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First Robotics Competition

In a blur of motion, wheeled robots race across the “playing field” at the FIRST Robotics Competition Los Angeles Regional at the Da Vinci Schools campus in El Segundo.

In a blur of motion, wheeled robots race across the “playing field” at the FIRST Robotics Competition Los Angeles Regional at the Da Vinci Schools campus in El Segundo. The annual student robotics event is supported by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory with volunteers and team mentors.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Students from JPL-sponsored Team 702 (“Bagel Bytes”) from Culver City, left, and Team 687 (the “Nerd Herd”) from Carson prepare their robots to enter the fray at the 2023 FIRST Robotics Competition Los Angeles Regional.

Students from JPL-sponsored Team 702 (“Bagel Bytes”) from Culver City, left, and Team 687 (the “Nerd Herd”) from Carson prepare their robots to enter the fray at the 2023 FIRST Robotics Competition Los Angeles Regional.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

A referee at the 2022 Los Angeles Regional FIRST Robotics Competition examines robots that have managed to climb the rungs of the overhead bars in a corner of the playing field, earning them extra points.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The FIRST Robotics Competition is a national engineering contest that immerses high school students in the exciting world of engineering. Teaming up with engineers from businesses, universities and research institutions, the students get a hands-on, inside look at engineering. In January, student teams across the country receive the same game challenge and have six weeks to design, construct and test their robot. The teams then compete in a spirited, no-holds-barred tournament complete with time clocks, referees and cheerleaders. The events measure the effectiveness of each robot and test the students’ ability to collaborate.

The 23rd Annual Los Angeles FIRST Robotics Regional Competition attracted 44 teams of high-school students from the L.A. area, Arizona, and Turkey. The event drew more than 1,400 student competitors. The 2023 Los Angeles regional’s winning alliance was composed of Team 687 (“The Nerd Herd”), Team 5199 (“Robot Dolphins from Outer Space”) and Team 702 (“Bagel Bytes”). Read full story here.

The 2024 Los Angeles FIRST Robotics Regional Competition is scheduled to take place March 15-17, 2024

JPL volunteers have worked with FIRST Robotics for 23 years at the Los Angeles Regional competition. To find out more about how to volunteer for this exciting competition, click here.

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