Expect to hear a lot of trash talk this weekend at SUNY Poly's Utica / Marcy site as the university hosts the "first ever FIRST Robotics Championships."

On Saturday and Sunday, January 16 and 17, 2016, age-specific LEGO League competitions will take place between teams working to accomplish specific tasks or overcome challenges using LEGO robots that they design, build, and operate.

Children ages nine through fourteen will compete on Saturday in the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) "Trash Trek" championships.  that will create their own LEGO robots designed to collect, sort, reuse, and otherwise handle trash. Team sign-ins begin at 7:30am.  Opening ceremonies scheduled to begin at 12:30pm at the Wildcat Field House on the SUNY Poly Campus.

The FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) takes place on Sunday.  In the FTC teams of high school students will compete in the FTC "REQ-Q" Regional Championships to create robots designed to operate "in mountain rescue-style missions, including resetting beacons and delivering climbers to a shelter."  Opening ceremonies on Sunday take place at 10:00am.

LEGO League competitions at SUNY Poly have taken place since 2007, organized by CNY FIRST, which became an official partner with US FIRST in 2010.  Since then the CNY FIRST committee has grown to help new teams form, encouraging more students in the areas of science, technology, engineering, (art), and math (STEAM/STEM).

SUNY Poly, then known as SUNY IT, hosted Robotics Weekends in 2013 and 2014.

This year's events are free and open to the public.  Parking on January 16-17, 2016 is available in Lots B and C.  The Utica/Marcy campus is located at: 100 Seymour Road in Utica, New York  13502.

 

 

 

 

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