Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

FRANKLIN

Blackwater Robotics participated in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Competition’s Robotics Kickoff on Jan. 9. Students and mentors viewed the video stream through Twitch and made available from US FIRST. Afterward, students and mentors met on Zoom to discuss plans for the season.

In consideration that many teams will not be able to compete in traditional in-person events, FIRST is giving registered teams up to three opportunities to compete alongside other teams around the world for awards through electronic submissions.

Additionally, for in-person play by teams, if available, the 2020 game Infinite Recharge will be reused for competition.

Options for all registered teams include:

• Infinite Recharge at Home, which invites teams to engage in two ways: compete for judged awards using their 2020/2021 robot and compete in a Skills Competition, a series of challenges for teams who have access to their robot.
• The Game Design Challenge invites teams to design a FIRST Robotics Competition game and compete for judged awards and an opportunity to share their design with FIRST Robotics Competition game designers.
• The FIRST Innovation Challenge presented by Qualcomm invites teams to identify a real world global issue and develop an innovative solution.

Blackwater Robotics is exploring all options for participation for this season and looks forward to competing with other teams in the FIRST Chesapeake District and with FIRST Robotics teams from around the world.

The 2021 season marks the 16th official year of participation in the FIRST Robotics Competition.

This season Blackwater Robotics had registration covered through generous grants from NASA and BAE Systems. Blackwater Robotics is thankful to all who have supported the school’s program.

FIRST, headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire, reached approximately 98,000 students and over 3900 teams in the last year, along with adding nearly 100 rookie teams for the 2021 season for FIRST Robotics Competition.

FIRST Chesapeake District encompasses teams from Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Blackwater Robotics also competes as part the Virginia High School League Robotics Program.