WHAT: Robots of all shapes and sizes will do battle as 56 student teams compete in the Los Angeles Regional FIRST Robotics competition. The contest challenges both regional and international high school students to build and operate remote-controlled robots of up to 140 pounds (64 kilograms). NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, along with aerospace and other companies, is sponsoring the contest and providing team mentors.
Geared to students in grades nine through 12, the competition is one of several programs by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) created to encourage students to pursue STEM careers. The programs enable students of all ages to work with professional mentors, including JPL engineers, to learn building, programming and problem-solving skills.
The theme of the 2019 challenge is “Destination: Deep Space,” a sample-collecting mission set on the fictitious planet Primus. Alliances made up of three teams will race to be the first robots to load cargo samples and prepare their ship for liftoff in under 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Each team’s robot is built over six weeks from a standard kit of parts, delivered by FIRST in January. Qualifying teams from the 173 FIRST Robotics events held worldwide will advance to the championship rounds, held April 17-20 in Houston and April 24-27 in Detroit.
WHO: High school students from the Los Angeles area, Hawaii and Chile and mentors, including JPL employees.
WHEN: Friday, March 22:
8:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.: Opening ceremonies, qualification matches, awards ceremony, Women in STEM event
Saturday, March 23:
8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Opening ceremonies, qualification matches, awards ceremony
WHERE: Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, California 90015
For more information about the FIRST Los Angeles regional, please visit:
For more information about NASA’s Robotics Alliance Project, please visit:
