42 teams set for Boilermaker Regional robotics competition
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Forty-two teams from Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio and Alabama high schools will compete in the eighth annual FIRST Boilermaker Regional robotics competition March 17-19 at Purdue University.
FIRST - For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology - combines sports with science and technology as high school students build robots to compete in a game. For the 2011 game, called “LOGO Motion,” robots have to place triangle, circle and square-shaped inner tubes onto racks to score points. At the end of the match, teams will be able to earn extra points with smaller robots that climb poles placed around the field.
The competition will be in the Purdue Armory. Practice rounds will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 17. Qualifying matches take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 18 and from 9 a.m. to noon March 19. Top-ranked teams will compete in final rounds at 1 p.m. March 19. After the competition, awards and trophies will be presented in Elliott Hall of Music. All events are free and open to the public.
“This is an electric atmosphere as more than 1,000 teens and adults cheer for their favorite robot,” said Amy Przybylinski, event chairwoman and a Purdue mechanical engineering graduate.
High school students work with professional engineers, teachers and parents to design, build and test a robot in just six weeks to compete in regional competitions across the nation. Regional winners will be among more than 300 teams competing in the international championship event April 27-30 in St. Louis.
“The program is a great way for high school students to get hands-on experience with engineering- and technology-related practices,” Przybylinski said. “Plus, they have fun in the process. For many students, this is the highlight of their year.”
Sponsors for the regional competition are Purdue University Office of the Provost, Indiana Space Grant Consortium, Caterpillar, Rolls-Royce, Cook Medical, Delphi, AndyMark, Purdue School of Mechanical Engineering, Snowbear Frozen Custard and Arni’s.
FIRST was founded in 1989 by Dean Kampen, the inventor of the Segway human transporter. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs innovative programs to motivate students to pursue studies in science, technology and engineering. Since its inception, FIRST has expanded internationally to Canada, Great Britain, Australia, Israel, Ecuador, Mexico and Brazil.
A list of teams competing in the Boilermaker Regional and more information on the competition can be found at https://regional.purduefirst.org/
Writer: Judith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu
Sources: Joe Snedden, jsnedden@purdue.edu
Amy Przybylinski, amypribrobots@gmail.com
Note to Journalists: Media packets with information on each team and background information on FIRST will be available at the media check-in station at the Purdue Amory. Photographs can be taken at the event. There are restrictions, however, on where photographers and videographers may stand during the competition. Areas near the arena will be made available for photographers and videographers. To reserve a media packet or arrange an advance interview with team members or a FIRST representative, contact Joe Snedden, Purdue FIRST Programs, at jsnedden@purdue.edu