DID YOU KNOW THAT ANDERSON™ CONNECTORS ARE USED IN THE FIRST® ROBOTICS COMPETITION?


 

We have been a proud supporter of the FIRST® Robotics Competition since 2001!

FIRST® means For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC) is comprised of high school robotics teams in the “Ultimate Sport for the Mind”*.  This takes place each year with over 3,000 teams from more than 20 countries.  Teams work with a mentor to build an industrial-size robot in an intense six-week period to compete in multiple competitions completing a set of tasks with their robot. The individual districts have regional events with a final competition in St. Louis, Missouri.

 

We attended the New England FIRST® Robotics WPI District event and were inspired by the enthusiasm of the teams that attended.  The excitement and passion that we felt in the Harrington Auditorium was great to see from these high school students and their mentors.   It was uplifting to talk with the teams to see how they used our donated pink SB®50 connector in their robots.  They also had some of our other connectors like the Powerpole® PP75 attached to their batteries.  Our favorite part of attending this event was walking out to “The Pit” to see the teams in action working together on their robots.  They were just as excited to speak to us, as we were to learn about their robots and how we can aid them further.

 

It means so much to our Anderson team to see our donated SB®50 connectors in action.  We provide this connector to the robotic kits the teams use to build their robot.  The durability and electrical reliability of the SB®50 is highly regarded by the teams. If you are fortunate enough to visit one of the competitions, look closely at the robots for the “pink” SB®50.

 

In case you were wondering, the standard SB®50 connectors are not naturally molded in pink.  This color is unique to the FIRST® Robotics Competition robotic kits.  We came up with this unique color by being economical and environmental, by using our remaining color combination.  In this way, we can throw less out and repurpose color that is for a greater good.   The SB®50 is a compact connector that offers up to 120 amps. It is available in seven colors; yellow, black, orange, red, gray, blue, and green.  Unique to each color housing is a molded in key that only allows connectors of the same color to mate with each other.  This prevents different voltage systems from being accidently mated. (NOTE: SB®50 Black and Gray housings have the same keying features and can be intermated.)

 

One of the images from the competition that has stuck in our minds is an entire tackle box filled with our connectors! The authentic passion for Anderson® connectors by these FIRST® teams is contagious. Thank you to all of these teams for their excitement and ingenuity creating the FIRST® robots. You truly are an inspiration!  Thank you also to the mentors for encouraging this a very positive and engaging learning experience for the next generation of technology leaders!

 

We have enjoyed being a part of the  FIRST® Robotics program, it has been an eye opening and beneficial endeavor.  The program encourages students to pursue education and careers in STEM-related fields.  The challenges encountered during their involvement with FIRST® Robotics Competition, challenges their thinking, reasoning, teamwork, investigative and creative skills; which can be used in all areas of life.  Our investment in the FIRST® Robotics Competition enables us to invest in the future innovators of tomorrow.

 

About FIRST®

(https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc)

FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, NH, the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.“

 

The mission of FIRST® is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting Mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership”.

 

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What is a FIRST® Robotics Competition
*https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc/what-is-first-robotics-competition

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Marketing Department

Pictured above: The competition between teams

Pictured above: Pink SB®50 inside a robot

Pictured above: Tackle box filled wtih Anderson™ connectors