Other meanings of FIRST Robotics Competition
Education & Technology
The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is an annual high school robotics competition organized by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), founded by inventor Dean Kamen in 1992. Teams of students, guided by mentors, design, build, and program robots to compete in a new game each year, emphasizing teamwork, engineering, and the organization's core values of "gracious professionalism" and "coopertition."
The competition begins each January with the release of a new game, revealed during a live kickoff event. Teams have six weeks to design, build, and program a robot that must perform specific tasks, such as scoring game pieces, climbing, or navigating obstacles. The game is designed by FIRST and a panel of engineers, often incorporating elements from previous years and introducing novel mechanics. Matches are played on a 27-by-54-foot field with two alliances of three teams each, promoting collaboration and strategic alliances. The season culminates in regional and district events, with top teams advancing to the World Championship in Houston, Texas.1
Each team is composed of students, teachers, and volunteer mentors, often from local industries and universities. Teams are responsible for fundraising, community outreach, and business planning, in addition to engineering. The competition awards not only match victories but also prestigious awards like the Chairman's Award, which recognizes teams that best exemplify the mission of FIRST through community impact and leadership. Other awards include the Engineering Inspiration Award, the Rookie All-Star Award, and the Dean's List Award for individual student achievement. These awards emphasize the organization's goal of promoting STEM education and character development.2
Research has shown that participation in FRC significantly increases students' interest in STEM fields and their confidence in engineering and technology. A study by Brandeis University found that FRC alumni are more likely to pursue STEM majors and careers compared to their peers. The program also fosters skills in problem-solving, teamwork, and communication, which are valuable in any career. FIRST reports that over 80% of alumni pursue STEM-related fields in college, and many receive scholarships from partner universities and corporations. The program's influence extends beyond the United States, with teams in over 30 countries, including Canada, Mexico, Israel, and Australia.3
Beyond the main competition, FRC has several lesser-known facets. The game rules are often designed to be accessible to new teams while offering depth for veterans, and the "kit of parts" provided to each team includes a standard control system and a set of common components. The competition has a strong online community, with teams sharing designs and strategies on forums and social media. In 2018, the game "FIRST Power Up" featured a retro arcade theme, and the 2023 game "CHARGED UP" introduced a new element of cube and cone scoring. The organization also runs a separate competition for younger students, the FIRST LEGO League, and a mid-level program, the FIRST Tech Challenge. The annual kickoff event is broadcast live, and the game reveal is often accompanied by a detailed animation. The "Gracious Professionalism" ethos, coined by Dean Kamen, encourages teams to compete fiercely but treat each other with respect, a principle that has been adopted by other robotics competitions.4
The FIRST Robotics Competition is a flagship program of FIRST, which also operates other robotics programs for different age groups.
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