FIRST Robotics Competition
by FIRST India
Build an industrial-scale robot
FIRST Robotics Competition is a competition by FIRST India for students in Grade 9 to 12, open to students across India.
Mode
In-Person
Eligibility
Grade 9 to 12
Fee
Registration fee applies
Duration
One season, from the January kickoff through the competition events the team enters
Format
Team · Teams of 50
Time needed
A heavy season-long team commitment. The game is released in January and teams design, build and program a large robot to a fixed deadline, typically meeting several times a week through the build period, before travelling to the events they have entered.
About this opportunity
FIRST Robotics Competition is the senior tier of the FIRST robotics family, for students aged 14 to 18. Starting from a Kit of Parts, a team of up to 50 students with at least two adult mentors designs, programs and builds an industrial-sized robot weighing up to 55 kilograms, then plays a themed game as part of a three-team alliance.
The game is released in January each year and the whole season turns on it: teams get the rules on kickoff day and have a fixed build period before competition. A match runs a 30 second autonomous period on the team's own code, then two minutes of driver control. Teams may program in Java, Python, C++ and other languages. Alongside the robot, each team builds an identity, raises the funds it needs, and works to advance STEM in its community, which the awards recognise.
FIRST India lists FIRST Robotics Competition among the programmes it supports. Teams register through the global FIRST team dashboard rather than a separate Indian portal, and choose the events they will attend from the international calendar. More than three thousand teams take part worldwide.
Because a team designs and builds a large robot to a fixed deadline, this is the most demanding of the FIRST programmes, and it suits a school or community group that can commit mentors, workshop space and fundraising across the season.
Eligibility
- Grade level
- Grade 9 to 12
- Age range
- 14 to 18 years
- Location
- Nationwide
Prerequisites
- Student aged 14 to 18 during the season
- Membership of a team of up to 50 students with at least two adult mentors
- Team registration with FIRST through the global team dashboard
- Access to workshop space and tools to build a robot of up to 55 kilograms
Open to teams of up to 50 students aged 14 to 18, roughly grades 9 to 12, with at least two adult mentors. Teams may be school based or community based, and register through the global FIRST team dashboard rather than a separate Indian portal.
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Academic details
Difficulty: Advanced
Rewards and recognition
Prizes
Event awards
Awards recognise robot design and performance alongside the team's outreach, sustainability and community work, and FIRST also awards scholarships through its partner network.
Recognition
International competition
Skills your child builds
Highlights
- Industrial-scale robots of up to 55 kilograms built from a Kit of Parts
- A fixed build period after the January game release
- Three-team alliance play in the spirit of Coopertition
- More than 3,000 teams worldwide
Rounds & format
The season turns on a single January release. The game is revealed at kickoff, teams receive the Kit of Parts, and a fixed build period follows in which the robot must be designed, built and programmed. Teams then compete at the events they entered. A match runs a 30-second autonomous period, in which the robot runs only on the team's own program, followed by two minutes of driver control, played as part of a three-team alliance. Strong teams advance through their event to championship-level play.
How entries are judged
Match play is scored by referees against the published game rules, with alliance results deciding event rankings and playoff seeding. Judged awards are decided separately, on the team's design process, engineering documentation, robot construction, outreach and sustainability, and on the FIRST Core Values, so a team can take a major award without winning the most matches.
Selection process
Entry is open to any team that registers with FIRST and enters an event; there is no qualifying round beforehand. Advancement within an event is decided by match results and alliance selection, and judged awards are decided by the judging panel.
How to apply
- 1Form a team of up to 50 students with at least two adult mentors
- 2Register the team with FIRST through the team dashboard at firstinspires.org
- 3Select the competition events the team will attend from the FIRST event calendar
- 4Build and program the robot from the Kit of Parts after the January game release, then compete
Fees & financial support
Fee details
FIRST Robotics Competition charges a team registration fee and a fee per event, set by FIRST globally and paid through the FIRST team dashboard. FIRST India does not publish an India-specific fee for this programme, and teams also meet the cost of robot parts beyond the Kit of Parts, travel and accommodation, which is why most teams fundraise.
Frequently asked questions
Is FIRST Robotics Competition free?
No, a registration fee applies. Check the organizer's official page for the current amount.
Who can participate in FIRST Robotics Competition?
Students in Grade 9 to 12. Children aged 14 to 18.
What will my child gain from FIRST Robotics Competition?
Design, build and program an industrial-scale robot of up to 55 kg. Work from a Kit of Parts to a fixed deadline, as engineers do. Play a themed game in three-team alliances against other teams. Part of a global programme with more than 3,000 teams worldwide. Mentored by adults from engineering and industry across the season.
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