TI supports education for future innovators as Crown Supplier of FIRST Robotics Competition

The FIRST competition challenges youth from around the globe to use science and engineering to build competitive robots, fostering development of teamwork, interpersonal skills and community responsibility. Crown is the highest supplier level for the FIRST Robotics Competition, designating a contribution of more than $500,000. TI’s contribution includes software and hardware engineering services, product discounts, and analog and digital semiconductor content for the MDL-BDC “Jaguar,” MDL-BDC24 “Black Jaguar,” and National Instruments'(NI) CompactRIO products, all of which are used by more than 2,000 teams of high-school students in the 2011 FRC competition. At the Regional levels, TI employees worldwide are actively involved in FIRST as Mentors and Sponsors of FRC teams.

TI and NI will also participate in a panel at SXSW Interactive in Austin, Texas where attendees can learn about FIRST and check out a few 5-foot-tall, 120-pound robots designed by teenage FIRST teams. The panel, “FIRST® Robotics: Technically You're Changing the World,” will take place at 9:30 a.m. CT on Monday, March 14, 2011.

“TI’s contribution and support to FRC for the third year reflects their support of our vision to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology,” said FIRST president, Jon Dudas. “TI’s leading technologies, such as the Stellaris motion control solutions, give students the hands-on experience critical to STEM education and development of tomorrow’s engineering leadership.”

On January 8, 2011, FIRST teams were shown the playing field and received a Kit of Parts made up of motors, batteries, a control system, a PC, and a mix of automation components – but no instructions. Working with Mentors, students are given six weeks to design, build, program, and test their robots to meet this year’s challenge, called LOGO MOTION™. This game consists of two alliances of three teams competing on a 27-by-54-foot field with poles, attempting to earn points by hanging as many triangle, circle, and square FIRST logo pieces as possible. Robots can also deploy Mini-Bots to climb vertical poles for a chance to earn additional points.


“Participants tell me it’s the ‘hardest fun you’ll ever have,’ and it perfectly parallels the reality of ‘real-world’ engineering,” said Jean Anne Booth, TI general manager, Stellaris MCUs. “TI has been a long-standing partner for education, particularly working and investing for the improvement of STEM education. We believe the future success of our company, but also of our societies, depends on the ability to create an ecosystem of innovation. Math and science skills are critical to innovating in the digital age and competing in a global economy. Through our support, we’re helping prepare these students to compete and win long after they graduate.”

More than 50,000 students from 11 countries will compete in 48 regional events in the U.S., Canada and Israel, as well as nine district competitions and one state championship in Michigan ― all leading up to the 2011 FIRST Championship at the Edward Jones Dome, April 27-30, in St. Louis, Mo. This season, participating FRC high school students are eligible to apply for more than $14 million in scholarships from leading universities and colleges.