BALLSTON SPA — Robotics teams from the Capital Region and beyond competed at Ballston Spa High School in the 2022 Robot Rumble Off-Season Robotics Competition on Saturday.
FIRST Robotics teams from Ballston Spa, Shenendehowa, Shaker, and Colonie combined to organize the event. FIRST (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics competitions task teams of 15 students or more with raising funds, designing a team brand, and building and programming robots to perform tasks against competitors.
The FIRST programs allow students to gain real-world experience with engineering, learning how to construct a robot and utilize complex hardware and software.
Offseason events such as the Robot Rumble provide opportunities for teams to prepare for the FIRST Robotics Regional Competition, which will be held March 30 to April 1 at MVP Arena in Albany. The competition season begins in January. Competitions for elementary and middle school students will also be held in December and in January 2023.