The challenge of the 2016 FIRST International Robotics Competition is unveiled!

After robots launching Frisbees, balloon couriers and industrial robots, the theme this year will see robots attacking medieval fortresses built by young people aged 14 to 18.

On January 9, the international unveiling of the challenge that participants in the Robotics Competition will have to take up. FIRST 2016. With the name The fortress (Stronghold), the proposed game will feature two alliances of 3 teams and their robots on a field of 25 ft x 54 ft (7.62 mx 16.46 m).

After the robots that launch frisbees, pass the balloons and industrial robots, the original theme this year is medieval. The objective: to collaborate to pierce the defenses of the adversaries, to attack their dungeon with cannon balls, then to climb and conquer their castle. The more the teams meet the technical challenges using strategy, the more points they get and the more they impose themselves in the kingdom.

“In just a few years, the robotics competition has become an unmissable event in the school year for thousands of young Quebecers,” said Gabriel Bran Lopez, founder of Fusion Jeunesse and co-founder of Robotics FIRST Quebec. “In our first edition in 2010, 45 young people from Montreal took part in the competition. Thanks to the commitment of all our partners, this year, during the 5^e edition of the Robotics Festival, more than 5,000 young people from nine regions of Quebec. We are proud of the progress made but above all happy to see that the project is making a real difference among young people by inspiring them in the face of science and technology, and by helping them to develop essential personal skills thanks to the complicit support of their mentors. "

Each participating team will have 45 days to complete its project under the guidance of mentors: teachers, as well as engineers, technicians, professionals and managers from the community. The provincial final will take place from March 31 to April 2, 2016 at Uniprix Stadium in Montreal, as part of the 5^e Quebec Robotics Festival. The teams that qualify can then take part in the world championship, which will be held April 28-30 in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Robotics Competition FIRST is a “coopetitive”, ie competitive and cooperative, robotics program in which more than 53,000 students aged 14 to 18 from 3,100 secondary schools around the world participate. In March, the Robotics Festival will welcome 50 teams from Quebec, Ontario, France and Mexico. 45 Quebec teams will take up the challenge this year.

Source: press release