POTSDAM -- The fifth annual FIRST Tech Challenge Championship Tournament was held Dec. 2 at Clarkson University. The event drew high school students from as far away as Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and western New York.
This year's game, "Bowled Over," required students to design, build and program a robot that can capture balls, deposit them into crates and stack the crates as well as secure a bowling ball on top of a raised platform.
The 24 teams filled Walker Center for the highly competitive event. Team Ampere from Upper Dublin, Pa., captured the coveted Inspire Award and is eligible to compete in the World FIRST Championship Tournament in April 2012.
After several individual rounds, the top-scoring teams formed four alliances of three teams each. These alliances used their combined robotic power, maneuverability and strategic programming to determine the semi-final challenge alliances. These challengers competed for the ultimate competition honors.
The runner-up Finalist Alliance consisted of Blue Devil Robotics from Ogdensburg City School District, Ampere from Upper Dublin, Pa., and MFS Foxes from Moorestown (Pa.) Friends School.
The tournament is hosted by the Northern New York Robotics Institute, a local higher education consortium, directed by Clarkson University Electrical & Computer Engineering Professor James Carroll.
It is also sponsored by the "Connect a Million Minds" initiative of Time Warner Cable, General Electric Corporation, St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES, and Clarkson University .Coordination and logistical support for the tournament is provided by Clarkson's Office of Educational Partnerships.
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., 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.
