A day at FIRST

Robotics has a bright future because the youth are engaged. The latest evidence: The NYC FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics competition at the Javits Convention Center in New York City from April 4 to 6. In the FIRST Robotics Competition, high schoolers, 67 teams mostly from New York City but having representatives from around the world, made robots that played a spectator sport called Aerial Assist.

FIRST Lego League introduces 9 to 14 year-old students to real-world engineering challenges by building Lego-based robots to complete a variety of tasks that simulate a real-life technological challenge. In the Javits competition, the junior
high students strategized, designed, built, programmed, and tested a robot using Lego Mindstorms technology to accomplish the work of first responders.

 
In the Junior FIRST Lego League competition, grade school kids made poster presentations that showed their vision for a robotic future.

All in all, 200 teams participated in the weekend event, comprising approximately 3,000 NYC-area and international students from Brazil, Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, go to www.nycfirst.org.