I'm writing a programming class for
students participating in the FIRST
© Robotics
Competition. I'm a programming mentor for FRC teams 972/Los Gatos, and
668/Pioneer HS, San Jose,
Calif. I've been a programming mentor since 2005, having retired from
Hewlett-Packard after twenty-eight years of engineering and management.
My last assignment was writing system
firmware for the HP SuperDome server, in C and assembly language.
If you have any suggestions, code samples, horror stories, I'd love to
hear them; If I use them in the class (live or Web) I'll credit your
team. Please contact me: g972|at|nelumbo.com.
Download
the class (v1.0.32) here.
First offers a suite of challenges to fit students from 6 years
of age through high school:
First
Robotics
Challenge is
a high school program where students need a shop to build their ~130 lb
(59 Kg) robot.
First
Tech Challenge allows
high-school students without a shop facility to compete in a
challenging program that is more affordable than the First Robotics
Challenge.
First
Lego League
"FLL" is aimed at students 9-14 ("pre high school"). Construction of a
programmable robot is academically and financially oriented to this
group.
Junior
First Lego League Ages 6-9: "T
o
inspire, excite, and introduce kids to the wonders of science,
technology, and engineering,"
Mentors
are needed for each of these programs!
If you are curious about First Robotics, watch the complete
2007 Kickoff Video.
It's long (91 minutes), but gives a great understanding of the goals
(and
enthusiasm) the Challenge exemplifies.
1,300 teams in 7 countries will simultaneously (and eagerly) watch the
corresponding
2008
kickoff Saturday, January 5, 2008.
