NASA program aims to fuel interest in robots

December 8, 2010 — There’s Sonny in i,Robot, C-3PO in Star Wars, and Terminatrix in Terminator 3. But NASA is hoping that high school students will come up with the next robots, and to make sure they do, the organization is providing up to $20 million over five years to inspire student interest in robotic technology. The funding is part of a cooperative agreement with the Foundation For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. FIRST provides students the opportunity to engage with government, industry and university experts for hands-on, realistic exposure to engineering and technical professions. "This is the largest NASA-funded student program geared toward robotics activities," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. "For the next five years, approximately 25,000 students across the country will not only learn from our nation's best and brightest, but also compete and have fun at the same time." The centerpiece of the program is the annual FIRST Robotics Competition. During more than 45 regional competitions, teams of high school students have six weeks to build a robot using an identical kit of parts. There are dimension and weight limitations and other technical restrictions, but teams can determine the look and function of the robots. The regional competitions culminate with an international championship in April. The competition is structured like an athletic event. Teams compete in an area the size of a small basketball court. The robots must have offensive and defensive capabilities. Each team's robot works to accomplish a task, while preventing its opponent from doing the same. "This program has had a direct impact on our ability to mentor U.S. students and help them consider technical careers," said Ed Weiler, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate. "Supporting this program is critical to developing scientists and engineers for future U.S. space exploration." NASA's Robotics Alliance Project solicited proposals in October from nonprofit and educational institutions to design and administer a robotics outreach competition. Click here to see what schools and organizations were selected to participate. During the past 16 years, the RAP has issued about $40 million to academic and nonprofit organizations across the nation to stimulate intellectual capability in fields tied to robotics engineering. All 10 NASA centers participate by contributing technology expertise, funding and other resources.

High school students work with professional engineers as they create their robots in the FIRST Robotics Competition. Photo credit: FIRST NASA has provided up to $20 million over five years to inspire student interest in robotic technology. Photo credit: FIRST The FIRST Robotics Competition is for students in grades 9-12 or ages 14-18. Photo credit: FIRST Students compete for more than $12 million in scholarships as part of the robotics competition. Photo credit: FIRST

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