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First Robotics Competition Team
Frequently Asked Questions...
What is First Robotics?
FIRST, or For Inspiration of Science and Technology, is an organization co-founded by Dr. Dean Kamen and Dr. Woody Flowers in order to inspire kids to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This is a non-profit public charity that designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge and life skills.In 2014, FRC will reach 71,000 high-school students representing approximately 2,850 teams.
What is the Build Season?
The Build Season is the period of time the kids and mentors use to design, build, and test the robot.
How long is the Build Season?
The Build Season is a six week long period starting on the first Saturday in January and goes to mid-February
Where are the meetings held?
We are located at the historical Red Brick Schoolhouse, 2 Lincoln Street, Franklin MA - the oldest continously running one-room schoolhouse in the Nation! We have our own working shop with all of our tools and equipment.
Is it only for aspiring engineers?
No! Anyone can join, most kids come with no prior knowledge to robotics. We need your ideas and creativity! So if you think you might like it, come and check it out!
What are your team values?
We encourage creative thinking and seek different opinions. We are open-minded, diverse, optimistic and flexible. We are gracious in our candor and honesty. We are loyal, helpful and respectful to all. We strive to be recognized as a positive influence and a source of pride.
How can I get involved?
You can email any of the mentors, or just stop in. We rely heavily on volunteers to bring supplies like food and drinks, run errands, organize transportation, and search for sponsors. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Who is allowed to join the team?
Any high school students in the area. 8th graders can also join but cannot drive the robot during competitions. Any age can come and visit!
What does A.L.A.R.M. stand for?
ALARM stands for “A lot of Awesome Robot Makers” and we are team number 2079
What is the mission?
We celebrate teamwork, creativity, hard work, and gracious professionalism; To provide real world hands on experience in design , engineering, communication, strategy and business in a supportive community of parents, mentors, and technology professionals.
Where are your team members from?
We are registered as the Millis High School team because FIRST requires each team to have a school sponsor, but we have kids from many surrounding towns, including but not limited to: Holliston, Millis, Medway, Plainville, Franklin, Norfolk, Wrentham, Medfield and Walpole.
What type of organization is your team?
We are a non-profit independent organization supported by parents, volunteers, and corporate sponsors and receive no financial assistance from the school department.
Why do you need sponsors?
We need sponsors to pay for different expenses involving making the robot. Every single nut and bolt costs money and we need as much as we can get. All the tools and equipment we use costs money, and we use sponsors to help us out with those costs.
What can I get involved in when I join the team?
You can get involved in either Mechanics, Programming, Logistics, and Electrical. The mechanical section of the team focuses on the creation and fabrication of the robot. They utilize various machines such as lathes, drill presses, band saws, table saws, and mills. The programmers use LabView to program the robot to perform various tasks.
Some of these tasks include making the robot move, changing the speeds of the motors, and just about everything else that causes a robot to be a robot and not just a piece of metal. The logistics portion of the team deals with getting sponsors, organization, and making sure the team runs smoothly and effectively. The electrical team is responsible for wiring the robot which allows it to be programmed.
Where are the competitions?
The Competitions are spread throught New England and the ones we go to change every year.
When do you meet?
In the offseason we typically meet on Wednesdays from 6-9. During the robot build season, we meet every day but Friday. Students do not need to attend every one of those meetings.
Where is the furthest the team has gone for a competition?
Atlanta, Georgia