Mohawk Valley Community College will host a FIRST® (For Inspiration of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge Robotics Qualifying Tournament on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in the Robert R. Jorgensen Center Field House at the College’s Utica Campus, 1101 Sherman Drive. The competition is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The 28 youth robotics teams — hailing from as far away as Buffalo, Northern New York, and Westchester County, and as close as Utica and Rome — have been designing and building this competition season’s robots since September. The teams, consisting of students in grades 6 through 12, collaborate on the design, fabrication, 3D printing, programming, testing, and continuous improvement of their robots to compete in this season’s specific game challenge. Teams compete for prestigious awards judged on criteria such as robot performance and control, innovation, design, community outreach, mentorship connections with STEM professionals, and detailed documentation of their engineering process, including the challenges they faced. The top four teams from the Qualifying Tournament will advance to the MVCC Regional Championship on Saturday and Sunday, March 8 and 9, 2025.
During each 2.5-minute match, teams strategize with an alliance partner team to achieve a common goal against another pair of teams. Four robots run on the tournament field at once. In this season’s challenge, teams and robots attempt to achieve the highest scores by navigating the 12’x12’ playing field, collecting and depositing scoring elements into designated zones and high and low baskets. Matches begin with a 30-second autonomous period where robots operate solely on pre-programmed Java instructions, sensor inputs, and machine learning. The following two minutes make up a driver-controlled/teleoperated period using game controllers. Many points are won in the final 30 seconds of a competition match if one or all four robots are able to pull themselves up to hang from a bar.
MVCC has been a proud FIRST® partner organization since 2020, supporting 120 FIRST® Tech Challenge teams comprising more than 1,200 students. The partnership also introduces MVCC’s engineering programs and apprenticeships to these students, providing a starting point and a clear path to a bachelor’s degree, certification, or career. Learn more about FIRST® at MVCC.
About FIRST®
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies and more than $80 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST Robotics Competition for students in Grades 9-12; FIRST Tech Challenge for Grades 7-12; and FIRST LEGO® League Discover, Explore and Challenge for Grades K-8. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.firstinspires.org.