37 HAWAI`I AND MAINLAND ROBOTICS TEAMS PREPARE TO GO INTO "OVERDRIVE"
Hawai`i Hosts Inaugural 2008 NASA / BAE FIRST in Hawai`i Regional Robotics Competition
For Immediate Release: March 6, 2008
HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today announced details of the Inaugural 2008 NASA / BAE Systems FIRST in Hawai‘i Regional Robotics Competition, which will be held at the University of Hawai‘i Stan Sheriff Center, March 27 – 29. The public is invited to attend at no charge.
Thirty-seven teams, representing 25 Hawai‘i schools from O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i and the Big Island, as well as 12 teams from the mainland (Florida, New Jersey, California and West Virginia) will converge on the Mānoa campus to compete in what is called the “varsity sport of the mind.” In total, more than 700 students will participate in the competition. The winning teams will advance to the FIRST Championships – called the “Super Bowl of Smarts” – in Atlanta, Georgia, April 16 -19.
The Lingle-Aiona Administration is supporting robotics as a key component of the Hawai‘i Innovation Initiative to engage Hawai‘i students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and to foster the innovation capacity in Hawai‘i residents.
“Months of preparation and hard work by students and their mentors will culminate at the FIRST in Hawai‘i Regional Robotics Competition, where the teams will showcase their innovation, knowledge, critical thinking, problem-solving skills and teamwork,” said Governor Linda Lingle. “Through robotics, students are gaining valuable lessons that can be applied in their continuing education and their careers. They are building more than robots – they are building their future.”
Knowledge, Innovation and Teamwork
The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition challenges teams of young people and their mentors to solve a common engineering problem in a six-week timeframe using a standard kit of parts that included motors, batteries, a control system, and a mix of automation components – but no instructions.
Working with mentors, and using their academic skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, as well as innovation, ingenuity, teamwork and communication, the teams designed and built robots from the parts and will put their robots to the test in the regional competition.
In this year’s challenge, “FIRST Overdrive,” students’ robots are designed to race around a track knocking down 40" inflated balls and moving them around the track, passing them either over or under a 6'6" overpass. Extra points are scored by robots positioning the balls back on the overpass before the end of the 2 minute and 15 second match.
Holding a regional competition in Hawai‘i has enabled more local schools to participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition. While 95 Hawai‘i schools have robotics programs, only four schools – McKinley, Waiākea, Waialua and Punahou – have fielded teams in previous FIRST Robotics mainland competitions. This year, the field has grown to 25 teams from four islands.
Internationally, more than 37,500 high-school students on more than 1,500 teams from Brazil, Canada, Chile, Israel, Mexico, the Netherlands, the U.K., and every state in the U.S. are participating in this year’s competitions.
McKinley High School Takes Gold, Advances to National Championships
Last week, the team from McKinley High School captured the gold medal at a regional competition in Portland, Oregon where they joined two other teams from Oregon and California as part of the winning three-team alliance, scoring more than double their opponent’s in the final match. McKinley was also awarded the General Motors Industrial Design Award, which celebrates form and function in an efficiently designed machine that effectively achieves the game challenge.
As a regional champion, McKinley High School has earned a spot in the National Championships in Atlanta next month.
In preparation for the FIRST in Hawai‘i Regional Robotics Competition, four other Hawai‘i teams are also participating in regional competitions on the mainland. Waialua High School will compete this weekend (March 6-8) at the Richmond, Virginia Regional, as well as next weekend (March 13-15) at the Annapolis, Maryland Regional. Also next weekend, the teams from Punahou and Waiākea will compete in the San Jose, California Regional and Sacred Hearts Academy will compete in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Regional.
BAE Systems to Pay Hawai‘i Team Expenses for National Championships
As an incentive for the Hawai‘i teams competing in the Hawai‘i regional, BAE Systems will provide financial support of up to $10,000 for travel and lodging expenses of six Hawai‘i teams that may qualify for the FIRST Championships in Atlanta.
The six teams can qualify in the following ways:
Winning the competition, as a member of a three-team alliance;
Being named the Regional Rookie All-star team;
Being awarded the Engineering Inspiration Award; and
Winning the Regional Chairman’s Award, which honors community service and gracious professionalism.
“BAE Systems is proud to be a sponsor of the Inaugural FIRST in Hawai‘i Regional Robotics Competition and to foster and encourage the interests of Hawai‘i’s young students in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math,” said Alan Hayashi, manager of Government and Community Relations for BAE Systems in Honolulu. “We understand the extra financial challenges Hawai‘i teams may face in traveling to the Championships in Atlanta, and we are proud to provide this additional support to ensure top teams from Hawai‘i are well represented in the FIRST Championship.”
In addition to BAE Systems’ sponsorship, the Hawai‘i regional is also being made possible by a $1 million grant that Governor Lingle secured from NASA to hold a regional competition for four years.
Volunteers Needed
Residents interested in supporting Hawai‘i’s students can volunteer for the FIRST in Hawai‘i Regional Competition. Volunteers are needed to assist with field competition assembly and robot inspections as well as serve as referees, safety advisors, machine shop attendants and judge’s assistants.
For additional information or to sign up to be a volunteer, visit the FIRST in Hawai‘i Regional Robotics Competition website at http://robotics.hawaii.gov, email volunteers.first.hi@gmail.com or call
808-586-0034.
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For more information, contact:
Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708
Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043
Corrie Heck
Communications Officer
Phone: (808) 586-0718
