Lake Superior State University hosted the annual FIRST robotics competition, which drew hundreds of students from 40 high schools in Michigan. This is the fifth year LSSU has hosted the regional matches, giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their robotics expertise. The competition, which is sponsored by Energizer, aims to encourage high school students to pursue careers in robotics and technology while learning valuable skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, marketing, and fundraising. Robots are designed to accomplish a series of challenges that change each year based on a theme, which are meant to teach students how to solve real-world problems that engineers face. Dr. Kimberly Muller, dean of the College of Innovation and Solutions, describes the competition as impressive and encourages anyone who gets the chance to see the event.
Lake Superior State University (LSSU) recently hosted the regional FIRST robotics competition which brought together hundreds of students from 40 high schools in Michigan. This year marked the fifth consecutive year that LSSU has hosted the event, which took place on Friday, March 24.
FIRST, which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Math, is a global organization that hosts robotics competitions and events in a bid to encourage students to enter the field of robotics and technology. High school students who are part of their local robotics teams have the opportunity to join this program. Over the course of about two months, the students develop and upgrade their robots in preparation for the competition.
The competition is designed to teach students skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, marketing, and fundraising. The teams comprise of people with diverse skills, some of whom may not even touch the robot. The teams are tasked with creating a marketing plan, building a plan of action, timetables, and artwork.
During the competition, robots are expected to complete a series of challenges that vary every year based on a theme. The challenges are meant to assist students in solving real-world problems that engineers face. For instance, the 2019 theme was video game power-ups, and teams were tasked with moving Super Mario-themed blocks. This year, the theme is “Charged Up,” and it is sponsored by Energizer, a battery company.
After winning at the regional level, students can compete at the state and national levels to demonstrate their robotics expertise. Overall, the FIRST robotics competition is an opportunity for high school students to explore the field of robotics and technology while gaining valuable skills that will be beneficial in the real world.
Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our coverage
The FIRST robotics competition, which took place from Friday, March 24, until the end of day on Saturday, March 25, was a great success. According to Dr. Kimberly Muller, dean of the College of Innovation and Solutions, it is an impressive event that showcases the students’ abilities.
Don’t miss interesting posts on Famousbio
