Thirty teams of high school students with a passion for designing, building and programming robots will be competing at the annual Ontario District University of Waterloo FIRST Robotics Competition this weekend. 2017 marks the 13th year of FIRST Robotics Competitions (FRC) at the University of Waterloo, the longest-running FRC event in Canada.
This year’s challenge invites teams to travel back in time by preparing steam-powered airships for an ultimate long-distance race. Each team will be collecting fuel for a boiler, building steam pressure in a tank, installing gears to drive a propeller, and having a robot climb aboard its airship at the end of the game.
Teams constructed their robots over a six-week period starting in January. Each team came up with its own creative solutions to meet this year’s unique design challenges. The high-tech sporting competition involves brainstorming, teamwork and mentoring. Referees oversee the contest and judges give awards for design, technology, sportsmanship and commitment.
World-class teams from across Ontario will be competing for a place at the FIRST Ontario Provincial Championships. Included is Team 1114, Simbotics from St. Catharines, the only Canadian team to be named to the Hall of Fame at the FIRST World Championships.
"This year’s competition is going to be more thrilling than ever," said Peter Teertstra, the director of the Sedra Student Design Centre at the University of Waterloo and chair of the planning committee for the competition. "The game will be amazing to watch, and the new two-day competition format only increases the excitement level for everyone.”
FRC challenges teams to not only build competitive robots, but also develop transferable skills that aid in career development, such as teamwork, project management, strategic thinking and finding innovative ways to raise funds. Many teams have mentors from diverse backgrounds, including engineering, science, technology, business and the arts. Students are able to take their knowledge of science and technology and apply it to a variety of fields.
DATE: Friday, March 24 and Saturday, March 25, 2017
TIME: Opening ceremonies at 8:30 a.m. Friday March 24, with play continuing to the final elimination rounds on Saturday afternoon
LOCATION: Physical Activities Complex, University of Waterloo
Free event, open to the public.
The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competitions across Canada are organized by FIRST Robotics Canada, and the Ontario FRC District competitions are sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Bruce Power, Synnex, Scotiabank, Centerline, and a number of other leading engineering and technology companies.
The winning team will advance to the First Robotics Competition World Championships in St. Louis, Missouri in late April.
