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ABOUT FIRST

For Inspiration & Recognition of Science and Technology

FIRST: In the Press
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A GLOBAL ROBOTICS COMMUNITY PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE FUTURE

FIRST's mission is to inspire young people to be leaders and innovators of science and technology, by providing opportunities that build STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and soft skills such as including collaboration, communication, and leadership. FIRST offers 4 competitions based on age and interests. 

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First Lego League Jr. is a way to introduce kids from the ages of 6 to 10 to STEM topics through the brand: LEGO. 

Students build models and posters to show their knowledge with the help of the FIRST's core values. 

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First Lego League is an alliance between FIRST and the LEGO® Group for kids of ages 9-16 (14 in United States). FLL is the most accessible global robotics competition, helping students and teachers to build a better future together.

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First Tech Challenge teams (up to 15 team members, grades 7-12) are challenged to design, build, program, and drive robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge in an alliance format. The challenge emphasizes on improving STEM skills and the design and engineering process. 

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First Robotics Challenge teams of high school students are challenged to raise funds, design a brand for themselves, and build and program industrial-size robots to compete in a game against like-minded competitors.

FIRST TECH CHALLENGE'S 2019-2020 SEASON: SKYSTONE

The theme for the 2019-2020 season is SKYSTONE. FIRST is expanding their city up to the galaxy with the help of Star Wars. FIRST describes this year's challenge as "Humans and droid allies work[ing] together to create a structure that pushes into the skies to represent their alliance. As part of the mission, teams overcome obstacles that stand in the path to build a superstructure of the future, topping it off with a crown of achievement — a final capstone to symbolize their reach into the sky, and dreams of a hopeful future." This year's challenge is creating a robot that is able to bring blocks across the mat through color-coded bridges to stack them onto the respective colored building platform. 

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First Tech Challenge's overall structure includes two randomly chosen teams on an alliance (blue and red) for the qualifying rounds. Each team has two drivers who drive the robot around the game mat and a coach to guide the two drivers during the match. If a team makes through to the semi-finals, they are allowed to choose their alliance team to complete along aside them. 

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