11 Teams from Taiwan in 2019 FIRST Robotics Competition in Detroit

Eleven teams from Taiwan, led by Rene Cheng, the secretary-general of the Esun Robot Association, participated in the 2019 FIRST Robotics Competition in Detroit, Michigan in late April. “FIRST” is an acronym for: “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology”. The FIRST Robotics Competition began in 1992. Over the years, the range of ages at which students could enter the competition was widened, and it now comprises the FIRST Lego League Jr. World Festival Expo (FLL Jr) for ages 6 to 10; the FIRST Lego League World Festival (FLL) for ages 9 to 16; the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship (FTC ) for ages 12 to 18; and the FIRST Robotics Competition Championship (FRC ) for ages 14 to 18.

This is the second time that teams from Taiwan have participated in this competition, and 257 people from Taiwan – comprising the team members, coaches, teachers, and parents - attended this year’s competition at the Cobo Center in Detroit, joining more than 17,000 competing students from 37 countries. 

To be eligible to participate in the FRC section of this competition, Taiwan’s FRC team had to win its regional championship. That challenge required the team to set up robots that achieved specified functions of climbing, handling, and clamping plates, all within six weeks. The completed robots were then disassembled and transported to the venue where the team worked under tight time constraints re-assembling them for the competition.

The teams from Taiwan that participated in the 2019 FIRST Robotics World Championship in Detroit performed well: E Castle on the Moon won the FLL Jr. Cooperative Explorers Award; Haidong Moon Pioneer won the FLL Jr. Innovative Model Award; Go Moon won the FLL Jr. Building and Discovery Award; 7645–NK MTC won an FRC Highest Rookie Seed Award; Screw It won an FTC Judges Award; and Space CEO won a Robotic Performance Second place Award.

On behalf of Eric Huang, the Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Chicago, David Dong, Director of the Education Division, and Kevin Chen, the Deputy Director, presented congratulation certificates from President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Chen Chien-jen.

The teams and other members of the competing delegation from Taiwan thanked the President and Vice President for their interest and encouragement and thanked everyone at TECO in Chicago office for their assistance.

Photo:Haidong Moon Pioneer, winner of the FIRST Lego League Jr. Innovative Model Award.