FIRST Robotics Event At LMC Saturday

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This Saturday brings the 2020 season kickoff event for FIRST Robotics at Lake Michigan College. Kickoff Program Planner Tim Dunaj tells WSJM News 23 FIRST Robotics teams from local high schools will be at the Grand Upton Hall starting at 8:30 a.m. to hear from some speakers and to talk with local business owners. At 10:30 there will be a livestream from FIRST Robotics leaders.

“At that point in time, the students will find out what their challenge is for the season, and they will begin to brainstorm, design, build, and program a robot to meet the challenge requirements,” Dunaj said.

Dunaj says once the students learn what this year’s challenge will be, they’ll get to work on planning their projects. He only has some clues about this year’s challenge, like its name.

“This year, it is Infinite Recharge, and they’ve tied all four of these programs for the current season as a joint venture between FIRST Robotics and Lucas Films. So, the teaser video that has come out kind of talks a little bit about or alludes to something that might be Star Wars themed.”

But the exact challenge won’t be known until the livestream. The next competition will be in March at St. Joseph High School. Dunaj says FIRST Robotics teaches the students about things that include engineering, problem solving, networking, team building, and resume building. Saturday’s event from 8:30 to 2 will be open to the public.