The University of Iowa College of Engineering, Rockwell Collins, Inc., and the Center for Energy Workforce Development will welcome more than 3,000 high school and middle school students from across the United States when they host the 2015-2106 North FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Super Regional Championship robotics competition March 17-19 at the US Cellular Center, Cedar Rapids, IA.

One of four U.S. venues, the North FTC Super Regional Championship is composed of the top 72 teams from some 900 that competed in earlier rounds held in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Virginia, and Wisconsin during the 2015-2016 season.

The season will culminate in the FTC World Championship, April 27-30 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Mo.

Teams consist of up to 15 middle and high school students, who work with the guidance of adult coach and mentors. Students design, build and program robots capable of maneuvering across a game field and placing plastic blocks into pendulum goals.

The tentative competition schedule is:

    Thursday, March 17, team check in, inspection and judging.
    Friday, March 18, opening ceremonies and qualification matches.
    Saturday, March 19, qualification matches, semi-finals, alliance selection, finals and closing ceremonies.

In collaboration with Official National Sponsor, Rockwell Collins, the UI has organized and hosted FTC in Iowa since 2010. Iowa activities have included workshops, training sessions, kick-off events and competition events for the FTC teams located in Iowa and Nebraska.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1989 by Segway inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology. For more, see: www.usfirst.org.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, contact Rebecca Whitaker in advance at rebecca-whitaker@uiowa.edu or 319-244-8561.