Durham College and UOIT to host international robotics competition

High school student-programmed robots will battle in Aerial AssistSMshowdown

OSHAWA, ONTARIO – Forty-eight high school robotics teams from across Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Michigan and New York State will take part in a three-day robotics showdown during the FIRST® Robotics Canada (FRC) Greater Toronto East Regional competition. The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Durham College (DC) will host the event at the schools’ shared Oshawa campus from Thursday, March 6 to Saturday, March 8.

More than 1,000 students are expected to take part in the competition. Participants will demonstrate their engineering skills and knowledge using the Aerial AssistSM program as they contend for a coveted spot at the FRC World Championship taking place in St. Louis, Missouri in April.

The Mayor of Oshawa, John Henry, will be joined by Sandra Bickford, director, Ministry of Education, Student Success and Learning; DC President Don Lovisa; and UOIT’s Dean of Engineering and Applied Science, Dr. Talochan Sidhu, at the event’s opening ceremonies on Friday, March 7.

Practice rounds begin on March 6, followed by qualifying rounds on March 7 with elimination rounds being held on March 8. Students will also have the opportunity to fine-tune their robots in DC’s state-of-the-art, on-campus machine shops. The event is free and open to the public.

Two competing alliances will guide their robots in an attempt to score the most goals during a two-minute-and-30-second match. Competitors will also be recognized for robot design excellence, sportsmanship and teamwork.

The FRC Greater Toronto East Regional is the second of seven national qualifying competitions across Canada and is part of For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), an international, not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring young people’s interest and participation in science and technology.

Where:
Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre gymnasiums
DC/UOIT shared Oshawa campus
2000 Simcoe Street North

When:
Media is encouraged to attend during the following times:

Friday, March 7:

  • Opening ceremonies: 8:30 a.m.
  • Qualification matches: 9 a.m. to noon; 1 to 5:45 p.m.

Saturday, March 8:

  • Final rounds: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
  • Awards ceremony: 4:30 p.m.

Parking:
Enter off Simcoe Street North or Conlin Road and proceed to Founders 3 parking lot. Follow the signs to the CRWC.

For more information, please visit the official FRC Greater Toronto East Regional event website.

-30-

Media contact:
Bryan Oliver
UOIT
Communications and Marketing
905.721.8668 ext. 6709
289.928.3653 (cell)
bryan.oliver@uoit.ca

Michelle Roebuck
Durham College
Communications and Marketing

michelle.roebuck@durhamcollege.ca