Saturday, January 6, marked the annual FIRST Robotics season Kickoff. At 7:30 a.m., Bonners Ferry High School FIRST Team 2130 Alpha+ gathered at the robotics clubhouse and excitedly watched this year’s reveal for the game, FIRST POWER UP!
The game animation was viewed by other FIRST teams all over the world.
FIRST POWER UP involves two alliances of three teams each, with each team controlling a robot and performing specific tasks on a field to score points. Teams are required to place milk crates, or "power cubes," on large balancing scales to tip the scale and gain ownership.
Alliances can also trade power cubes for power ups, giving them a temporary advantage in the game. At the end of the game, robots can climb the tower attached to the center balancing scale, giving them additional points.
To view the game animation, click here.
Team members spent several hours getting to know the game, examining the rules and regulations and brainstorming possible strategies together. Alpha+ now has six weeks to prepare a robot to play FIRST POWER UP and compete in the two regionals the team plans to attend.
“I was impressed with how well the team was able to work together and do problem solving,” said team captain Malachi Rivkin.
“We’re off to a great start, and we have 45 more days of work,” said robotics mentor Ed Katz.