Join Us via Video for FIRST Robotics Kansas City Regional Competition!

Join us March 16-17 from Hale Arena in Kansas City, Missouri and be part of the action as teams from across the Midwest compete in the FIRST Robotics Kansas City Regional Competition. Founded in 1989, FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is a unique varsity sport of the mind designed to help high-school-aged young people discover how interesting and rewarding the life of engineers and researchers can be. FRC stages short games played by remote-controlled robots. The robots are designed and built in six weeks (out of a common set of basic parts) by a team of 10 to 20 students and a handful of mentors. The students pilot the robots on the field as they participate in a series of challenges designed by Dean Kamen, Dr. Woodie Flowers, and a committee of engineers and other professionals.

FRC Regional events are typically held in university arenas. They involve 40 to 70 teams cheered by thousands of fans over two and a half days. A championship event caps the season. Referees oversee the competition. Judges present awards to teams for design, technology, sportsmanship and commitment to FIRST. FIRST redefines winning for these students. Teams are rewarded for excellence in design, demonstrated team spirit, gracious professionalism and maturity, and ability to overcome obstacles. Scoring the most points is a secondary goal. Winning means building partnerships that last.

We invite you and your students to be part of the excitement March 16-17! You can watch live streaming video of the competition at Hale Arena, or you can participate in or view interactive videoconference segments. There will be SIX (6) interactive programs that will be offered throughout the day, but we can schedule a videoconference with your school at any time. Ask questions of the teams in competition. See live events from the field of play. Catch up on competition events and results throughout the day. Interact with engineers and robot designers. Learn more about the FIRST Robotics Competitions that are held for high school and middle school students. For all the details about how to connect or participate, visit www.more.net/services/videostreaming/events.html. Times for the six programs are:

• Show 1: 9 to 10 a.m.—See the Opening Ceremonies and features described above.
• Show 2: 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.—See live qualifying matches from the competition and features described above.
• Show 3: 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.—It’s more qualifying matches live as well as features described above.
• Show 4: 1 to 1:45 p.m.-The qualifying matches continue along with features described above.
• Show 5: 2:15 to 3 p.m.–It’s the final qualifying matches of the day as well as features described above.
• Show 6: 4 to 5 p.m.—This program will include features described above as well as the live Friday Awards Ceremony.

Each program will be offered live via videoconferences, Internet web streaming and broadcast programming.

1. To enroll as a videoconference school, contact video@more.net or (573) 884-6986.
2. To watch the program live via the web or to watch archived programs via the web, surf your computer to http://www.more.net/services/videostreaming/events.html.
3. To view via broadcast television on Charter Cable in St. Louis County, tune in to CSD-TV on channel 22 at the program time.
4. Those joining via web stream, broadcast TV, and videoconference can e-mail their questions during the programs to roundtrips@clayton.k12.mo.us.

To help prepare your students for any program, you’ll find more information about FIRST Robotics at http://www.usfirst.org/. The website for the Kansas City competition is http://www.kcfirst.org/. If you have additional questions about program content, student participation or any other areas related to the events, please contact video@more.net or call (537) 884-6986.