More than 2,000 spectators are expected to cheer on teams from 31 high schools from across Ontario and the U.S. as they face off at the University of Waterloo this week at the annual FIRST Robotics Waterloo Regional Competition.
The high-tech sporting competition involves brainstorming, teamwork and mentoring. Referees oversee the contest and judges give awards for design, technology, sportsmanship and commitment. This is considered the toughest FIRST Robotics regional competition in the world and the longest-running in Canada.
This year’s challenge, FIRST Stronghold™, is medieval-themed, fast-paced game that teams play against each other with robots. Their quest is to breach their opponents’ fortifications, weaken their tower with boulders, and capture the opposing tower. During the final 20 seconds of each match, robots may surround and scale the opposing tower to capture it. Robots utilize common parts provided by FIRST, but each team adds creative solutions to meet the design challenges.
"We are really excited about this year’s competition," said Peter Teertstra, director of the Sedra Student Design Centre at Waterloo and chair of the planning committee for this event. "It gives students real experiences in engineering design, teamwork, project management and communication.”
DATE: Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2, 2016
TIME: Opening ceremonies at 8:30 a.m. April 1, with play continuing to the final elimination rounds on Saturday afternoon
LOCATION: Physical Activities Complex, University of Waterloo
The winning team will advance to the First Robotics Competition World Championships in St. Louis, Missouri.
The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Waterloo Regional is one of a series of five FRC regionals held in Ontario. FIRST Robotics Canada organizes the competitions, and sponsors for the Ontario FRC Regionals are the Ministry of Education, Bruce Power, Synnex, Scotiabank, Centerline, and a number of other leading engineering and technology companies.
