FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)
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The FIRST Robotics Competition is a high school robotics competition organized by FIRST, an organization founded by Dean Kamen. FIRST, which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, sponsors and organizes not only FRC, but also FIRST Tech Challenge, FIRST Lego League and Jr. FIRST Lego League. Of these four competitions, FRC is the top level, as FIRST itself puts it, "The varsity sport for the mind."
FRC teams are given a kit of parts and 6 weeks to construct a robot to compete in a game. The game changes every year, making each challenge unique. Students are in charge of construction, wiring and programming, as well as fundraising and community outreach. Here is a look at all the games Team Komodo has participated in since 2012, including this year's current game: |
2023: Charged Up!
The 2023 FIRST Robotics Competition game was Charged Up! 2023's game changed up the strategy with teams having to score either cones or cubes in the grid, which contains 27 nodes with increasing height at each level. Robots can gather additional cones or cubes from the human player at the single or double substations. During the autonomous period the robots can score cones or cubes as well as dock and engage the Charge Station, which needs to be level to score bonus points. At endgame all robots continue to score as well as dock and engage the charge station a second time, ending the match!
Below is the 2023 FRC Game Animation:
Below is the 2023 FRC Game Animation:
2022: Rapid React
The 2022 FIRST Robotics Competition game was Rapid React. This year's game is all about transporting cargo, scoring it, and racing to the hangar and traversing rungs before the time ends. Teams must score over-sized tennis balls called cargo in the upper and lower hub, leaving the tarmac in the start of the game. This year during the autonomous period the human player can shoot cargo from their station. At endgame robots race to the hangar to traverse to either the low, mid, high, or traversal rungs, ending the match!
Below is the 2022 FRC Game Animation:
Below is the 2022 FRC Game Animation:
2020/2021: Infinite Recharge/At Home
The 2020 FIRST Robotics Competition game was Infinite Recharge. Infinite Recharge is a shooter-based strategy game were teams have to score power cells into power ports in order to establish a working Shield Generator to protect First City from the Meteor Strike! Teams get points by shooting owner Cells, Spinning the Control Panel, and eventually climbing onto the Generator Switch to gain the final extra points!
Below is the 2020 FRC Game Animation:
Below is the 2020 FRC Game Animation:
2019: Destination: Deep Space
The 2019 FIRST Robotics Competition game was Destination: Deep Space. In Deep Space, two alliances race to load up their rockets with cargo and cover them with hatch panels to try to get back to Earth as fast as possible before the next sandstorm comes! Players have to fill up their rockets with cargo balls and contain them with hatch panels. At endgame, players go back to their starting habitat to get more points in the race!
Below is the 2019 FRC Game Animation:
Below is the 2019 FRC Game Animation:
2018: Power Up
The 2018 FIRST Robotics Competition game was Power Up. Power Up is an objective-based arcade game where two teams are trapped in an arcade game against each other with only their players to control. In order to escape, there are power cubes alliances must use to complete several different tasks. During the game, power ups can be purchased using power cubes in game, with the three power ups being Force, Levitate, and Boost. Players place power cubes on the scales and the switches to gain points, eventually climbing up the scale to face the boss and gain even more points!
Below is the 2018 FRC Game Animation:
Below is the 2018 FRC Game Animation:
2017: Steamworks
The 2017 FIRST Robotics Competition game was Steamworks. Steamworks is an objective based game where each alliance prepares it's airship for liftoff. Alliances gain points from either shooting fuel into a boiler or collecting and delivering gears to an airship. At the end of the match you can climb aboard the airship for additional points!
Below is the 2017 FRC Game Animation:
Below is the 2017 FRC Game Animation:
2016: Stronghold
The 2016 FIRST Robotics Competition game was Stronghold. Stronghold is a return to traditional robot-on-robot contact, with a focus on rough terrain handling and ball manipulation. The balls in use are very similar to those used in the 2012 FRC game, Rebound Rumble. There is also a strong focus in Stronghold on vision and communication.
Below is the 2016 FRC Game Animation:
Below is the 2016 FRC Game Animation:
2015: Recycle Rush
The 2015 FIRST Robotics Competition game was Recycle Rush. Recycle Rush is played in alliances of three who seek to stack trash cans and storage containers. It is a unique game in that it is one of the only FIRST games to not require bumpers on the robots, as there is no robot-on-robot contact within the game, and alliances are separated.
Below is the 2015 FRC Game Animation:
Below is the 2015 FRC Game Animation:
2014: Aerial Assist
The 2014 FIRST Robotics Competition game was Aerial Assist. Aerial Assist was unveiled on January 4th during the FIRST Robotics Competition Kickoff. Similar to the FRC games of 2008 and 1998, Aerial Assist is played with large medicine balls. Aerial Assist, however, is focused much more on cooperation between robots than previous games. Alliances can score much larger amounts of points though cooperation than individually.
Below is the 2014 FRC Game Animation:
Below is the 2014 FRC Game Animation:
2013: Ultimate Ascent
The 2013 FIRST Robotics Competition game was Ultimate Ascent. Ultimate Ascent was a frisbee based game with a climbing endgame strategy. Alliances of three robots worked to score and block the other team.
Below is the FRC 2013 Game Animation:
Below is the FRC 2013 Game Animation:
2012: Rebound Rumble
The 2012 FIRST Robotics Competition game was Rebound Rumble. This was the first game that Team Komodo participated in. Rebound Rumble was a basketball focused game which encouraged teams to gather and hold multiple balls and then shoot buckets. Despite the fact that all the robots were traveling (and probably double dribbling), Team Komodo had a ton of fun with this cooperative game. The endgame of Rebound Rumble was a balancing act on ramps in the middle of the field.
Below is the FRC 2012 Game Animation:
Below is the FRC 2012 Game Animation:
