Thursday evening radio controlled and pre-programed robots took over the sound lab at the Burien Public Library. The Highline High Tekerz Robotics Team, known as FIRST #3574, was there to show off their completion robot and learn project management from their adult mentor team made up of current and former Boeing engineers.

The Tekerz, in their first year of competing, earned the title of 2011 Rookie All Stars at the FIRST Seattle regionals comprised of fifty teams from around the state. Their robot is a three foot by four foot behemoth standing almost five feet tall, made of components we can all associate with robots.

An extruded aluminum frame work with electric motors, actuators, compressors, computers, and a large grappling arm capable of grasping a target object and delivering it to a designated elevated goal. The robot is controlled remotely via joystick by the “team driver” through a sophisticated laptop. The robots are designed to perform a specific task during completion. Each team can approach the task in any fashion consequently no two robots look alike.

FIRST, which stands for “For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology”, was founded in 1992 by Segway creator Dean Kamen with the vision to "Transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated." The FIRST mission is to "engage and excite students about engineering, science, and technology as well as inspire them to pursue careers in these fields."

While the Tekerz are high school age there is a category for elementary students too. The FIRST LEGO League- Shorewood Elementary students also shone in their inaugural year by finishing second in their division overall with the highest average score in competition. Other points are awarded by judges for design, innovation, and execution. They lost by only three points.

LEGO League robots are built using… you guessed it, Legos. In this category the students must build and pre-program a robot designed to navigate a pre-determined course and retrieve an object or objects. The ingenuity shown by these elementary school children is amazing.

Team #3574 has just started to build their website. Here is the demo location to get a feel of what Team #3574 is about. www.first3574.org/demo/home.html

Here is the Website about FIRST: www.usfirst.org

Also, the state of Washington is affiliated with FIRST. You can find info about it here: www.firstwa.org
FRC- FIRST Robotics Competition video and information www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc
With over $14M in college scholarships available to students today this is one Program that should not be look overlooked by parents who want their kids to go to college. You can learn more about the program at the websites above and also witness what its about at the various activities planned in the next few weeks and the coming months.

7 Jan 2012 07:00 AM - 12:00 PM PST – Kick-off for all Teams involved, to learn what the FRC Robot Challenge will be for the Regionals at Auburn Senior High School Performing Arts Center, Auburn Senior High School 800 4th ST NE Auburn, WA 98002

14 Jan 2012 – Washington State FIRST Lego League Championship – I will email the time and location when it is announced. This is the Championship for the 4x8 sheet table you saw at the library.

17 or 20 Feb 2012 Highline High School – FRC Robot introduction to Robotics Program. Show financial sponsors and team member parents the robot the Team built for competition.

22-24 March 2012 – at Century Link (Qwest) Event Center 8:00-5:00 – FRC Washington State double Regional. Over 100 Teams will be competing on 2 fields. Teams from all over the US and Mexico and 3 Teams from the Country of Turkey will be here to compete.

All of the events listed above are free to the public.