Thursday, March 19, 2009

Seven Phoenix Union Schools Compete in Robotics Regional

Seven Phoenix Union High School Robotics teams will compete in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Regional event Friday and Saturday, the largest district representation in the 42-team field. The Arizona Regional is one of 40 regional competitions internationally leading up to the World Championship in Atlanta in April.

Led by the Carl Hayden’s Falcon Robotics team which has won four consecutive Chairman’s Awards at this event and was the International Chairman’s Award winner last year, the other Phoenix Union teams are relatively new to robotics, starting up last year with the help of a grant. The other PUHSD schools competing are Betty Fairfax; Cesar Chavez; North; Camelback; Bioscience and Maryvale.

The Robotics game this year is “Lunacy” where robots are designed to pick up 9-inch balls and score them in trailers hitched to their opponent’s robots during a 2-minute 15 second match. Schools had six weeks to design, build and program their robots using a Parts Kit of motors, batteries, a control system and other components--but no instructions.

The FIRST Robotics competition began in 1992 and has grown to 1,686 teams and more than 42,000 high school students worldwide.

WHERE:

Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Admission is Free)

WHEN:

Friday, March 20: 9 a.m. Opening Ceremonies, 9:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. matches
Saturday, March 21: Matches 9:30 -11:30 a.m; 1 - 4:15 p.m. (finals),
4:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony

WHO:

41 high school teams from Arizona, California, New Mexico and Massachusetts

CONTACT:

Craig Pletenik, PUHSD Community Relations, (602) 764-1530

Source: Phoenix Union High School District

No comments: