Company Announces Sponsorship for FIRST Robotics Competition

The FIRST Robotics Competition Silver Supplier level designates a contribution between $10,000 and $50,000. Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions, Inc provided lead screws and anti-backlash nuts for the 2011 FRC Kit of Parts which was distributed to more than 2,100 teams of high-school students.

"With its generous contribution and ongoing support to the FIRST Robotics Competition at the highest Silver Supplier level, Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions makes it possible for us to turn the FIRST vision of inspiring young people's interest and participation in science and technology into a reality," said FIRST president, Jon Dudas. "The participation of innovative companies such as Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions is a major reason why FIRST continues to experience phenomenal growth."

By providing components for the competition, FIRST suppliers are putting the latest technology in the hands of students, giving them the opportunity to apply the same tools used by professional scientists and engineers and ultimately helping them learn real-world skills they will carry into the workplace.

"Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions is proud to continue its support of the First Robotics Competition. This is a perfect event to develop the science and engineering skills needed for our future technology leaders", said Dan Montone, Marketing Director for Haydon Kerk.

On Jan. 8, FIRST teams were shown the playing field and received a Kit of Parts made up of motors, batteries, a control system, a PC and a mix of automation components - but no instructions. Working with Mentors, students have six weeks to design, build, program and test their robots to meet the season's engineering challenge. Once these young inventors create a robot, their teams participate in competitions that measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration and the determination of students.

In the FRC "LOGO MOTION™" robotics game, two alliances of three teams will compete on a 27-by-54-foot field with poles, attempting to earn points by hanging as many triangle, circle and square logo pieces as possible. Bonus points will be earned for each robot that can hang and assemble logo pieces to form the FIRST logo. Robots can also deploy Mini-Bots to climb vertical poles for a chance to earn additional points.

FRC is an annual competition that helps students to discover the excitement of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and the rewards a career in STEM can bring. In 1992, the FIRST Robotics Competition began with 28 teams and a single 14-by-14-foot playing field in a New Hampshire high school gym. This season, a projected 2,073 teams - including 414 rookie teams - will participate.

More than 50,000 students from the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Israel, Mexico, Turkey, and the U.K. will compete in 48 regional events in the U.S., Canada and Israel, as well as nine district competitions and one state championship in Michigan ? all leading up to the 2011 FIRST Championship at the Edward Jones Dome, April 27-30, in St. Louis, Mo. This season, participating FRC high school students are eligible to apply for close to $15 million in scholarships from leading universities and colleges.

Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions, Inc - www.haydonkerk.com