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After reviewing over one hundred amazing applicants, FIRST Tech Challenge and the Game Design Committee are pleased to announce the newest addition to the Committee, Jessica Bollin Smith! Jessica joins us from Ohio, where she pursued Mechanical and Electrical Engineering degree at the University of Toledo. For the past six years, she has worked as an electrical systems design engineer. In her spare time, she mentors two FIRST Tech Challenge teams and referees for FIRST Lego League local and state tournaments. She has become immersed in FIRST over the last seven years. Jessica joins the Game Design Committee just in time to help us finalize the game for the 2018-2019 season. She will then continue on for the next year as we plan for our 2019-2020 game. Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Jessica!

In today�s technology-rich society, access to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs for students is more important than ever. STEM competence and confidence creates pathways to well-paying jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities in the fastest-growing fields. Many educators, mentors and parents of middle and high school students use robotics programs as a vehicle to increase student exposure and access to developing STEM principles. The FIRST Tech Challenge Jump Start program introduces students in grades 7-12 to robotics and challenges them to build and program a robot designed to compete against other teams in a floor game. Jump Start teams get a head start on learning robot building and programming techniques months ahead of the competition season, which kicks off in September each year. With this extra time, educators and mentors can use FIRST Tech Challenge Jump Start to build students� STEM competence and confidence in the following ways. Introduce student...

Have you been watching The Fosters on FreeForm *? The FIRST� community has a starring role this summer with both FIRST� Tech Challenge and FIRST� Robotics Competition robots featured prominently in a STEAM-centered story line in an upcoming episode. But we don�t want to spoil anything. Why watch alone when you can throw a viewing party with your team? Here are 7 ideas for an awesome #omgrobots-themed viewing party for the episode airing August 15 th at 8/7c on FreeForm. 1. #makeitloud. Of course you want to bring your besties from your team, but look beyond the usual suspects to involve some new folks so they can get a taste of how amazingly fun FIRST can be. We bet your team has some great graphic design talent. Whether you go steampunk or �50s sci-fi, make sure your invitations reflect the main STEAM-y theme. 2. Gather plenty of chairs and/or cushions. There will be plenty of time to crouch in those crazy robot-building poses when your FIRST season starts. For now, g...

The Modern Robotics (MR) Core Power Distribution Module (PDM) and the 12V 3000mAh battery are equipped with Tamiya electrical connectors. The PDM�s power input cable has a male Tamiya connector and the 12V battery has a female Tamiya connector.        Figure 1 - The PDM and the 12V Battery have Tamiya electrical connectors. The Tamiya connector is a common type of connector often used in the RC model industry. The Tamiya connector is a keyed type of electrical connector. This means that the shape of the connector prevents a user from improperly connecting two electrical components together. For the PDM, the square shaped component of the Tamiya connector matches the square shaped (positive) receptacle on the battery�s female Tamiya connector. The PDM�s circular shaped component matches the circular shaped (negative) receptacle on battery�s female Tamiya connector. The Tamiya connectors work well, but the internal components can stretch and loosen after repeate...

Director of FTC, Ken Johnson discusses the components you'll need to transition from an existing FTC robot to the new platform. Check out these videos to take a closer look at the new android device, power module, and legacy module. All of the necessary elements will be available for order from our new FTC storefront as soon as they're available. Click the photos below to see the videos! For more information: Learn about the  FIRST  Tech Challenge Read the  Official  FIRST  Press Release Read the  FTC Technology FAQs webpage   Check out the  FTC Technology Forum