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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Week 0.5

Mar 02, 2016 Written by Frank Merrick.

Here are a few quick notes from our experience over the weekend at the Palmetto Regional in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA.

Mods to Referee Communication

Feb 23, 2016 Written by Aidan F. Browne, Ph.D. and FIRST Robotics Competition Chief Referee

We have made a number of modifications to the way the field management system and the Audience Screens are used this year, in order to give a more understandable and consistent audience experience.

Stop Build Day and Shakespeare

Feb 23, 2016 Written by Frank Merrick.

What goes better with Stop Build Day than a little Shakespeare?

Audience Displays and a Favor

Feb 22, 2016 Written by Danny Diaz, FIRST Robotics Competition Systems Engineer
A brief description of what teams can expect from the Audience Display screens for the FIRST STRONGHOLD season. Teams are asked to check the length of their Team Nicknames.

Get Your Own FIRST STRONGHOLD Patch

Feb 17, 2016 Written by Frank Merrick.

The History Patches we are providing to teams this season at events has generated some interest among some in our community about getting one for themselves.

2016 FIRST Safety Animation Award Sponsored by UL – Winner and Runners-Up

Feb 09, 2016 Written by Frank Merrick.

We have selected the winner and runners-up for the Safety Animation Award, sponsored by UL.

Congratulations, FRC Team 846, The Funky Monkeys, from San Jose, California, USA, on your winning entry!

The Funky Monkeys will be receiving a special UL-designed trophy at one of their events, and their animation will be played at every FRC event this season. You can see their winning animation below:

Distributors

Feb 04, 2016 Written by Frank Merrick.

There's been some buzz in the community about the availability of COTS parts and what companies that distribute parts potentially useful in FRC did or didn't know about FIRST STRONGHOLD ahead of time.

Sing at Championship, 2016 Non-Hints, and WPI Survey Help

Feb 03, 2016 Written by Frank Merrick.

Sing at the FIRST Championship

Think you (and maybe a friend) have what it takes to sing the National Anthem of the United States at the FIRST Championship this April in front of, oh, to a first approximation, a million people? Now’s your chance! We’re having a little contest to select the next FIRST idol. Check out the details here.

Awards, More Awards, and Medallions

Jan 27, 2016 Written by Frank Merrick

Awards

Important award submission deadlines coming up! 

  • Chairman’s Award and Woodie Flowers Award – Thursday, February 4th at 3PM Eastern Time
  • Entrepreneurship Award and Dean’s List Award – Thursday, February 11th at 3PM Eastern Time

Find all the details on these awards in Section 6: Awards of the Administrative Manual.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to FIRST STRONGHOLD…

Jan 25, 2016 Written by Frank Merrick

Some folks have expressed an interest in details about how FIRST STRONGHOLD came about. I wanted to explain a little bit about that, and also explain the part our friends, FRC Team 1189, The Gearheads, from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, USA, played in it.