They say that someday robots may rule the world. Well, that someday arrives next weekend to a large extent when all things robotic will rule the world of the St. Joseph High School Fieldhouse for FIRST Robotics Competition from more than 40 schools all over Michigan including the “Yooper Troopers” from the Upper Peninsula.
St. Joseph Public Schools, home of the Average Joes Robotics Team 3620, is hosting a FIRST Robotics Competition at the St. Joseph High School fieldhouse and competition gym located at 2521 Stadium Drive in St. Joseph.
Not only is this major competition a family friendly event…it is free and is offered to reinforce that everyone can excel in STEM, which is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Whirlpool Corporation and TPC Technologies are the sponsors for this huge event.
FIRST Robotics Competition is an international high school program designed to challenge and prepare students for careers in STEM. The forty teams from around the state, including the “Yooper Troopers,” will be both competing and collaborating at the event. The game this year, Power Up, requires teams of high school students, coaches, and mentors to work during a six-week period to build game-playing robots that weigh up to 120 pounds. Robots need to be able to lift yellow power cubes (milk crates) onto a scale to earn points. Near the end of the game, robots must climb to earn additional points.
Not only do students apply the principles of STEM, but they also learn how to brand and market themselves to achieve the support of the community and sponsors, and to bring awareness to FIRST and STEM. Below you will find the schedule of event details:
Thursday, March 8th
- Teams build their pits – SJHS Fieldhouse
Friday, March 9th
- Opening Ceremony – 10:30am to 11:00am – SJHS Competition Gym
- Team Qualification Matches – 11:00am to 1:00pm
- Lunch – 1:00pm to 2:00pm
- Team Qualification Matches – 2:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday, March 10th
- Opening Ceremony – 9:00am to 9:30am
- Team Qualification Matches – 9:30am to 12:30pm
- Alliance Selection – 12:30pm to 1:00pm
- Lunch – 1:00pm to 2:00pm
- Playoffs – 2:00pm to 5:00pm
- Awards – 5:00pm to 6:00pm
Remember…all events are free and family friendly and deliver considerable entertainment as the Varsity Sport for the Mind, from FIRST Robotics. With any luck, teams will emerge and advance to additional state, national, and international competition in the weeks ahead this spring.
The photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market.com is from previous competition at St. Joe High a couple of years ago, showing the size and scale of audiences that turn out for these great shows.
