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February 18, 2008
Robot teams race to the finish at Purdue competition
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - |
FIRST, or For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, combines sports with science and technology to create a unique event for high school students. The 2008 game, called FIRST Overdrive, features fast-paced matches in which robots race around a track and manipulate 40-inch inflated "trackballs" to score additional points. In addition to North Dakota, teams traveled from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Missouri.
Top-ranked teams will compete in final rounds at 1 p.m. Saturday (March 15). After the competition, which will take place in the Purdue Armory, awards and trophies will be presented in the Elliott Hall of Music. All events are free and open to the public.
"This is an electric atmosphere at which more than 1,000 teens and adults will cheer for their favorite robot," said Amy Przybylinski, event chairperson and a Purdue mechanical engineering graduate. "This year's competition really challenges the dexterity and skill of robots and drivers."
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 join more than 300 teams to compete in the international championship event, which will take place April 17-19 in Atlanta.
"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 include Purdue University, Indiana Space Grant Consortium, Rolls-Royce Corp., Schlumberger Co., General Motors Corp., Delphi, Coca-Cola Co., BAE, Dupont, AndyMark and Snowbear Frozen Custard.
FIRST was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen, 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.
Indiana teams participating in the FIRST competition include:
* Delphi Corp., Duke Energy, AndyMark Inc., Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Ivy Tech Community College and Kokomo Center School Corp., Kokomo
* Power Lift/Patrick Metals, General Motors Corp., BOSCH, AM General, PHM Community and Penn High School robotics, Mishawaka
* Allison Transmission, Rolls-Royce Corp., 74 Proud Grandmas and Perry Meridian High School, Indianapolis
* The Chrysler Foundation, Indiana Department of Workforce Development, the Delphi Foundation and Western High School, Russiaville
* Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Rolls-Royce Corp., Keihin IPT Manufacturing Inc., Triumph Fabrications, Morristown High School, Morristown
* DRN Machine and Madison County High Schools, Anderson
* Rolls-Royce Corp., Delphi and Carmel High School, Carmel
* Urschel Laboratories Inc. and Wheeler High School, Valparaiso
* Rolls-Royce Corp., Diversified Systems Inc., Waterjet Cutting of Indiana, Indiana Department of Work force Development, Beckman Coulter, ITT Technical Institute, Pike Academy of Science and Engineering, Pike High School, Indianapolis
* CTS Corp., South Bend Mayor's After School Program, Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Mack Tool Engineering, Notre Dame University and South Bend School Corp., South Bend
* UTEC, Wabash Technologies, NASA, 4-H Robotics and Huntington North High School, Huntington
* Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Rolls-Royce Corp., Fab2Order and Southport High School, Indianapolis
* Caterpillar Inc., Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Leis Machine Shop, Liberty Township, Vanguard Industry and North White High School, Monon
* NASA, Ball State University, and Muncie-Delaware County Schools, Muncie
* Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Rolls-Royce Corp., National Starch and Chemical Co. Inc., Endress+Hauser, ITT and the Center Grove School Corp., Greenwood
* Freescale Semiconductor, Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Delphi, Dr. Richard Lasbury DDS, Duke Energy and the Taylor Community Schools, Kokomo
* Columbus Area Career Connection High School, Columbus
* NASA, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development and Crown Point High School, Crown Point
* Howmet-Alcoa, NRP-Jones and New Prairie High School, New Carlisle
* Rolls Royce Corp., Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indiana Department of Workforce Development and the Indianapolis Area Schools, Indianapolis
* Terre Haute South Vigo High School and Vigo County School Corp., Terre Haute
* Purdue FIRST programs, Caterpillar Inc. and West Lafayette Junior and Senior High School, West Lafayette
* Proportion Air Corp., Rolls-Royce Corp., and Walker Career Center, Indianapolis
* Aircom Manufacturing, Beckman Coulter, Rolls-Royce Corp. and the Bernard K. McKenzie Career Center, Indianapolis
* Caterpillar Inc., Purdue FIRST Programs and Jefferson High School, Lafayette
* Purdue FIRST Programs, Caterpillar Inc. and William Henry Harrison High School, West Lafayette
Other teams participating in the FIRST competition include:
* Motorola, Rolling Meadows High School and Wheeling High School, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling, Ill.
* General Motors Research and Development and Rochester High School, Rochester, Mich.
* Shiloh Industries, General Motors Corp. and Northville High School, Northville, Mich.
* Proctor and Gamble Inc. and Highlands High School, Ft. Thomas, Ky.
* North Dakota Space Grant Consortium, Thunder Boosters, Lloyd Farms, Northwood Co-op Oil, Sheyenne Valley Financial, Farmers Union Insurance, Naastad Construction, Hatton Men's Club, Aneta Whitetail Ashley Lions, Dr. Mary Aaland, Citizens State Bank of Finley, American Federal, Hatton High School and Northwood High School, Hatton, N.D.
* Emerson, Anheuser-Busch, Ranken Technical College, WaterJet Tech, CopperBend Pharmacy, Belleville Kiwanis, St. Louis Public Schools and the Gateway Institute of Technology, Florrisant, Mo.
* Emerson, NASA, DRS and Hazelwood Central High School, Florrisant, Mo.
* Aalderink Electric Co., NASA, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Outstate Michigan, Parkway Electric and Wavecrest Career Academy, Holland, Mich.
* NASA, eServ, a Perot Systems Company and Dunlap High School, Dunlap, Ill.
* NASA, Advanced Technology Services and Peoria Notre Dame High School, Peoria, Ill.
* The Chrysler Foundation, Automated Systems, Krause Engineering, Lake Fenton High School and Lake Fenton Community Schools, Fenton, Mich.
* NASA and Proviso Math and Science Academy High School, Forest Park, Ill.
* AEP-American Electric Power, Lake Michigan College and the Niles Area Home School Organization, Niles, Mich.
* Robert Bosch LLC, Visteon, ITT Technical Institute and Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, Canton, Mich.
Writer: Marydell Forbes (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu
Source: Amy E. Przybylinski, (765) 451-9822, amypribrobots@gmail.com
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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 actual competition. Areas near the arena will be made available for photographers and videographers. B-roll is available for broadcast media. To reserve a media packet or arrange an advance interview with team members or a FIRST representative, contact Marydell Forbes Purdue News Service, at (765) 496-7704, (765) 404-8993 (cell), mforbes@purdue.edu
PHOTO CAPTION:
The Gearheads of Redford, Mich., and the RoboDevils, from Indianapolis, watch as their robots compete in the 2007 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Boilermaker Regional Robotics Competition at Purdue. (Purdue News Service file photo/Dave Umberger)
A publication-quality file photo is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2007/FIRST07-results.jpg
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