Activity Profile: Robotics

by Kyle McWilliams

Do you think about science, technology, engineering, or mathematics for more than three hours a day? Students involved in FIRST Robotics eat, live, and breathe these subjects--collectively known as “STEM”--for even more than that. 

FIRST, (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen. This program is in effect to inspire and motivate high school and middle school students in STEM. In 1992, FIRST held its first competition in Manchester, New Hampshire with only 28 teams competing. Since that time, the program has grown exponentially; this year, there were over 5,000 teams competing at over 100 regionals all over the world.

The main goal of the FIRST Robotics competition each year is to construct a 120 lb robot in six weeks from a universal "Kit of Parts" and other materials with the help of some mentors. Teams involved in the competition design and build this unique robot to perform the tasks given by the FIRST Game Design Committee. There are no instructions on how to complete the given tasks, but there are defined rules to keep the environment and robots safe. Building the robot is not a team’s only job, however; members of the team choose to also work on 3-D animations of their robot. 

While most students in FIRST would attest to the fact that it’s a fun activity, entertainment value is not the only incentive: there are 28 awards given out at regional competitions and the championship event. These awards include the Woodie Flowers Award for effective communication in the art and science of engineering and technology by a mentor, the Industrial Safety Award that recognizes a team that shows excellent safety from the shop to competition; and the Gracious Professionalism Award for outstanding sportsmanship.

Platteville’s team, FRC Team 171--also known as the Cheese Curd Herd--is the oldest team in Wisconsin, having competed for 20 years. Each year the team has 20-30 high school students. During the 20 years, they have won more than three regionals and have been named regional finalists three times as well. Team 171 has also won many awards,  including the Chairman’s Award (1997), the Gracious Professionalism Award (2012), and the General Motors Industrial Design Award (2006).

This year, Team 171 competed at two regionals, the Central Illinois Regional and the Wisconsin Regional. The Cheese Curd Herd was seeded 7th out of 40 teams, with a record of 13-7-0 at the Central Illinois Regional held at Pekin, Illinois. As finalists, they lost to the first seed alliance. At the Wisconsin Regional in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, they were ranked 42nd out of 60 teams, with a record of 4-6-0. 

FRC Team 171 would like to thank all the mentors and sponsors, including John Deere, Benvenuto’s, Timmerman Talents, Duane Foust, University Of Platteville-Wisconsin, and University of Platteville-Wisconsin Engineering Physics. “These mentors and sponsors have made FIRST an enjoyable program,” says First Robotics member Derek Greenhalgh (‘15).