Seeking Engineers for a Community Service Opportunity with FIRST Robotics

INCOSE-LA is seeking system engineers who would be willing to help a local high school participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition. There is a need for mechanical, electrical, software and system engineers.

The FIRST Robotics Competition is a national engineering contest which immerses high school students in the exciting world of engineering. Teaming up with engineers from businesses and universities, students get a hands-on, inside look at the engineering profession. In six intense weeks, students and engineers work together to brainstorm, design, construct and test their "champion robot". With only six weeks, alljobs are critical path. The teams then compete in a spirited, no-holds-barred tournament complete with referees, cheerleaders and time clocks.

The partnerships developed between schools, businesses, and universities provide an exchange of resources and talent, highlighting mutual needs, building cooperation, and exposing students to new career choices. The result is a fun, exciting and stimulating environment in which all participants discover the important connection between classroom lessons and real world applications.

Each year, the competition is different, so returning teams always have a new challenge to look forward to. However, the details are kept secret until the unveiling at the Kick-Off workshop. This provides a high level of excitement as everyone sees the new challenge for the first time and ideas immediately begin forming in people's minds.

FIRST has a website at www.usfirst.org if you would like more information. The INCOSE LA website also has information that was presented at the January speaker meeting by Ric Roberts, a Systems Engineer from Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems. In addition to coaching his daughter’s team, the Beach Bots from Redondo Beach to a recent National Championship, Ric also has extensive ties to a number of other schools in the Southern California are who enter robots into the competition and are eager for the assistance and expertise that engineers can provide. The information posted on the INCOSE LA website includes Ric’s presentation, a short video clip of a recent competition and a list of schools in the Los Angeles area that sponsor teams.

If you are interested in participating, give Ric Roberts a call at (310) 616-1356 or email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .