College Coordinates FIRST Robotics Competition

College of Engineering was recently involved in Wisconsin Regional Competition of FIRST Robotics. COE faculty and staff proudly observed as three Milwaukee area high school teams to which they provided mentoring and sponsorship competed against teams from 31 other high schools from the Midwest.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics is a multinational competition that teams professionals and young people to solve an engineering design problem in an intense and competitive way. This year’s design problem was to create a robot that plays a game of 3-on-3 basketball, complete with all the challenges of a real basketball game, including scoring, defense and fouls. Each school competes on randomly-assembled teams, or “alliances,” of robots that include two other schools. Strategy for making your “alliances” work is a big part of the competition. Teams are rewarded for excellence in design, demonstrated team spirit, gracious professionalism and maturity, and the ability to overcome obstacles.

COE’s involvement with FIRST Robotics was coordinated by Dr. G.E. Otto Widera, Senior Associate Dean. Dave Newman, Civil & Environmental Engineering Laboratory Manager assisted the team from Messmer High school, while the Marquette University High School team was paired with Dr. Joseph Schimmels, Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Tom Silman, Mechanical Services Supervisor, served as the mentor for the third team, Thomas More High School. The Thomas More team won the “Rookie All Star” award and has now qualified to compete in the upcoming International FIRST Robotics competition in Atlanta.

The competition was held at the U.S. Cellular Arena in downtown Milwaukee and your College joined Rockwell Automation in co-sponsoring a team social at the Milwaukee County Zoo.

A strategy meeting among the teams from Marquette University, Messmer and Thomas More High schools

FIRST Robotics competition in action