FIRST
FIRST, an acronym meaning "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology," is an organization whose mission is to create a learning environment for young people around the world. FIRST helps to foster interest in science, technology and engineering through its various robotics competitions. FIRST also emphasizes "Gracious Professionalism," a philosophy focused on fairness, respect and cooperation. FIRST operates five different competitions and learning experiences: FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Tech Challenge, FIRST LEGO League, Junior FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Place. The Techno Titans participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), which is FIRST's flagship program. In 2008, the Techno Titans are competing at FRC's Peachtree Regional in Duluth, Georgia.
This year’s FIRST Robotics competition game is called “Lunacy” and it is played with orbit balls. The main objective of the game is to shoot these orbit balls into your opponents’ trailer while not letting any orbit balls into your trailer. There is a fifteen second “Autonomous period” in the game where the controller doesn’t have the controller of the robot. Then, there is a two minute “Teleoperated period” where the controller can control the robot’s actions. The game is played in two alliances, blue or red. The Peachtree regional competition is on March 14th and March 15th. The Techno Titans began their plans for the competition on January 3rd, 2009, the day on which the game was announced. The Techno Titans are continuing to work on the Robot. They are set to finish on the February 14th weekend and ship it on Tuesday, February 17, 2009.
