And They’re Off: Robots Built by High School Students Headed for Car Racing-Themed Competition

2008 New Jersey FIRST Robotics Contest Just Weeks Away STATEWIDE, N.J., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ — After gearing up over the past six weeks designing and building their robots and plotting their game strategy, more than 2,000 high school students from dozens of high schools will ship their machines today to the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton for the 12th annual New Jersey FIRST Robotics Competition, sponsored by Johnson
& Johnson. This year’s contest, dubbed “FIRST Overdrive” for its car racing-like characteristics, takes place Feb. 29 and March 1, 2008.

During the two-day event, the sophisticated, autonomously and
remote-controlled robots will compete in a series of qualifying matches
before the quarter-finals and final matches on Saturday afternoon. The
FIRST competition is about more than outscoring opponents, though. Teams
are judged on design, team spirit, professionalism and ability to overcome
problems. FIRST enables students to explore a professional field not
commonly experienced at the high-school level.

FIRST, the acronym of For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and
Technology, is an international initiative intended to spark an
appreciation of science and technology in young people established by the
accomplished inventor Dean Kamen. Since its inception in 1989, FIRST has
grown into an international movement. This year more than 37,500 high
school students comprising 1,500 teams from across the United States and
abroad will compete in 41 regional competitions leading up to the 2008
FIRST Championship at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, April 17-19.

“By participating in FIRST, students acquire skills and encounter
situations that give them a real feel for many types of careers in
science-related fields,” said FIRST Regional Director Randy Schaeffer.
“Students come to appreciate the excitement of technological innovation.
From electrical engineering to genomics and nanotechnology, these kids have
countless options.”

“FIRST provides an exhilarating competitive experience that motivates
teens,” said Sheri McCoy, Worldwide Chairman, Surgical Care Group, Johnson
& Johnson, who leads the Corporation’s sponsorship of the FIRST
Competition. “The skills they acquire in communication, teamwork, critical
thinking and troubleshooting are mandatory in today’s technologically
driven economy.”

The New Jersey FIRST Robotics Competition is free and open to the
public. Visitors can enjoy the excitement and watch the high schoolers on
Friday, February 29 and Saturday, March 1 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The
“FIRST Overdrive” game will feature robots, which have been designed to
race around a track knocking down 40-inch inflated balls and moving them
around the track, passing them either over or under a 6-foot, 6-inch
overpass.

New Jersey FIRST gratefully acknowledges the long-standing support of
Johnson & Johnson as its sponsor. The 2008 competition marks the 12th
straight year of Johnson & Johnson’s leadership support. Other New Jersey
FIRST sponsors are: ADP, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, MetLife, New Jersey
Institute of Technology, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and The Port
Authority of NY & NJ.

New York City/New Jersey FIRST! is based at New Jersey Institute of
Technology in Newark. For more information on starting a FIRST team or
sponsoring a team, call Randy Schaeffer, regional director, (973) 596-3234.

SOURCE New Jersey FIRST Robotics Competition
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