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The FIRST® organization (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 by inventor and entrepreneur, Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway, founder of DEKA Robotics, and developer of a variety of innovative medical devices. Since its inception, FIRST has become the leading nonprofit STEM-engagement program for youth worldwide, inspiring young people’s interest in STEM-related careers, and providing them with essential workplace skills. With its multiple youth programs (FIRST Lego League, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competition) spanning PreK to grade 12, FIRST has a global reach, inspiring over 668,000 young people at more than 3,700 official events in 93 countries annually.
While robots are a big part of its programs, FIRST is much more than that. FIRST encourages a philosophy known as “Gracious Professionalism®”, promoting hard work, respect, and the value of others. A second philosophy of FIRST, “Coopertition®”, encourages not only respect and kindness towards opponents, but also cooperation and assistance in the face of fierce competition. Through these values, students who participate in FIRST learn skills and values essential to a productive and successful future.
FRC is FIRST’s original robotics program, conceived by Dean Kamen and based on a course taught by MIT mechanical engineering professor Woodie Flowers. Thirty five hundred teams in 28 countries comprising about 87,000 students participated during the last season. With a new game each year, FRC challenges team members to plan, design, and construct a robot that will compete on the game field in alliances with other teams. Matches are between two alliances of three robots each and are two and a half minutes long, with the robot performing autonomously during the initial 30 seconds. Designed to provide a rigorous engineering challenge to high school students as well as teach leadership, collaboration, project management, and other real-world skills, the FRC program is much more than robots.
FIRST Programs
FIRST Programs
FIRST offers three different robotics programs based on age. Each project-based FIRST level introduces students to designing, engineering, and coding robots, while incorporating invaluable FIRST values like gracious professionalism.
"FIRST® LEGO® League introduces STEM to children through fun, exciting hands-on learning. Participants gain real-world problem-solving experiences through a guided, global robotics program using LEGO® technology, helping today’s students and teachers build a better future together. FIRST LEGO League’s three divisions inspire youth to experiment and grow their critical thinking, coding, and design skills and showcase what they learned."
"FIRST® Tech Challenge students work together with their mentors to design and build robots to compete in a dynamic and exciting challenge released every September. Teams program classroom-scale robots to follow autonomous commands before student drivers take control in two-on-two matches. On and off the field, students develop STEM skills, engage in community outreach, practice engineering innovation, and build confidence to help them succeed. "
"Each January brings a new challenge for FIRST® Robotics Competition teams. Starting with a Kit of Parts, they design, program, and build industrial-sized robots to play an action-packed game on a themed field as part of a three-team alliance. Guided by mentors and sponsors, students learn engineering and problem-solving skills as they compete for awards, create a team identity, raise funds, hone teamwork skills, and advance appreciation for STEM in their community."
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