Aspiring engineers from 191 countries gathered in Panama City in October to compete in the FIRST Global Robotics Challenge. The annual contest aims to foster problem-solving, cooperation, and inspire the next generation of engineers through three challenges that are inspired by a different theme every year. Teams of students from 14 to 18 years old from around the world compete in the three day event, remotely operating their robots to complete the challenges. This year’s topic was “Eco-equilibrium,” emphasizing the importance of preserving ecosystems and protecting vulnerable species.
Turning Robotics Into a Sport
Each team competed in a series of ranking matches at the event. The matches consisted of several simultaneous goals, lasting two minutes and 30 seconds. First students guided their robots in gathering “biodiversity units” (multicolored balls) and delivering them to their humans. Next the robots removed “barriers” (larger, grey balls) from containers and disposed of them in a set area. Then team members threw the biodiversity units into the now-cleared containers to score points. At the end of the match, each robot was tasked with climbing a 1.5 meter rope. The team with the most points won the match.
To promote collaboration, each match had two groups, which consisted of three individual teams and their robots, competing for victory. Each team controlled its own robot, but had to work together with the other robots in the group to complete the tasks. If all six robots managed to climb the rope at the end of the match, each team’s scores were multiplied by 1.5.
The top 24 teams were split into six “alliances” of four individual teams each to compete in the playoffs. The highest-scoring alliance was crowned the winner. This year’s winning teams were Cameroon, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela. Each student received a gold medal.
It may have been hard to tell it was a competition at first glance. When all six robots successfully climbed the rope at the end of the match, students across teams were hugging each other, clapping, and cheering.
“It’s not about winning, it’s not about losing, it’s about learning from others,” says Clyde Snyders, a member of the South Africa team. His sentiment was echoed throughout the event.
Making It Into the Competition
Before the main event, countries all over the world run qualifying events where thousands of students show off their robotics skills for a chance to make it to the final competition. Each country chooses its team differently. Some pick the top-scoring team to compete, while others pick students from different teams to create a new one.
Even after qualifying, for some students, physically getting to the competition isn’t straightforward. This year Team Jamaica faced challenges after Hurricane Melissa struck the country on 28 October, one day before the competition began. It was the strongest storm that has ever hit Jamaica, killing 32 people and leaving billions of dollars in infrastructure repairs. Because of the damage, the Jamaican team faced repeatedly cancelled flights and other travel delays. They almost didn’t make it, but FIRST Global organizers covered the costs of their travel. The students arrived on the second day, just in time to participate in enough matches to avoid being disqualified.
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