Nipissing gears up for robotics competition

The Robots are returning!  For the second year in a row, Nipissing University welcomes more than 900 high school students with a passion for designing, building and programming robots to compete at the annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Canada North Bay Regional Competition taking place March 26 – 28 in the Robert J. Surtees Student Athletics Centre.

This year the university will welcome a total of 34 teams from all over Ontario. The Robotoics Canada North Bay Regional Competition represents the highest level of robotics competition offered by FIRST.

To compete, high-school students team up with the world’s best technology companies to build the most impressive robots you’ve ever seen.  Built from scratch in only six weeks, these 5-foot-tall, 120-pound robots compete in high intensity robo-sports. 

Teams of 25 students or more are challenged to work together to build and program robots to perform a multitude of tasks against other student teams.  It’s as close to "real-world engineering" as a student can get.

This year’s game, RECYCLE RUSH is a recycling-themed game played by two alliances of three robots each.  Robots score points by stacking totes on scoring platforms, capping those stacks with recycling containers, and properly disposing of pool noodles, representing litter. In keeping with the recycling theme of the game, all game pieces will be reused or recycled by teams in their home locations or by FIRST at the end of the season.

The three-day competition will begin with set up on Wednesday, March 26.  Teams will use Thursday, March 27, as a practice day.  The competition begins at 9 a.m. on Friday, March 28, and runs until 7 p.m.  It picks up again on Saturday, March 29, running from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. with the final rounds set for 1:30 – 4:30 p.m., and the final awards ceremony running from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

For more information, check out the website.

This event is free of admission and everyone is encouraged to come and cheer for these young scientists and engineers.

About FIRST Robotics

FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies and more than $18 million in college scholarships, FIRST Robotics has numerous programs for students aged 6-18 who are interested in science and technology, as part of a global network of FIRST organizations.