FIRST Tech Challenge - Texas Tech - Lubbock
About the FIRST Tech Challenge
The FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a mid-level robotics competition targeted toward students in grades 9-12 (aged 14-18).
FTC is designed for those who want to compete head to head, using a sports model. Teams of up to 10 students are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and is programmed using a variety of languages. Teams, including coaches, mentors and volunteers, are required to develop strategy and build robots based on sound engineering principles. Awards are given for the competition as for well as for community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.
Students get to:
- Design, build, and program robots
- Apply real-world math and science concepts
- Develop problem-solving, organizational, and team-building skills
- Compete and cooperate in alliances and tournaments
- Earn a place in the World Championship
- Qualify for nearly $9.7 million in college scholarships
Lubbock Events
Lubbock FTC Qualifier
February 4, 2012
Texas Tech Student Union Ballroom
Panhandle Plains FTC Championship
March 3, 2012
Lubbock City Bank Coliseum
The 2011-2012 Game
The 2011/2012 FTC game will be BOWLED OVER!™
More than 21,000 high-school-aged students are expected to participate in this year's competition, in which the object of the game will be to design and build robots robust enough to push a bowling ball uphill, yet sophisticated enough to pick up racquetballs and place them into crates, and then stack the crates to score points. The final 30 seconds of the driver-controlled period is called the end game, where each Alliance, consisting of two opposing teams is challenged to push their bowling ball into their "home zones" to score additional bonus points.
For more information on the game, visit http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc/2011-2012-game-info
Funding
For more information regarding funding for first and second year teams, visit http://firstintexas.org/
Contact
For more information on the Lubbock FTC events, contact:
Alan A. Barhorst, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas 79409-1021
806.742.3563, ext 241
alan.barhorst@ttu.edu