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FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)

Main Idea: FRC is the «Formula 1» of the school robotics world. It is the biggest, most expensive, and most complex competition for high school students, combining the excitement of sport with science and technology.

What makes it special?

• Strict Deadline (6 weeks): This is the hallmark of FRC. In early January, a new, unique game is announced. Teams all over the world have only six weeks to design, build, program, and test a highly complex robot from scratch.
• Size and Scale: FRC robots are real giants. They can weigh up to 55 kg (excluding the battery) and stand as tall as a person. They operate on large fields (the size of a basketball court), performing complex manipulations.
• Professionalism: FRC is not a «hobby club.» It is a full-fledged engineering project. Teams must engage in fundraising (finding sponsors), marketing, brand creation (like a sports team), and serious programming.
• «Gracious Professionalism»: A key value of FIRST. It is the idea that one should compete fiercely on the field, but off the field — actively help rivals, sharing tools and knowledge.

What are the robot’s tasks? The tasks (the game) change every year, but are always very dynamic and spectacular:

• Shooting balls («basketball») into high hoops.
• Lifting and hanging the robot on a bar («pull-up bar»).
• Building «pyramids» out of cubes or cones.
• Balancing on giant «seesaws» together with allied robots.

Goal: Not just to build a robot, but to create a team resembling a real engineering company, and to inspire high school students to choose a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).