Canada FIRST?

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Posted by Matt Leese.

Student on team #7 from Parkville High School and NASA, Black & Decker, AAI, Raytheon.

Posted on 9/11/2000 5:13 PM MST



I was wondering around web sites today and I came across Canada FIRST. Now, I never had heard of them and looked for some more info. Basically, they're a high school robotics competition in Canada. The most interesting part is their FIRST also stands For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. Apparently they've been around since '94. They're not nearly as big (around 30 teams, if I see correctly). My main question is, does anyone else know anything else about them? Are they a FIRST offshoot?

Matt Leese

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Posted by Lora Knepper.

Other on team #419, Rambots, from UMass Boston / BC High and NASA, Mathsoft, Solidworks, Analog Devices.

Posted on 9/11/2000 7:19 PM MST


In Reply to: Canada FIRST? posted by Matt Leese on 9/11/2000 5:13 PM MST:



Matt,

Actually, I'm not too well versed on my Canada FIRST history and such, but I do know that one of our FIRST teams, #188 Woburn Robotics from Canada was a participant in Canada FIRST...and did quite well from what I remember. They would be the guys to ask on this one. =)

Lora

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Posted by Lloyd Burns.

Other on team #188, Woburn Robotics, from Woburn Collegiate and Canada 3000, ScotiaBank, Royal Bank Financial.

Posted on 9/13/2000 7:27 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: Canada FIRST? posted by Lora Knepper on 9/11/2000 7:19 PM MST:



: Matt,

: Actually, I'm not too well versed on my Canada FIRST history and such, but I do know that one of our FIRST teams, #188 Woburn Robotics from Canada was a participant in Canada FIRST...and did quite well from what I remember. They would be the guys to ask on this one. =)

: Lora

Hi:

Canada FIRST is a version of USFirst, in that there is a time-limited construction period, a kit of parrts to be used, etc. There is one competition a year, a 'National'. Last year there was a team from Gunn, making it international, too.

The fun thing is that with so much less sponsorship, things are not the same. The venue this past year was a basketball court, with pits in a weight training area (balcony-style) adjoining but on another floor. There was one playing area (rink). The control systems in the past have been built fot C.F. but there were many timeouts and protests when the equipment did not function reliably. This year, in Hamilton, members of our team arrived as spectators at noon of the Finals and there was a half hour pause while they got the equipment working. Dare I mention that the equipment in use was 6-channel R.C. sets, operating servos and/or speed controls (Tekins ?).

The game was two on two hockey - one match had two robots broken down and the other two were trying, more or less successfully, more or less slowly, to score on the goal, which had a wooden 'Goalie' driven back and forth across the crease by a motor. Teams were allowed an observer behind the enemy goal to help align the hockey stick and the shots. Drivers were seated on oppsite sides of the rink at the blue line. The robots were housed in upside down plastic garbage cans about 2-3 feet tall.

We find the USFirst challenge much more appealing. (We went to C.F. and won two years running, but were put off by things that happened the last time.

Lloyd
Team 188

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Posted by Ken.

Student on team #192, Gunn Robotics Team, from Henry M. Gunn Senior High School.

Posted on 9/14/2000 1:15 AM MST


In Reply to: Re: Canada FIRST? posted by Lloyd Burns on 9/13/2000 7:27 PM MST:



If you look at my team name, you will notice that I am from gunn high school. Our team never went to the C.F., but instead another engineering club when there, and I was part of the group who went to Canada last March. The competition is much smaller then US FIRST, even smaller than some of the regionals. As for supply, they gave us three motors, while are almost idential to the two Vendor Motors and one window motor US FIRST gave us. The robots are much smaller, lighter, and more simple designed due to the fact the that competition design only offer several strategies for the teams. So basically, it's for smaller teams will limited resources. It's less challenging too.

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Posted by Brad.

Student on team #192, GRT, from Gunn High School and Lots.

Posted on 9/14/2000 2:13 AM MST


In Reply to: Much Smaller scale posted by Ken on 9/14/2000 1:15 AM MST:



I too, went with my wonderful teamate Ken to the CanadaFIRST competition. I personally loved it. As he said, it wasn't as complex, but that made it no less challenging. It made the design phase much more crucial, because there was very little you could do with the parts once you started building. It was a great competition, and I encourage some of the larger teams out there to look into having a division which competes in the CanadaFIRST competitions. It would also be a great introduction to the competition for new teams. You'd actually find it a far...friendlier environment. We were treated with the utmost respect, despite being the only US team in their history. But do not take the competition lightly. You'll find that Canada can churn out some pretty impressive robots given the same things you can. If you want to check them out, they live at http://www.canadafirst.org This is also a great opportunity for the less-well-funded teams, as the entry fee is a mere $8000 canadian, which comes to around $5500 dollars. I really recomend any of you out there interested to get in contact with them, and see what you can do. Show 'em what the US is made of!

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Posted by colleen.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Coach on team #246, Blue Light Special, from John D. O'Byrant High School/Boston Latin Academy and NSTAR/Boston University/UTC/Raytheon/MassPEP.

Posted on 9/13/2000 7:03 PM MST


In Reply to: Canada FIRST? posted by Matt Leese on 9/11/2000 5:13 PM MST:



Amy,

I heard of this too.. least seen it on the web.. i don't know the details of it though...

-colleen