FIRST Robotics Competition Blog

Welcome to the FIRST Robotics Competition Blog

Your source of season information for the FIRST Robotics Competition.

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Event Preferences Update

Sep 25, 2017 Written by Frank Merrick

As of last night at 10 PM, 2,226 teams had submitted event preferences. This is 80% of all teams that are 'Event Ready' meaning they have completed all requirements necessary to let them submit their preferences.

Event Preference System and DLC Pack #1

Sep 21, 2017 Written by Frank Merrick

The Event Preference System we’ve been talking about for weeks is now open! We hit a bit of a rough patch when we first opened at Noon, but the system seems to be performing well now. For those of you who experienced issues, sorry about that. If something in the systems still does not seem right to you, please contact us.

Preference System User Guide and Events Posted

Sep 19, 2017 Written by Frank Merrick


The system will open at Noon Eastern Time this Thursday, September 21, and close at Noon Eastern Time next Thursday, September 28th.

The Teaser and Event Preferences

Sep 18, 2017 Written by Frank Merrick

Training on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Sep 15, 2017 Written by Frank Merrick

One of the Five Strategic Pillars of FIRST is Increase Diversity. As Don Bossi, President of FIRST, said in this blog “we need kids of all backgrounds, capabilities and social circumstances to contribute and participate in addressing the world’s toughest challenges and making the world a better place for future generations.”

2018 FIRST Robotics Competition Season Teaser

Sep 14, 2017 Written by Frank Merrick

OK. We’ve been trying to keep this quiet.* But at 8 PM Eastern Time today, we’ll be releasing the teaser for the upcoming season.

2018 Beta Testing and 2017 Usage Reporting

Sep 13, 2017 Written by Kevin O'Connor, FIRST Robotics Competition, Robotics Engineer

This year we are once again looking for 90 teams, 30 for each software language, to help us test the 2018 FIRST Robotics Competition software. A small number of teams have been invited to bypass the application process based on past performance in Beta testing. 

Teaser, DLC Packs, and Event Registration

Sep 12, 2017 Written by Frank Merrick

Oh, man.

It’s like you walk into the kitchen, and someone has a big ol’ pot of chili cooking, not quite ready, but almost. One whiff and you can say hasta mañana to any free will you thought you had. Of their own volition, your legs walk themselves over, bringing along, just for the ride, your now-useless grey matter and anything else that happens to be attached. 

Event Data Improvements – Don’t be a Dinosaur!

Sep 11, 2017 Written by Alex Herreid and Chuck Harris, FIRST Robotics Competition Software Engineers

Today we wanted to remind you about some features and functionality of the FRC Events website and API. At all official events, the Field Management System (FMS) sends data about the event to FIRST’s servers in real-time and we make that data available on both our webpages and our API. 

More on Volunteer Roles... Even Though You Didn’t Ask :)

Sep 08, 2017 Written by Fiona Hanlon, FRC Volunteer Resource Coordinator

Hi FRC Teams and Volunteers,

By now, many of you have read my last blog about the updates to our Volunteer roles. Here’s a little more information about why, and how, we added some of these important age requirements!