The future of engineering lies in the hands of the next generation. It is important to get kids excited about fields such as engineering, robotics, and mechanics. In an age where creativity can either be stimulated or stifled, it is imperative that kids find creative outlets while they are young and ripe for learning. This will, hopefully, provide an exciting future for us all in terms of beneficial new inventions and advancements.
Last week, our team at Palomar had the honor of observing this year’s robot developed by the Poway High School Robotics Team—Team Spyder (whom we sponsor). Every year, the high schoolers bring in their latest and greatest robot to show at our facility; each robot they develop has a particular skill. Last year, the robot shot out Frisbees at varying speeds. This year, the robot launched a giant inflatable ball while having the ability to quickly move and turn in any direction. It is truly impressive what these students are able to work together to develop.
FIRST Robotics Competitions
The general idea of the competition is this: “The FIRST Robotics Competition provides the opportunity for high school students and their mentors to work together to solve a common problem. They will have six weeks to design and build a robot using a standard ‘kit of parts’ and a common set of rules…FIRST redefines winning for these students by rewarding teams for excellence in design, demonstrated team spirit, gracious professionalism, and the ability to overcome obstacles. Scoring points is a secondary goal—winning means building partnerships that last."
The Poway High School Robotics Team enters in competitions with other teams that participate in the FIRST Robotics program. The First Robotics competition “combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams of 25 students or more are challenged to raise funds, design a team ‘brand’, hone teamwork skills, and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of 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.” They call it, “The varsity Sport for the MindTM”.
Science and technology are industries that are expanding on a daily basis. Programs such as FIRST Robotics inspire the next generation of engineers, graphic artists, businesspeople, etc. to work together in teams to create and to innovate. We can only hope to see more and more kids growing up learning and developing these skills in the coming years.
To learn more about the FIRST Robotics program, click here: http://www.usfirst.org/.
To learn more about the Poway High School Robotics Team, click here: http://www.teamspyder.org/.
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Janine Hueners
Marketing Specialist
Palomar Technologies, Inc.