FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC®)

“The varsity sport for the mind,” FRC 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.

Students in grades 9-12 (ages 14-18) get to:

Learn from professional engineers
Build and compete with a robot of their own design
Learn and use sophisticated software and hardware
Compete and cooperate in alliances and tournaments
Earn a place in the World Championship
Qualify for more than $14.8 million in college scholarships

2012 Game: Rebound Rumble

Game documents and Kickoff materials

FRC Season Calendar

FRC Program Registration

FRC Season News and Email Blasts

Bill's Blog: News Direct from the Director of FRC at FIRST

2012 Local Kickoff Information

2012 Los Angeles Kickoff

Date: Saturday, January 7, 2012

Venue:
Kickoff broadcast: Seeley G. Mudd (SGM) Auditorium (room 123)
Kit of Parts distribution: Seaver Science Library (SSL) room 150
Unversity of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089

Schedule:
7:00-7:30 AM Registration
7:30-9:00 AM Kickoff broadcast from Manchester NH
9:00-11:00 AM Kit of Parts distribution

Other information:
The FIRST Robotics Kickoff broadcast will be in Seeley G. Mudd (SGM on the attached map) Auditorium, room 123 this year (a different room than previous years). The robot kit distribution will be from the same room as last year: Seaver Science Library (SSL) 150. Please limit attendees to four people per team.

Enter USC through gate #5, on Jefferson. Parking will cost $8 per car. SGM is a very tall, square building katty corner to the north-east of Parking Structure A (PS A), and south of the running track.

Do not forget to inventory your kit and report any issues as soon as possible. You only have until Monday January 9th!

Many non-game-related sections of the team manual are already up on the FIRST site so you can load them early. You can load the encrypted portions and you will be able to decode them at the conclusion of the kickoff video.

Los Angeles is glad to welcome 17 rookie teams to our regional this year. If any veteran teams would like to step up and help a team near your school I know they will all appreciate your assistance and friendship.

Plan ahead:
Veteran kits will be about 100lbs. Rookie kits will weigh approx. 147lbs. Also, remember that only an adult team mentor may sign for the kit of parts. Your team will be asked to sign in at the kickoff when you arrive, you will be handed your team’s kit of parts receipt and someone trustworthy needs to hold onto it all the way through the broadcast. The broadcast, by the way, is scheduled to begin at 7:30AM PT. During kit distribution you will be asked to open a sealed tote and confirm that you have received your Kinect.

What to bring:

Print out a copy of your team roster from TIMS EVEN IF no one from your team has completed the online Consent and Release form.
Bring signed paper Consent and Release forms for everyone in attendance who hasn’t signed the online Consent and Release form. The FIRST Student Team Members System and Consent/Release form may be found in STIMS. The Adult Consent and release form may be found in TIMS. The paper copies may be found on the usfirst.org website.
Only bring the total number of people you said you were going to bring. (Parents count as people too.) Most local kickoffs have space issues. Can’t remember how many people you said would come from your team? Your main and alternate contact can log into TIMS and check the kit and kickoff section of the team summary page. Want to bring more people? Be sure to check with your local kickoff coordinator. You can find contact information by clicking on your kickoff name on the local kickoff page of our website.
Bring a hand truck or moving dolly (see kit of part weights above).
Make sure your vehicle has enough room to transport the kit home. The Kit WILL FILL most car trunks (start empty) and be too big for some smaller models.

Want to know what’s in a rookie kit vs. a veteran kit? The list is available online.

Contact:
Larry Lim
Director, Pre-College Programs
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
3710 McClintock Ave., RTH 210
Los Angeles, CA 90089-2901
213-740-1999, 213-740-6226 fax
llim@usc.edu