What is FRC?

On this page is an overview of the FRC program.  For detailed information about FRC in Illinois (& northwest Indiana) and the Midwest Regional, go to the IL FRC web site.

      click here to go to the IL FRC web site

FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is a unique varsity sport of the mind designed to help high-school-aged young people discover how interesting and rewarding the life of engineers and researchers can be.

The FIRST Robotics Competition challenges teams of young people and their mentors to solve a common problem in a six-week timeframe using a standard "kit of parts" and a common set of rules. Teams build robots from the parts and enter them in competitions designed by Dean Kamen, Dr. Woodie Flowers, and a committee of engineers and other professionals.

FRC robots are big (5 feet tall, 120+ pound) robots.  They compete against each other in sports-like competitions on playing fields that are the size of a half-court of basketball.  The students get 6 1/2 weeks to build the robots starting at the kick-off in early January, and must complete them for shipping near the end of February.  Regional competitions take place throughout March, culminating in the Championship event in April.  This year the Championship will be at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.  Teams compete from all over the world, and this year there are over 1800 teams.

The mentor - student interaction is integral to this program.  It takes alot of hard work to develop a robot, and it shows when you see them in action.

The Midwest Regional at the UIC Pavilion will be held in March of 2011.

Free admission.

For more information about FRC in Illinois (& northwest Indiana) and the Midwest Regional,

click here to go to the IL FRC web site.