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The 2024 FIRST® Championship presented by BAE Systems will bring together 600 teams.This page is intended to be an overview of information on FIRST Championship specific to the FIRST Robotics Competition program. Teams can also reference the FIRST Robotics Competition Event Guide for additional details.
FIRST Robotics Competition Volunteers can also reference the Volunteer Event Guide for general volunteer information as well as the FIRST Robotics Competition Championship Volunteer webpage for volunteer information specific to the FIRST Robotics Competition Program.
Preparing for FIRST Championship
Details on how teams earn eligibility to attend the FIRST Championship are posted on the Championship Eligibility Criteria webpage.
Teams should also check out the FIRST Championship Website for information that is applicable to all programs and attendees and the FIRST Championship Event Guide for information that is applicable to all attendees such as information about badging, Conferences, Innovation Faire, and more!
Badging and Hotel Options
Housing through ConferenceDirect is now closed. If you still need help with rooms, please visit our travel planner partner aRes for additional hotel options.
Do I still have to register to attend if I am not using the FIRST Championship Hotel Accommodations?
Yes, all attendees have to use the badging system to register for the event. All attendees are required to have a badge while on site. Please complete this prior to arriving to expedite badging on site.
Do I have to stay at a hotel that is part of the FIRST Championship Hotel Accommodations?
No, the hotel program is provided as an option for attendees and teams.
When will I receive information on registering for FIRST Championship?
Teams will receive information on registering after qualifying for FIRST Championship.
Robot Shipping & Packing
Teams attending the 2024 FIRST Championship can choose to either ship their robot using the FedEx voucher or hand-carry to the event.
Teams that qualify and are secured (paid the event registration fee) for FIRST Championship will get an email asking them if they want to hand-carry to FIRST Championship or ship it via FedEx. Teams must select one or the other, as there will be no ‘default’ option. For more information, check out the Robot Transportation webpage.
Please review the Event Experience webpage for suggestions on what to bring to each event.
On-Site FIRST Robotics Competition Championship Specifics
Agenda & Floor Plan
- Teams can reference the FIRST Robotics Competition Public Schedule for the most up to date schedule.
- Please see the images below (click image to enlarge) for the layout of the FIRST Robotics Competition area on the 1st floor of the George R. Brown Convention Center.
Championship Divisions
Division Assignments are available on this frc-events page closer to the event.
Archimedes
Archimedes was a mathematician, physicist, engineer, astronomer, and philosopher. In theoretical mechanics, Archimedes is responsible for fundamental theorems concerning the centers of gravity of plane figures and solids, and he is famous for his theorem on the weight of a body immersed in a liquid, called Archimedes’ Principle.
Click image to enlarge.
Curie sponsored by Rockwell Automation
Marie Curie was a Polish physicist and chemist who did ground-breaking research about radioactivity. She was the first woman to have won the Nobel Prize and the first person to have won the Nobel Prize twice, for developing the theory of radioactivity, and for discovering new elements polonium and radium.
Click image to enlarge.
Daly sponsored by Qualcomm
Marie Daly was an American biochemist, and the first African-American woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry. Over almost 40 years, she did important research about histones, protein synthesis, cholesterol and hypertension and creatine.
Click image to enlarge.
Galileo sponsored by BAE Systems
Galileo Galilei was a philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician. He made many important contributions to our understanding of this world. One such contribution is improving the design of the telescope, allowing him to make meaningful discoveries that helped prove the Copernican hypothesis.
Click image to enlarge.
Hopper sponsored by Molex
Grace Hopper was an American mathematician and a rear admiral in the US NAVY. She was a pioneer in developing computer technology and even coined the term bug to refer to unexplained computer failures. Additionally, she helped to devise the first commercial electronic computer.
Click image to enlarge.
Johnson sponsored by Gene Haas Foundation
Katherine Johnson, an African American woman, worked as a mathematician who worked at NASA. She was responsible for calculating orbital mechanics which were critical for first and later US crewed spaceflights. Known as the "human calculator" she was a master at complex manual calculations and pioneered the use of computers for this task.
Click image to enlarge.
Milstein sponsored by PwC
Cesar Milstein was an Argentine biochemist researching in the field of antibodies. In 1984 he was a co-winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the production of monoclonal antibodies. His discovery allowed mass creation of these antibodies to allow for diagnosis and treatment of many diseases including some cancers.
Click image to enlarge.
Newton sponsored by Medtronic
Isaac Newton was an English physicist and mathematician. He’s well known for his discovery of the three laws of motion, the original discovery of calculus, and laying the foundation for modern physical optics.
Click image to enlarge.
Judging & Awards
FIRST Robotics Competition celebrates the excitement of competition both on and off the field. Through our awards, we celebrate the FIRST Core Values which makes us so much #morethanrobots.
Pit Judging
Judges come around in the pit to interview teams for the Judged Awards just like they do at local District or Regional Competitions. Judges may Interview and observe teams in the Pit, on the playing field, and other areas of the event. Visit the FIRST Robotics Competition Awards page for a full description of the awards. To be eligible for any award, teams will be required to follow FIRST Core Values, demonstrate Gracious Professionalism®, and implement and follow appropriate safety practices.
Teams are eligible for all awards presented at FIRST Championship with the exception of the FIRST Impact Award (which requires winning it at the Regional or District Championship level to be eligible) and the Rookie Awards (which only rookies are eligible to win).
Award Ceremonies
Awards for each field will be presented in between the playoff matches. The entire team will be invited to the field to receive an award and take a team picture if they like (team must take the photo themselves).
The FIRST Impact Award Finalists will be announced Saturday Morning prior to Alliance Selection.
The FIRST Impact Award, Volunteer of the Year, and Woodie Flowers Award winner will be announced during Einstein.
FIRST Impact Awards Interviews
The FIRST Impact Award interview schedule will be posted in each Pit Admin on Wednesday. FIRST Impact Award Interviews will be on Thursday and Friday.
There are four FIRST Impact Award Interview rooms on site, Rooms 380 A – D, located on the 3rd floor of the building. Swapping interview times is not encouraged, but if you must change your time, switch with a team (once you have their consent) that is assigned to the same interview room as you and notify Pit Admin. Pit Admin must approve the change and they will work with the judges to keep them apprised of changes.
Teams can reference the Hall of Fame webpage to see what other teams who have won the Championship FIRST Impact Award have accomplished.
Logistics
Load In
All teams must follow the Load-In process as outlined in the Team Load-In Instructions in order to bring materials into the Pits from their vehicles. Teams may only unload into the Loading Dock and not onto Chartres Street. Teams cannot leave vehicles unattended at any time.
Early Load In
- Teams who shipped their robot will be allowed in at 7:00am to allow early access in the pits for teams who may not have had access to their robot for several weeks.
- Please note that during the Early Load-In time frame for teams that shipped their robot, they can bring in one tote (approximately Kit of Parts size), with the preference that it is hand carried. The tote must fit through a standard doorway. The tote should include all hand tools needed to open the team’s crate(s) and can included a corded or cordless power drill.
- Early Load-In teams should expect that all items will be searched upon entry into the front doors of the venue and should have the tote ready to be inspected (i.e. don’t have it zip-tied shut). Teams should not have items on the prohibited items list (per the Event Rules E109) in the tote. All other items must be brought in through the loading dock through the standard Load-In process.
- All Early Load-In teams must check in at the early check-in desk in the lobby to obtain wristbands to enter the pits.
- Teams who need to print name badges at the Team Check In desk or need to send members to the loading dock from the lobby may also check in at the early check-in desk to obtain a different colored wristband to allow them access. These teams will not be allowed in the pits until 9am.
Load Out
Teams that ship to Championship must visit the FIRST Ship Desk prior to Load Out, regardless of if they are shipping their robot home or Hand-Carry home. The desk is open Thursday through Saturday. If you come early, you can skip the long Saturday line!
Teams that hand-carried their robot to Championship are no longer required to visit the FIRST Ship Desk prior to hand-carrying their robot for loading out. However, they must still visit the load out desk to indicate they are ready. A Load Out desk is available in both pits on Saturday, and teams should go there once the team is ready to pack things into the vehicle.
Please be respectful of other teams and the public on your departure, leave your area clean and be safe. Once your team has finished competing in the matches on Saturday, have a Mentor visit the Load Out Desk in the same Hall as your team's pit. The mentor will be given an Access Code which can be given to the team vehicle's driver. The driver may then que to the loading dock on Chartres Street, and once inside the loading dock can let the team know to bring all materials out to load.
Vehicles without access codes will not be allowed to queue.
Additional information and complete Load Out instructions can be found in the Team Load Out Instructions.
Use of 53' Trailers for Load In & Load Out
Use of a 53' Trailer that has not been authorized by FIRST is not allowed. Any 53' Trailer that has not been given authorization risks lengthy delays, transportation penalties and fees. Rules, guidelines, and sign-up process for authorization can be found in the Community 53' Trailer Option Information document.
Meals & Breaks
Each division is assigned a 1 hour 30-minute break for lunch on Thursday and Friday. Teams should listen carefully to announcements on each Division Field, as some matches are replayed during the Lunch Break. Please see the below schedule for Thursday & Friday by field. On Saturday, all Division Fields will break from the end of the Division Field Playoffs at 12:00pm until the Einstein Closing Celebration begins, 2:00pm.
There are concessions located within the convention center, with many food options around the George R. Brown Convention Center as well.
The George R. Brown Convention Center is now cashless, a change from our last event there. To accommodate FIRST teams, Convention Center Staff will be setup on the 1st floor (near Main Registration) and 3rd Floor (near the Grand Ballroom lobby) at kiosks that will have the ability to accept cash (in US dollars) and turn that into a GiveX card (a gift card that can be used at concession stands) that can be used throughout the week.
The activation fee will be waived for these cards. Money that is still left on the card at the end of the event can be refunded at those same kiosks, or you can keep the card with the money still loaded and will be able to use it next year.
Local food trucks will be around Discovery Green. View a list of nearby restaurants.
Teams can use the pre-order form to pre-order lunches for your team. Orders must be submitted by March 29, 2024*. Orders submitted after this date are subject to availability and have an additional charge.
|
Divisions |
Day |
Lunch Break Time |
|
Archimedes |
Thursday |
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM |
|
Friday |
12:45 PM – 2:15 PM |
|
|
Curie |
Thursday |
11:15 AM – 12:45 PM |
|
Friday |
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM |
|
|
Daly |
Thursday |
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM |
|
Friday |
12:15 PM – 1:45 PM |
|
|
Galileo |
Thursday |
11:45 AM – 1:15 PM |
|
Friday |
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM |
|
|
Hopper |
Thursday |
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM |
|
Friday |
11:45 AM – 1:15 PM |
|
|
Johnson |
Thursday |
12:15 PM – 1:45 PM |
|
Friday |
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM |
|
|
Milstein |
Thursday |
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM |
|
Friday |
11:15 AM – 12:45 PM |
|
|
Newton |
Thursday |
12:45 PM – 2:15 PM |
|
Friday |
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM |
Division Playoff Pit
There will be assigned pits for FIRST Robotics Competition Division playoff matches closer to the fields to be shared by 4 team alliances. Division Playoff Pits are 15’ x 15’ (4.57m x 4.57m). Alliances must work together to share the space accordingly including tools and equipment. Any pit structures cannot exceed 8’ (2.4 m) in height. Teams may move to these spaces immediately after Alliance Selection.
Parking
Parking is available around the George R. Brown Convention Center, see Downtown Houston Parking webpage for more information.
Practice Fields
There will be 2 complete Competition Fields in each Pit area, as well as several carpeted areas of Practice Field elements Informal (Playground). The Practice Fields are open Wednesday at 12pm - Friday evening. The Practice Fields will not be available on Saturday. The practice field will not include game piece counters in the Speakers or Amps. Please reference the FIRST Robotics Competition Public Schedule for planned hours of operation as well as the Championship Practice Field Overview that is provided in team's registration packets.
We recognize that teams shipping their robot are at a disadvantage as they cannot work on their robot after it ships. To help level the playing field, teams that ship their robot using the FedEx voucher receive early access to the pits on Wednesday and:
- a fast pass that allows the team to skip the line one time on the Informal (Playground) Practice Area any day they are open.
- a fast pass that allows the teams to skip the line one time on the Formal practice fields any day the practice fields are open.
- Note: Fast passes must be used prior to one hour before the day’s scheduled closing time, i.e. prior to 6:00PM on Wednesday and prior to 5:00PM on Thursday and Friday.
Queuing
Teams are responsible for knowing their match times and are expected to queue 30 minutes prior to their matches without the help of an announcer. Teams need a minimum of 10 minutes to travel from their pit space to the playing fields. Please leave extra time to get back and forth between the pits and playing fields.
For qualification matches, FIRST will make every effort to keep close to the published schedules. Keep close watch of the pit display for any moment-to-moment changes. There will be no audio queuing.
FIRST is piloting the usage of the FRC Nexus application at the 2024 Championship Event. Nexus is a web based application, developed by Evan Forbes, and was widely used at events in 2023 and 2024. Nexus is not owned or managed by FIRST, and personal data (PII) collected by Nexus is not covered by the FIRST Privacy Policy. Participants should always review the privacy practices of third-party sites and applications before submitting any personal data. The Nexus Privacy Policy can be found on their website.
Nexus allows teams to sign up and receive notifications of their upcoming matches, which helps teams manage their time and makes teams aware of potential field delays.
It's important to note that while all 8 competition fields will be using Nexus, it is completely optional for teams to opt-in to receiving notifications. The pit displays will still be available and will show the current match and how far ahead/behind the field is running.
Teams that choose to opt-in to receive notifications from Nexus are still responsible for making it to their matches on time. Matches will not be postponed or replayed because of a delayed or missed notification from Nexus.
Radios
As we first announced back in January, the 2025 radios are getting an early introduction at this year’s Championship. Here's some info about the logistics:
- Wiring can be a drop-in replacement for the existing OM5P radio, with the exception of the barrel connector of the OM5P radio being replaced with wire-to-board connectors on the VH-109. Teams are encouraged to review the mounting and wiring recommendations from Vivid Hosting prior to the event.
- Teams will be able to collect a radio, already pre-programmed for their team number, from their division’s Inspection station when it opens at 10:00AM on Wednesday. This radio is yours to keep after the event.
- FTAs and CSAs will have training on the radios prior to the event and will be able to provide assistance with some radio questions.
- Vivid Hosting is providing additional radio experts, 1 for each division field and wireless practice field, that will be assisting with on-field monitoring and troubleshooting.
- Spare radios will be available, with approval by a CSA, FTA, or Vivid expert, from the WCP booth in the Robot Service Center. While we know some teams may be anxious about not having a pre-programmed spare ready to go, the Vivid experts at each field will also have spare radios available, and the ability to configure them, in order to help troubleshoot any issues with a team connecting for their match.
Robot Services
- Control System Advisors (CSAs) - Teams can request general help from Control Systems Advisors for troubleshooting software or electrical issues by stopping by the NI booth in the Robot Service Center or submitting a request online at www.ni.com/frcsupport.
- Inspection - Inspection opens at 10:00am on Wednesday. Each Division has an inspection station and teams should go to the Inspection Station in their Division. Teams should start the inspection process as soon as possible to help every team get through it in a timely manner. Robots must pass inspection prior to accessing the practice fields and competing in Qualification Matches
- Machine Shop - There is a machine shop, sponsored by NASA, located in each Pit area in the back of Halls A & E near the Spare Parts Tables.
- Spare Parts - There is a spare parts table in the back of both Hall A & E and parts are available on a limited basis.
- Robot Service Center - located in the back of Halls B, C, & D and is an opportunity for teams to seek and get support from Suppliers during the competition (e.g. technical help, spare parts, or assistance with repairs).
Einstein Tournament
The 8 Division winning alliances are known as Division Champions. These teams compete in the Einstein Tournament. The tournament will be a Double Elimination Tournament as described in Section 12.4 of the Game Manual.
- Reserved Seating - When the Division alliance winners & FIRST Impact Award Finalists are announced, each team receives 40 wristbands to designate special reserved seating for the Einstein Tournament. Teams obtain the wristbands from the field Volunteer Coordinator along with their awards. Please arrive at reserved seats no later than 1:45 PM.
- Note: any open areas in the bleachers after 2:00 PM become open to the public for seating.
- Beginning at 12:30pm on Saturday (or at the conclusion of the Division Playoffs Matches), we will be clearing the lobby side bleachers – Mass (Galileo) through Energy (Johnson) – of all spectators and team members (see image below). Anyone sitting in these sections will be asked to move. These sections are reserved teams competing in Einstein Tournament and FIRST® Impact Award Finalists.
Accessibility
- Accessible Seating - Accessible seating is available for all fields. If your team needs accessible seating, please indicate this when you register for badging to help us with planning. There will be space for the person in need plus up to 3 additional members from their team. Due to space constraints, most of the team will need to sit in the reserved stands behind the accessible seating. If a student is the one in need, we ask that at least 1 adult sits in the reserved area.
- Please be aware that anyone sitting in the Accessible Seating area must wear safety glasses. Please see a volunteer for directions to seating.
- Gender Neutral Bathrooms - Gender neutral bathrooms will be available as shown in the layout above as well as layouts on the FIRST Championship website.
- Nursing Room - A Nursing Room is available in Room 382A on the 3rd floor of the GRB. This amenity offers a clean and comfortable room for traveling mothers to nurse, use a breast pump or care for young children. The Nursing Room features a table and comfortable seating. Please bring all supplies to effectively sanitize and disinfect this space before and after each use.
- Prayer Rooms - There will be two prayer rooms available for anyone wishing to observe religious practice onsite during event hours. Prayer rooms are located on the 2nd level of the Marriott Marquis Houston in Montgomery rooms A&B. The Marriott Marquis Houston is attached to the George R. Brown Convention Center and can be accessed from the level 2 sky bridge located north of Mezzanine A.
- Quiet Room - A Quiet Room will be available for those participants who need a quiet space to de-stress and take a break from the business of the competition. The Quiet Room location is on the third floor in 372 F.
- If you would like to donate items (things like playing cards, board games, stress balls, puzzles) for the room, please bring then to the Quiet Room.
- The Quiet Room hours are:
- Wednesday: 8 AM - 7 PM
- Thursday: 8 AM - 6 PM
- Friday: 8 AM - 6 PM
- Saturday: 8 AM - 6 PM