of doing things that encourages
  high-quality work, emphasizes the value of
  others, and respects individuals and the
  community.
• fierce competition and mutual gain are not
  separate notions
• Woodie Flowers MIT Professor
• FIRST National Advisor

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FIRST Programs

• FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) for
  high-school-aged young people
• FIRST LEGO League (FLL) for
  ages 9 to 14
• Also
• FIRST Technical Challenge, a more accessible
  program for high-school-aged youth (pilot)
• Junior FLL, for ages 6 to 9 (pilot)
• FIRST Place, an RD facility and science
  technology resource to the community

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Range of Programs K-12
FIRST Robotics Competition
FIRST Technical Challenge
FIRST LEGO League
Junior FIRST LEGO League
K 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
11 12
Grade Level
5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16
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Age - years
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Establishing a Continuum
Corporations
Colleges Universities
High Schools FVC FRC
Objective is to increase Interest in Science
and Technology careers
Grade Schools JFLL (1-4) FLL (4-8)
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Over 2,000 leading corporations, foundations
agencies, including
Sponsors

• Medtronic
• Boston Scientific
• 3M
• U of Minnesota
• NASA
• Lockheed Martin
• Cargill
• General Mills
• Best Buy

• EV3
• Banner Engineering
• Nonin Medical
• Caterpillar
• Pentair
• Lakes Region
• Graco
• Thomas, McNernery Partners
• GE Fleet Service
• MN Wire Cable
• St. Jude Medical
• Polaris Industries

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How It Works

• Sport for the mind, combining the excitement of
  sport with science and technology
• Problem solving and creativity with new
  challenges every year
• Teams of young people with mentors
• A tight timeline to learn efficiency and
  effectiveness
• A value system based on gracious
  professionalism
• Competition co-opetition with peers
• Hard fun

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FIRST Education

• Mission is to INSPIRE, not EDUCATE
• BUT look at what is involved
• Math (algebra, geometry, trig, calculus)
• Science (physics, chemistry, experimentation)
• Language arts (writing, public speaking)
• Business (marketing, PR, fundraising)
• Finance (accounting)
• Computer Science (programming, 3D animation)
• Fabrication (woodworking, metalworking)
• Mentorship Working side-by-side
• with professionals
• Teamwork

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How It Works

• FIRST LEGO League
• Robotics competition and project based on
  real-world challenge
• Mission Mars 2003
• No Limits 2004
• Ocean Odyssey 2005
• Nanoquest 2006
• Power Puzzle 2007
• 8-week build period starting in September
• Robots built using LEGO MindStormsTM technology

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FIRST Lego League Team Growth

• 10,000 teams
• 6720 in US Canada
• 3280 in 43 other countries
• 100,000 middle-school-age students
• 360 qualifying events
• 88 tournaments
• Junior FLL for 6 to 9 year-olds
• 1000 teams
• 50 Expos
• 25,000 Volunteers

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Power Puzzle 2007 Season

• MAY 1 Registration Opened
• JUN FLL Robot Sets Shipped
• AUG Power Puzzle Field Setup Kits Shipped
• SEP 5 International Challenge Released
• SEP 29 Registration Closed
• OCT 1 Tournament Application Opened
• NOV JAN Tournament Season
• APR 2008 World Festival

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FIRST Tech Challenge
FTC How It Works

• More accessible, affordable FIRST experience
• Creates bridge between FLL and FRC
• Real-world application of science and math
  concepts
• Hands-on problem solving
• Teaches maturing students teamwork skills and
  basic engineering concepts
• Discovery of the fun and excitement of science
  and technology

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FIRST Tech Challenge
FTC has witnessed amazing growth

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2007 FIRST Tech Challenge Season

• AUG 25 Registration Open
• SEP 19 Quad Quandary Challenge Released
• SEP NOV Scrimmages/Leagues Held
• NOV FEB Tournament Season
• APR 2007 World Championship Event

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FIRST Robotics Competition
How It Works

• Combines the excitement of sport with science and
  technology
• Creates a unique varsity sport for the mind
• Teams High School students with Companies and
  Mentors
• New game each year
• Common kit of parts
• 6-week build period

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FIRST Typical Schedule

• Form team, fundraising August September
• Team meetings September December
• Learn about problem solving engineering
• Mentors teach students about tools, programming
• Divide into sub-groups focused on specific areas
• National Kickoff January
• Strategize, design (weeks 1-2)
• Create prototypes (week 3)
• Build, wire, and program robot (weeks 4-5)
• Testing and operator training (week 6)
• Competition March April

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FIRST Logistics

• Robot Construction
• Teams receive a kit of parts (motors, sensors,
  control system, pneumatics, miscellaneous)
• Additional Parts List
• Purchases from Small Parts, Inc. and similar
  companies
• Typical construction cost 2K - 6K
• Restrictions
• 6 weeks to complete robot
• 130 lb max weight
• 60x36x30 max starting size
• Event entry fee 6K/initial event 4K/more
  events
• Teams may attend multiple regional competitions
• National competition does not require regional
  qualification
• Travel costs to events
• Transportation, Lodging, Food

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FIRST Robotics Competition Growth

• 28 teams in 1992
• 1502 teams, 316 rookies for 2008
• 54 MN teams, 38 rookies
• 36,000 young people
• Average 24 students per team
• 74 male / 26 female
• 31 minority
• 350 teams advance to FRC Championship

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Location of FRC Events in 2008
FRC Events in 2006
2008 Total 41 Regionals 37 in USA 2 in Canada 1
in Israel 1 In Brazil

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2007 FIRST Championship
Georgia Dome, Atlanta, April 17 - 19 National
Broadcast by
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Impact

• FIRST Robotics Competition
• 2005 study
• Conducted by Brandeis University
• FRC alumni from mainly low-income, urban schools
• Comparison group students with similar
  backgrounds in high-school math and science

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Impact
2005 FRC Study Findings

• FRC Alumni were
• nearly twice as likely to major in science or
  engineering (55 vs. 28)
• more than three times as likely to major
  specifically in engineering (41 vs. 13), and
  they majored in engineering at roughly seven
  times the average among US college students
  overall
• more than twice as likely to expect to have a
  science or technology-related career after
  college (45 vs. 20)
• more than twice as likely to have participated in
  some form of community service in the past year
  (71 vs. 30)
• significantly more likely to think it is
  important to "be a leader in their community
  (44 vs. 29)

Source FRC Evaluation, Brandeis University,
February, 2005
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Case History
East Technical High School, Cleveland, OH

• Enrollment from 900 to 1,400
• Attendance rates from 60 to 82
• FIRST team (including 5 young women) all
  graduated, all received scholarships
• Just 5 years agoan urban schoolslated for
  closing. Weve become the science / engineering
  magnet school More students try out for FIRST
  team than football and basketball combined.

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100 Universities provide 9 million in
scholarship opportunities and host events,
including
Scholarships
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Sponsors

• FIRST is a wise investment for BAE Systems
  because it energizes tomorrow's scientists,
  engineers, and leaders. That's good for the
  individual student, the community, and the
  nation.
• Galen Ho, President, Information
  Electronic Warfare Systems,
• BAE Systems North America

• FIRST isn't just about building robots, it's
  about developing life skills. The kids learn
  skills in relationships, teamwork, finance,
  fundraising, budgeting, and project
  management. The partnership between academia, the
  community, and industry ... will build our future
  employees and future citizens.
• Steve Sanghi CEO, Microchip
  Technology

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Advantages for Sponsor

• Innovative way to play leading role in important
  cause relevant to sponsors business
• Strengthens reputation community relations
• Builds technological literacy
• Pipeline for interns and future employees
• Motivating volunteer opportunities for employees
• Applied professional development in project
  management, leadership, and teamwork for
  employees

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Recent investments
Key corporations and foundations include

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Ways to be Involved

• Provide financial support
• To FIRST
• To events
• To teams
• For a specific purpose, such as the FIRST
  Underserved Initiative
• Provide equipment for FRC kit of parts
• Provide facilities for teams event
• Involve employees
• As mentors to teams
• As volunteers at events
• As consultants to FIRST
• Offer scholarships
• Provide internships
• Customized approach

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FIRST
Upcoming events
U of MN ME Robot Show Monday, Dec 10th Kickoff
_at_Coffman Union Saturday, Jan 5th Robot ships
Tuesday, Feb 19th
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Agenda for today
Welcome - Lockheed Martin Intro to FIRST - Mark
Lawrence Kickoff to Competition - Prior Lake,
Team 2169, KING
TeC Keep it Simple - Mark Lawrence 1030 - 1045
Break 1045 - 1130 Breakouts 1135 - 1220
Breakouts
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Breakouts
Courtyard Wiring the Robot - David Cook, Edina,
Team 1816, The Green Machine Room 1 Web/Video
Production - Evan Shimizu, Dan Purdy, Greg Budd
Edina, Team 1816, The Green
Machine Room 2 Chairmans Award/Funding/Accountin
g/Spirit - Sophie Burke, Stef Hornung
Edina, Team 1816, The Green Machine
Room 3 Programming the Robot - Steve Waldo, et
al, Edina, Team 1816, The
Green Machine Room 4 Pneumatics - Prof. Will
Durfee, U of MN Mechanical Engineering