The Pink Panther robot
Robots are clearly having a big impact on our world:
  • Honda's two-legged humanoid robot named ASIMO is touring around the country.

  • NASA's six-wheeled rovers are exploring Mars.

  • iRobot's plate-shaped robot is sweeping floors across America.
Every time you turn on the TV or read the news, it seems like you are hearing about robots. There are thousands of different problems for robots to solve, and thousands of ways for them to be built.

What if you want to build your own robot? Where would you learn how to do it? How would you assemble all the parts and program it? Now, whether you are a middle school student, a high school student, or you are an adult who would like to help out, there's an answer to these questions. FIRST runs a series of regional and national robot competitions where students work in teams to design and build a robot of their own.

In this article, you will learn about FIRST and its annual competitions. And, you will discover that building a robot can be both fun and educational.