(Atlanta – April 18, 2007) FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) utilized the versatility of the Georgia World Congress Center campus once again this month with their annual robotics competition. The FIRST Championship is the premier student robotics competition and celebration of science and technology. Students work with professional engineers to design and build robots. The robots then battle in high-tech competitions. With the proximity of Building C to the Georgia Dome, the GWCC campus is the perfect location for the competition. The pit areas are located in the C halls, where students build their robots. Then with a short walk through the docks, students can take their creations directly into the arena at the Georgia Dome for competition.

Here for the fourth time in 2007, FIRST also utilizes Centennial Olympic Park for an ice cream social with the students and planned to use the park for their closing ceremonies. With impending rain on the horizon, the flexibility and cohesiveness of the campus was demonstrated when the location of the event was easily moved to a hall in the Georgia World Congress Center.

FIRST will return to Atlanta in 2008 and 2009 with more robotics excitement. It takes over 60,000 volunteers to make FIRST happen and this year there were 1,305 teams competing with over 32,500 high-school students participating and seven countries represented. The robots are built in 6 weeks from a common kit of party provided by FIRST and the robots weigh up to 120 pounds when completed.

 

 

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