Final
Weekend At State Fair Included FIRST Robotics Competition
![Photo of robots performing competition task with plastic bins](../images03/statefair_robotics2.jpg) |
Robots
perform skilled manuevers with plastic bins. |
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Robotics competition
was a highlight of the weekend at the 2003 Maryland State Fair that
concluded September 1, on the state fairgrounds, Timonium, Md.
Within the NASA/Goddard
tent, 19 teams from five states and the District of Columbia pitted
their talents and creative energy to compete for bragging rights,
scholarship money and an opportunity to improve their skill level
under real competition. For the last three days, the crowds were
large and seemed to enjoy witnessing teams compete with robots they
had designed and built.
"We have
three goals for appearing at the state fair," said Mike
Wade, Goddard coordinator of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition
of Science and
![Photo of Mr. Wade coordinating robotic competition at Maryland State Fair.](../images03/statefair_wade.jpg) |
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Mike
Wade coordinating robotic competition at Maryland State Fair.
Photos by Chris Gunn/293 |
Technology).
"This is an opportunity to promote FIRST to the general public,
generate interest to create new teams, and an opportunity for other
members to learn to operate their robot in a competition setting,"
said Wade.
Founded by Dean
Kamen, FIRST was created to inspire an appreciation of science and
technology in young people, their schools and communities. Because
of the continuing efforts of Mike Wade, robot competition at the
Maryland State Fair has continued to grow each year. According to
Mike, it is a great opportunity for the participants as well as
the spectators.
This year there
were daily demonstrations of robots that have previously competed
in regional and national FIRST competitions. The final weekend included
a three-day competition. There was an awards ceremony on the final
day of competition and each team was awarded a plaque for participating.
The next locally
scheduled event for the robots will be at the 3rd Annual NBC4 Digital
Edge Expo, September 13 and 14 at the new Washington Convention
Center.
For more information
about FIRST Robotics you can contact Mike Wade at 6-9101. You can
also check out the FIRST web site at http://www.usfirst.org/
or the local web site at http://www.mitc.org/first/.
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