The Story of Team Chaos

FIRST

FIRST is a small word with a huge meaning, at least to the students involved in First Robotics Competition (FRC). FIRST is an acronym meaning For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. The mission of FIRST is to provide innovative programs that peak student's interest in the fields of science and technology while also providing leadership, self-confidence, and life skills.

FIRST was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen, an entrepreneur and inventor. His goal is to help young students to discover career opportunities in science and technology. Dean Kamen is also President of DEKA Research & Development Corporation. DEKA is a company that strives on developing new technologies that encompass a wide range of applications. As an inventor, Dean Kamen has developed HomeChoice, a portable dialysis machine, IBOT Mobility System, which is a wheel chair that is able to go up stairs, and the Segway Human Transporter.

The FIRST Robotics Competition has reached over 32,500 high school students on 1,300 teams in 37 regional competitions. FRC allows students the opportunity to work with professionals to solve an engineering design problem in a competitive predetermined task. Students are given hands-on-experience, which is not given in the regular classroom setting. This is a "sport for the mind."

"To create a world where science and technology are celebrated.... where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes" - Dean Kamen

Pearl River County Robotics

Pearl River County Robotics team is part of the FIRST program. Pearl River County Robotics consists of high school students from Pearl River County's Picayune High School and Pearl River Central (FYI: http://picayunerobotics.datastar.net was created before Picayune and Pearl River Central joined) in Mississippi. FIRST, an acronym for "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology," is an international phenomenon, which pairs of high schools with corporate engineering sponsors to design and build a robot that is capable of performing predetermined tasks. Working with engineer mentors, faculty, and community business leaders provide students the exposure to the types of occupations available for engineers or technology based careers.

In 2004, two high school rivals, Pearl River County High School and Picayune Memorial High School became one to form Team 1421. The first year at Lone Star Regional, Team chaos received the Highest Rookie Seed Award. Each year Team Chaos has at least made it to the quarterfinals. Last year, Team Chaos attended Lone Star Regional in Houston, TX. With the help of their alliances, Team Chaos became Lone Star Regional Winner. Being a regional winner qualified the team to attend the Championship Event in Atlanta, Ga. The students were able to see robot creations from all over the world. The highlight of the trip was meeting Dean Kamen, the founder of FIRST, Woodie Flowers, FIRST Executive Advisory Board Vice Chairman, and Pappalardo, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

This year the Picayune High School members sponsored four FIRST Lego League (FLL) teams at Nicholson Elementary. The goal of this program was to develop a mentor program between Picayune High School students and elementary students in which the high school students share the knowledge they gained from their mentors. These four FLL teams did extremely well for their first competition by placing first and second in Teamwork and second in Project Presentation.

At the present, the team is preparing for "Overdrive." This game is a competition for teams to complete counterclockwise laps around a central barrier while manipulating large 40-inch diameter "Trackballs" over and under overpasses to score additional points.

Team Chaos will be attending the Bayou Regional in New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 27-29, 2008.

Team Chaos is funded by generous sponsors and selfless volunteers and engineers.

This site, http://picayunerobotics.datastar.net, is the official site for FIRST Team # 1421, Team Chaos, and all of its activities.