The Midwest Regional FIRST Robotics Competition is an international, intense three-day event showcasing robots developed and operated by teams of high school students.  The competing robots are the result of 6-1/2 weeks of high school students and professional engineering/science mentors teaming up to solve the engineering challenges presented in the Season Chalenge/Robot Game.  The robots represent the product of focused brainstorming, real-world teamwork, dedicated mentoring, and managing project deadlines.  The mentor/student interaction is integral to the FRC program.  It takes a lot of hard work to develop a competitive robot, and it shows when you see them in action at the Midwest Regional.

FRC robots are big, measuring up to 5 feet tall and weighing 120+ pounds.  In the competition, two alliances (red and blue) each composed of three robot teams play each other on fields that are the size of a basketball half-court.  All day Friday through Saturday morning a series of Qualifying Rounds matches are played between randomly generated alliance teams to determine the top eight seeded individual teams.  These top eight individual teams will now select two other teams that they would like to join them in forming an alliance for the Elimination Rounds matches.  Saturday afternoon starts off with the eight alliances competing in the Quarterfinal Matches, four alliances will move on to the Semi-final Matches, then the Finals where two alliances will vie for the title of Midwest Regional Champion!

Dubbed the “grand-daddy” of all FIRST Regional Events, Midwest is a highly competitive, exciting and fun premier spectacular!  It is a spectator-friendly competition environment that has the feel of both a major sporting event and a rock concert, complete with cheering fans, crazy costumes, special lighting, up-beat music, a large video wall, and energetic emcees/announcers.  In essence, the Midwest Regional is a celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics!

Like all FIRST Robotics Competition events, Midwest is free and open to the public!  If you do plan to attend, please remember to wear closed-toed shoes and bring along a pair of safety glasses so that you can visit the pit area to meet the robots and the students who built them.  And remember…our team members, coaches, mentors, volunteers and Regional staff are all very friendly and will be happy assist you and to answer any questions that you may have.

We invite all of you will join us at the UIC Pavilion on April 4th and 5th for the 2014 Midwest Regional Competition.  Come and see what our student can do!  Be prepared to be amazed!