FIRST Robotics Looking for Oklahoma Teams

Calling all Robotics teams!

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Robotics coordinators are looking for more Oklahoma teams so the state can host a FIRST Robotics regional competition, according to Robin Schott. Schott is the innovative initiatives and service manager at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.

FIRST is an international nonprofit organization promoting science, engineering and technology in schools. This important educational initiative is accomplished by forming teams of students that build robots. Then, the teams compete to see who can build the best robot.

“FIRST Robotics gives students the opportunity to work as an engineering team with real-world circumstances - limited resources, limited time and limited finances,” Schott said. “The competition encourages students to work with engineering mentors, solve very complicated engineering problems, and provides them the avenue to use ‘Gracious Professionalism’ while helping other teams at the competition.”

Gracious Professionalism is a teamwork concept promoted by FIRST.

This year, students from eight schools across Oklahoma competed at a FIRST Robotics competition in Houston including two CareerTech pre-engineering teams from Moore Norman Technology Center and Francis Tuttle Technology Center in Oklahoma City. Other participating schools are Tulsa Engineering Academy at Memorial High School, Jenks High School, Booker T. Washington High School, Tulsa High School of Science and Technology, Ponca City High School and Payne County Robotics.

Although no trophies were brought back to Oklahoma, all teams did well. The Tulsa Engineering Academy was eliminated in the finals and Ponca City was invited to participate at nationals in Atlanta. Moore Norman placed in the top ten nationwide in defense.

The students faired well in the competition, however, having an Oklahoma regional competition would benefit Oklahoma students greatly, according to Jack Sellers, retired electrical engineer from Tulsa. Sellers is a volunteer coordinator for the event.

“Oklahoma teams must travel to surrounding states to compete because Oklahoma does not have enough teams to hold a regional competition,” Sellers said. “Having an Oklahoma regional would reduce travel time and cost, expose more students to the activity and obtain publicity for the program necessary for growth. Also, it would show other students how rewarding and fun an engineering career can be.”

Each team receives the parts and specifications such as weight and size upon registration. After teams receive the parts to their robot, they have six weeks to design and build the robot. Then, the robot is shipped to the regional competition. The teams reassemble the robot and compete in an alliance (partnering with two other teams) type tournament for two days.

This year each robot could weigh no more than 120 pounds, climb a 30 degree incline, be robust, have a hopper system, collect balls, score points, be safe, mobile and as simple as possible.

The teams competed in a round-robin competition in an arena in a basketball type game. Teams meet before the match to determine which robots will compete as offense and defense. Together the teams must score points and defend their goals.

Each team is paired with two other teams and they compete against other alliances. This teaches the teams teamwork and communication skills. Then, the top 10 teams select two teams that have shown the strength and ability to compete in the final round of the tournament to form their final alliance.

This past year, Oklahoma had eight teams in the competition. When the state signs up 16 teams, then a regional competition can be formed in Oklahoma. The competition is open to10th -12th-grade students. Students from technology centers, public, private and home schools are eligible to form teams.

Once teams are formed, they will be paired with a mentor from the engineering field. Mentors are practicing engineers who help teams with ideas for the design and building of the robot while meeting tournament qualifications.

“The tournament gives students the opportunity to become familiar with the work of an engineer,” Sellers said. “The teams will learn project management skills and how to perform in a teamwork atmosphere like professional engineers.

“Technology centers are ideal for this type of competition because the technology center focuses on pre-engineering courses. There, students can put into practice what they learn in the classroom. Other teams have started from students in science clubs who are interested in robotics.”

Students who compete in FIRST Robotics are attractive to scholarship committees at colleges and universities when the committee is looking at applications.

“Nationally, more than $8 million in college scholarship money is available for students who compete in FIRST Robotics,” Sellers said.

For more information on how to form a team, contact Jack Sellers, Ph.D., at 918-496-7774 or sellersj@swbell.net or Robin Schott at 405-743-5554 or rscho@okcareertech.org.

posted May,16 2006