FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology), is a fast paced, multinational robotics competition and one of the main annual competitions in which our Team engages. Specifically, LASA Robotics participates in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) as Team 418, LASA Robotics - AKA The Purple Haze.

For FRC, students team up with engineers to come up with creative and unique solutions to challenging engineering design problems. Time is short—there are only six weeks from kickoff in January to ship day—so students must turn two crates full of electronics into a sleek and sophisticated robot that will accomplish one or more specific tasks and negotiate a course.

There are amny additional aspects and awards in this competition. For example, teams may create an original 30-second animation, or 3-D CAD models of their robot. FIRST also offers awards for innovation, community service, and more.

More than 20,000 students from over 900 teams compete world-wide in 27 regional competitions, culminating in the national event in Atlanta in the spring. 

Along with the thrill of creating a competitive robot, students in FIRST are eligible to receive scholarships donated by individuals, schools and businesses to secure the future in engineering.