PRESS ROOM & NEWS

Thousands of Student Robotics Teams Will Collaborate to Build a Cargo-Delivering Robot to Traverse Rough Terrain During the 2021-2022 Season: FIRST FORWARD^SM Presented by Qualcomm
 

MANCHESTER, N.H., September 18, 2021 – FIRST^®, a robotics community that prepares young people for the future, launched its 2021-2022 FIRST^® Tech Challenge season with a virtual game reveal. Thousands of student participants, adult mentors, corporate sponsors, and other FIRST community members alike gathered online to watch the FIRSTtv broadcast and get a first glimpse of this season’s game, FREIGHT FRENZY^SM presented by Raytheon Technologies

In this year’s robot challenge, teams will work together to build a robot that can traverse rough terrain and obstacles, while learning to collaborate, communicate, and problem-solve as a team. Students from 24 countries around the world will participate this season.

Due to impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, FIRST Tech Challenge will offer program and event modifications that include traditional (in-person), remote, and hybrid format options. Event formats will be determined by FIRST Program Delivery Partners based on local conditions and regulations. For more information contact a local FIRST partner or visit the FIRST COVID-19 Impact Update page.

As a FIRST Strategic Partner, supporter of FIRST equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives, and the 2021-2022 FIRST Tech Challenge season presenting sponsor, Raytheon Technologies actively supports FIRST events, programs, and thousands of teams globally via direct funding, and time donated through invaluable employee engagement.

"As a sponsor of FIRST for over 25 years, Raytheon Technologies celebrates the accessibility and success of the FIRST Tech Challenge program to inspire students from all backgrounds to pursue STEM careers," said Randy Bumps, Raytheon Technologies' Executive Director of Corporate Social Responsibility. "We are honored to step up as this year's FIRST Tech Challenge presenting sponsor and share our passion for redefining the future of aerospace and defense with FIRST students."

FIRST Tech Challenge is a widely accessible robotics program for grades 7 through 12, administered both inside and outside the classroom. Students join teams to design, build, code, and operate complex robots to play a themed floor game in an alliance format. Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and working as a team.

“We are thrilled to offer another exciting year of FIRST Tech Challenge and bring engaging robotics programs into the hands of students around the world,” said Chris Rake, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, FIRST. “The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how critical hands-on learning is in education, and we continue to offer a variety of ways to participate this season as we endeavor to deliver the impact of FIRST to as many students as possible, as safely as possible.”

New challenges are emerging that disrupt our global transportation system -- natural disasters, humanitarian crises, and stressed, aging infrastructure. While participating in FREIGHT FRENZY presented by Raytheon Technologies, FIRST Tech Challenge teams will explore the future of transporting relief to those in need -- racing against time to deliver life-altering medicine, treatments, food, water, and other essential items to every corner of the globe.

In addition to game play, designing, and building robots, FIRST Tech Challenge participants can raise funds, design and market their team brand, perform community outreach, participate in career exploration and networking, including the FIRST Mentor Network and FIRST Scholarship Program, and receive access to Cloud-based CAD and collaboration tools, awards and scholarships.

The presenting sponsor for the FIRST Tech Challenge FREIGHT FRENZY season is Raytheon Technologies, the season program sponsor is Qualcomm, and season key sponsor is PTC. FIRST Tech Challenge FREIGHT FRENZY is part of the 2021-2022 FIRST season, FIRST FORWARD^SM presented by Qualcomm.

FIRST Tech Challenge is part of the suite of PreK-12 FIRST STEM robotics programs. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an international not-for-profit organization founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators.

Registration for the FREIGHT FRENZY season is now open. Need-based grants supported by generous sponsors are available for new FIRST Tech Challenge teams in North America.

About FIRST^®
FIRST^®is a robotics community that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (PreK-12) that can be facilitated in school or in structured afterschool programs. An international not-for-profit organization founded by accomplished inventor Dean Kamen in 1989, FIRST has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school. Boosted by a global support system of mentors, coaches, volunteers, alumni, and sponsors that include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, and build robots, then compete and celebrate at local, regional, and international events. High school students are eligible for more than $80 million in college scholarships. Learn more at firstinspires.org.

About Raytheon Technologies
Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. With four industry-leading businesses ― Collins Aerospace Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defense ― the company delivers solutions that push the boundaries in avionics, cybersecurity, directed energy, electric propulsion, hypersonics, and quantum physics. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.