Over 1,500 young innovators will arrive at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center to compete in the 18th Annual FIRST Robotics Buckeye Regional Competition on Friday, March 29 and Saturday, March 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Practice matches are Thursday, March 28 from noon to 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) engages students in mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills that inspire innovation.
The FIRST Robotics Competition is an international high school robotics contest that gives students real-world engineering experience. Learners are introduced to coding, programming and engineering in an environment where students work collaboratively to solve an annual robotics challenge.
NASA’s Glenn Research Center, Ohio’s largest sponsor of FIRST Robotics Buckeye Regional Competition, mentors local teams to build a game-playing robot in just six weeks. The robot must perform specific tasks on a field to score points, which changes annually. This year, the robot must place hatch covers and rubber balls or “cargo” on rockets and cargo ships in a game called Destination: Deep Space.
Students compete with other teams for a chance to play in the world championship Thursday through Saturday, April 18-21, in Houston, Texas and April 25-28, in Detroit, Michigan.
Webcasts, FIRSTinspires1 and FIRSTinspires2, enables anyone around the world with a computer and internet connection to watch the competition remotely.
To see a list of competing teams, visit the Buckeye Regional website.
Media should stop by the media table located on the first floor to pick up a badge for access to the playing field.
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Jeannette Owens
Glenn Research Center, Cleveland
216-433-2990
jeannette.p.owens@nasa.gov