Manchester: For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, an international, youth-serving not-for-profit organization popularly branded as FIRST, launched its 2018-19 FIRST Tech Challenge season with an online game reveal on September 8.
Teams of students and adult mentors gathered at more than 100 international kickoff events to get a first glimpse of this season’s space-themed game - ROVER RUCKUS presented by Qualcomm. An estimated 69,000+ students in 27 countries around the world will participate this season, Business Wire reported Sunday.
FIRST strategic partner Qualcomm incorporated returns as the Season Presenting Sponsor for the 2018-19 FIRST Tech Challenge season. This season, Qualcomm technology will allow 7,000 FIRST Tech Challenge teams to create Android smartphone-controlled robots powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platform. This control system technology enables students to build innovative and advanced robot designs with autonomous and vision processing features.
In addition to technology, Qualcomm directly supports FIRST events, programs, and thousands of teams globally. With its commitment to teams via direct funding and time donated by hundreds of employees, Qualcomm is doing its part to bring innovation, collaboration, and STEM education to students all over the world.
“The relevant, real-world technical and leadership skills FIRST provides for students are critical to the future of invention,” said Brian Modoff, Executive Vice President of Strategy and M&A at Qualcomm.
“We are proud to return as the FIRST Tech Challenge Season-Presenting Sponsor for a third year, and are excited to again see our foundational technologies at work enabling these robot control systems", Brian said.
FIRST Tech Challenge is a widely accessible robotics program for grades 7 through 12 in which teams design, build, code, and operate sophisticated robots to play a themed floor game in an alliance format. Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and working as a team.
About ROVER RUCKUS
In the 2018-19 game, ROVER RUCKUS, teams work in an alliance to go on a space adventure. The objective of the game is to attain a higher score than the opposing alliance by descending from the main game structure (the lander), collecting the scoring elements or minerals from the crater, sorting and scoring minerals into the cargo hold of the lander, performing autonomous tasks, and navigating to specific parts of the playing field.
The scoring elements for the game are 60 silver minerals and 90 gold minerals, and a team-supplied game element, the team marker. The game is played in three sections: autonomous, driver-controlled, and the end game. Points are added throughout game play, and penalties are assigned at the end of the match.
“Nearly 50 years after the first moon landing, this season’s FIRST Tech Challenge game will inspire a new generation to set their sights on the mysteries of space – and accomplish what once seemed impossible", said Donald E. Bossi, president of FIRST.
“By engaging students with real-world technology and themes, FIRST Tech Challenges helps young people boost their self-confidence in STEM and build valuable skills needed to be successful in any career", Donald said.
In addition to designing and building robots, FIRST Tech Challenge participants raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach to earn specific awards during the competition season. High school FIRST participants are eligible to apply for over $80 million in college scholarships from 200 scholarship provides through the FIRST Scholarship Program.
Registration
Registration for teams participating in the 2018-19 season is now open. Need-based grants supported by generous sponsors are available for new and returning FIRST Tech Challenge teams.
FIRST Tech Challenge sponsors include Season Presenting Sponsor Qualcomm, Official Program Sponsor Rockwell Collins, and IoT, CAD and Collaboration Sponsor PTC.
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