FIRST Robotics Develops Future Engineers

Do you know about the FIRST® Robotics program? D+M Metal Products has been proud to sponsor a local team for this educational competition in robotics for a number of years now. We think this is a great way to encourage young people to learn about robotics and think logically and creatively. Michigan is a manufacturing state, and the participants in the FIRST Robotics program are part of the future of Michigan manufacturing. They will one day design the products that will help make our lives safer and better.

What Is FIRST Robotics?

Dean Kamen, the inventor of the iBOT and the Segway PT and many other patented devices, founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 as a program for generating interest in STEM. FIRST offers many robotics programs for students in grades K-12. The FIRST Robotics competition is for high school students.

The FIRST Robotics competition works this way: In January FIRST gives teams around the world a challenge. These teams have six weeks to build a robot that can accomplish this challenge. Then these teams compete against each other tournament style to learn which team’s robotic invention works best. Teams are awarded on design, performance, interaction with other teams, and even team spirit.

FIRST describes it this way:

“Under strict rules, limited resources, and an intense six-week time limit, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. It’s as close to real-world engineering as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. Each season ends with an exciting FIRST Championship.”

D+M Metal Products sponsors That One Team which is made up of high school students from Rockford, Northview, and a number of homeschooling families. The components that are used in robotics can be expensive, so we have been happy to create and supply some of their needs.  That One Team is self funded outside of what they receive from their sponsors.

As we’ve discussed before, automation is becoming hugely important to manufacturing and to our industry in particular. New technology is changing the way businesses run and workers do their jobs. The teamwork and engineering skills that kids learn in the FIRST Robotics program will help them as they progress through high school, college, and in the workforce. If you would like to join That One Team or help or officially sponsor this team, contact them here.

 

Scroll to Top
Scroll to Top