Midlothian High School Robotics Team to Compete in Pittsburgh |

The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is a unique varsity sport of the mind designed to help high-school-aged students discover get hands on design and manufacturing experience in a competition that feels more like the NCAA Final Four than a science fair.  The FIRST Robotics Competition challenges teams of young people and their mentors to solve a common problem in a six-week timeframe using a standard "kit of parts" and a common set of rules. The competition is designed by world-famous inventor Dean Kamen, MIT professor emeritus Dr. Woodie Flowers, and a committee of creatively minded innovators.

This year's matches will be a series of three-on-three games that look like a cross between a gladiator battle and a game of tic-tac-toe.  In a nutshell, it looks like one part rugby, one part chess match, and one part rock concert thrown in for good measure.  (And the crowds cheer
accordingly - if it weren't for all the toolboxes, you'd think you were at the Super Bowl!) 

An approximate agenda is as follows:

Thursday, March 10, 2011
8:30 am          Pits Open
10:00 am - 5:00 pm       Practice Matches
(12:00 - 1:00 pm         Lunch)

Friday, March 11, 2011
9:00 am          Welcome and Opening Ceremonies
9:30 am - 4:30 pm        Qualification Matches
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm       Awards Ceremony
(12:00 - 1:00 pm         Lunch)

Saturday, March 12, 2011
9:00 am                 Opening Ceremonies
9:30 am - 11:30 am      Qualification Matches
1:00 pm - 4:15 pm       Elimination Matches
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm        Awards & Closing Ceremonies
(12:00 - 1:00 pm         Lunch)

For more information visit www.usfirst.org