Supporting next-generation engineers and innovators in science and technology in partnership with 'FIRST®'

Analog Devices announced that it will sponsor the competition as an honorable sponsor for the 2016 season of the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC®). Over 75,000 high school students from around the world are expected to participate in this competition, where they will gain practical experience over a six-week period by designing, building, programming, and testing robots to enter the 2016 FIRST STRONGHOLDSM competition with expert engineer mentors.

ADI plans to provide participating students with various tools to assist with seamless data collection and signal generation, in addition to sensors used for robot movement and balance maintenance. ADI employees will also donate their talents as mentors, judges, and coaches. Furthermore, ADI has established a webpage (http://www.analog.com/FIRST) where students can learn in detail how to use ADI products with their robots. FIRST is a non-profit organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen with the goal of raising youth interest in and promoting their participation in science and technology.

Vincent Roche, Chairman and CEO of Analog Devices, stated, “ADI has long been committed to supporting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education, and we are pleased to be selected as a partner for the 2016 season of the ‘FIRST® Robotics Competition.’” He added, “From talent donation activities such as mentorship to ongoing financial support and technology provision, ADI is proud to further expand its support for the ‘FIRST® Robotics Competition’ and empower the next generation of innovation leaders to create solutions and opportunities that can have a positive impact on human life and the world.”

Donate including student parts kits
ADI provides gyroscopes and inertial measurement units

This year, ADI is donating easy-to-use tools included in the 'FIRST Student Component Kit' to simplify code debugging and introduce the basics of electrical engineering. It also provides ADI gyroscopes that enable the measurement of robot movement and rotation accuracy, allowing student-built robots to perform more precise positioning in the field. In addition, ADI offers inertial measurement units consisting of a gyroscope, accelerometer, barometer, and magnetometer, housed in a small, robust form factor designed for robots.

Meanwhile, FIRST Chairman Donald E. Bosch Bossi stated, “FIRST is deeply grateful to Analog Devices for their continued support over the years,” and added, “As a global leader in technological innovation, Analog Devices is helping to inspire and lead the next generation that will drive invention and innovation worldwide, based on their extensive experience in new discoveries.”

At the recent FIRST Kickoff, teams took the first look at the FIRST STRONGHOLD game arena and challenge details. Using robots built by these next-generation inventors, each team will participate in 118 national and regional competitions based on robot efficiency, collaboration skills, and student aptitude. In FIRST STRONGHOLD, two alliances, each consisting of three robots, are placed on a quest to infiltrate the opposing alliance's fortress, neutralize the tower by throwing stones, and capture the opposing alliance's tower.