Since then, FIRST has expanded to nine District events in Ontario, with an Ontario Championship that feeds into the World Championships, hosted in Detroit. More than 30 teams attend the Waterloo FIRST Robotics Competition.
Waterloo FIRST Robotics Competition District Event
The event is split into two areas: the field, where competitions can be watched, and the pits.
In the pits, teams are given the opportunity to work on their robot and showcase their robots program. Members of other teams and the public are encouraged to tour the pits for an up-close view of the robots and the opportunity to listen to students talk about their robot, the season they have had, and the outreach the team has done within their community.
The goal of the event is to open students to opportunities they would not otherwise have.
It is a sport of the mind, and the atmosphere of the event reflects this. This program offers high school students the opportunity to gain hands on experience with mechanical, electrical, software and mechatronics systems. The skills they gain give them even more opportunities not only higher education, but in the workforce. Even students who do not gain technical experience with the robot gain skills in areas as diverse as finance, statistical analysis, presentation skills, community outreach strategy, and interfacing with sponsors and other businesses within their communities.
