High school students interested in robotics have the opportunity to participate in a challenge sponsored by NASA. The competition, called First Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), aims to encourage high school students to pursue studies in robotics.
To participate in the event, teams have to sign up through NASA. Each team receives a package containing all of the parts that they can use. Each student group has the freedom to design their robot however they please. They must, however, follow certain rules that restrict the size and weight of the robots. After six weeks of work, the groups gather to determine which one has built the best robot.
The teams not only get the opportunity to show what they can do, they also receive help from a NASA engineer. This accomplishes several goals that could benefit NASA in the future. It gives students exposure to robotics as a career goal and provides an example that they can follow. NASA hopes that the competition will bring out the best in high school students who want to advance their understanding of robotics. This challenge allows them to confront real-world problems and find creative solutions that could benefit the robotics industry in the future.
Many students, undoubtedly, will also participate because they want to include a victory on their college applications. Adding an award from NASA would certainly improve an applicant’s chance of getting into a top tier university, where students have access to the best robotics equipment and instructors.
This year, approximately 2,000 student groups are participating in the event. That makes a total about 30,000 students. 297 of the teams receive grants from NASA to help them pay for expenses.
In the United States, awards will be distributed at 45 regional competitions. NASA also sponsors international events in March and April.