FIRST is a program founded by Dean Kamen in 1989 in New Hampshire. FIRST gives students the chance to experience hands-on science and technology, as well as helping them to learn about teamwork and problem solving. The first FRC (FIRST Robitics Competition) competition was held in a high-school gym in 1992 with only 28 teams competing. Now, FIRST FRC impacts almost 52,000 students around the globe. Teams get six weeks to design, build, and test their own 120 lb. max robot, building it to compete in that year's game; every year, a new game is introduced. The team then ships their robot to the competition. This year, there will be 2,075 teams competing in regional competitions in their own city/region. Afterwards, winning teams will move on to the nationals, which are located in St. Louis this year. There are plenty of awards that are given out during the event besides winner: Best Website Award, Team Spirit Award, and many more. To learn more, visit the FIRST website.
About Our Process
What makes our team special is our design process. Several different designs for each major part are compiled by committees who then present the pros and cons of each to the body. The student body then votes and decides on one design. Everyone pitches in and we somehow manage to finish it.
Team Mentors
Our team mentors wanted to share why they mentor the students on FIRST team #1444.
Team History
2004
FIRST Team 1444 was started in 2004 with 10 team members. Unlike the other robots, the 2004 robot no longer exists, and its parts have been reused. One problem facing the team that year was lack of good tools. The game was titled FIRST Frenzy and involved lifting balls into and capping goals. Unfortunately, the robot did not work well, "it was a pain, heavy, and weak", had no claw to avoid going over weight, and the telescoping arm's chains kept binding. So many lightening holes were drilled in it, it has been described as whistling.
Because of the missing claw, it could only attempt to block other robots from scoring or lift itself onto the pull-up bar for a 50 points bonus. The only time it actually succeeded in lifting itself was after the competition.
At least the team avoided last, coming in 46th place at the Regional, with 1 win and 5 losses.
2005
In 2005, FIRST Team 1444 was on the winning alliance for the St. Louis Regional and got to attend the 2005 Nationals, held in Atlanta, Georgia. The team came in 21st over all at Regionals, with a three win, two loss record. The game was called Triple Play and required robots to place triangular shaped "Tetras" on top of goals. At the Championship, the team again came in 21st in the Archimedes division, ending with 4 wins, 2 losses, and 1 tie.
2006
In 2006 FIRST Team 1444 won the St. Louis Regional Johnson & Johnson Sportsmanship award for helping Team 1315 Robot Knights, now disbanded, with their programming. This had an unfortunate side effect, as the wrong program was accidentally loaded on FIRSTTeam 1444's robot, causing it to malfunction. The game was called Aim High, and required robots to shoot balls into goals about 10 feet high. The team itself ended up third with 10 wins and two losses.
2007
2007 was a great year for the team, as we went to win the St. Louis Regional undefeated getting 1st place after playing 9 matches. We also got to attended Nationals once again in Atlanta. We did not do nearly as well at nationals, ending up 61st and winning only 1 match. The robot is equipped with a two-speed transmission, which won it the GM Industrial Design award. The game was called Rack n' Roll. The robot's job was to place circular tubes on a scoring rack in the center of the field. It's been called the "best-looking robot."
2008
FIRST Team 1444 followed up the 2007 season with a finalist placing and Judge's award in 2008 at the St. Louis Regional. The game was titled FIRST Overdrive, and involved carrying 10 pound balls around a track. At the ST. Louis Regional we ended up second place with nine wins and once more, no losses. The robot is currently being loaned to rookie Team 3862 4-unibotics of Farmington MO.
2009
In 2009 the team made a few miscalculations as far as gearing and motors, causing it to have a slow robot with an ineffective ball-shooter. The game was titled Lunacy, and involved driving over a slick surface trying to shoot balls into trailers pulled by other robots. We placed 20th, ending with five wins and six losses. One of the best things about the 2009 robot was it's "planetary gearbox" which could eat a plastic fork. The robot no longer works, due to missing programming.
It is the tallest robot without extending a boom.
2010
In 2010 the Team won the St. Louis Regional Team Spirit award, and was awarded "Best Goalie" by Team 279. Thank you! Our final standing at the St. Louis regional was 31st. The game was titled Breakaway, and was a soccer-type game, requiring robots to drive over or under bumps in the middle of the field. This robot is the only one equipped with pneumatics, which was used to power the kicker. The robot has eight wheels, arranged in four bogies, allowing it to climb a bump in the middle of the field without tipping. It also has suspension that allows it to raise 4 wheels off the ground, so it can turn more easily. This year, the robot was used for preliminary testing of line sensors and their programming. It is the shortest robot the Team has built. Play Breakaway with the 2010 Robot here!
