Innovation & Technology

The Road to Boston: FIRST Robotics Teams Compete for a Spot at the New England Championship

Apr 10, 2014 1:00 PM ET

Campaign: Advancing STEM Education

Members of the UTC-sponsored FIRST Robotics Team 3525, the Nuts and Bolts of Fury, from Waterbury, Conn., make their way to the playing field during the Hartford District Competition held at Hartford Public High School.

Lisa Szewczul, vice president, Environment, Health & Safety, United Technologies Aerospace Systems, delivers opening remarks at the FIRST Hartford District Competition.

Members of FIRST Robotics Team 230, the Gaelhawks, from Shelton, Conn., get pumped up for their next match at the Hartford District FIRST Robotics event at Hartford Public High School. The UTC-sponsored team is mentored by three Sikorsky employees: Dale Bailey, Bob Lundberg, and Steven Spoldi.

Members of UTC-sponsored FIRST Robotics Team 181,The Birds of Prey, pose with their robot in their team’s pit at the FIRST Robotics Hartford District Competition.

It was a packed house at the FIRST Robotics Hartford District Competition held at Hartford Public High School. More than 20 UTC-sponsored teams participated in the tournament.

Drivers from opposing teams make their way to the playing field before the start of a match at the FIRST Robotics Hartford District Competition.

Members of UTC-sponsored Team 571, Team Paragon, from Windsor, Conn., drive their robot during a match at the FIRST Robotics Hartford District Competition.

Members of UTC-sponsored Team 4055, N.R.G (Northwestern Robotics Gearheads), pose for the camera before one of their matches at the FIRST Hartford District Competition.

Members of UTC-sponsored Team 1124, the Uberbots, from Avon, Conn., pose for a photo before competing in a match during the FIRST Hartford District Competition.

Employees from across UTC volunteered as judges at the FIRST Robotics Hartford District Competition. From left are: Martin Weichhardt, Director, UTC Commodity Management; Jessica Wong, Associate, UTC Operations Leadership Program; Jan Lin, Engineer, Pratt & Whitney; Aneil Hegde, Engineer, Pratt & Whitney; Ren Zheng, Engineer, Pratt & Whitney; and Suresh Sunderrajan, Manager, UTC Business Development. Wendy Atiyeh, Executive Assistant, UTC Aerospace Systems (not pictured), was also a judge.

April 10, 2014 /3BL Media/ - Students from all over Connecticut and surrounding states converged on Hartford Public High School recently to compete in the 2014 New England FIRST Robotics Hartford District Competition.

During the two-day competition, 40 teams, nearly 30 sponsored by UTC, competed in Aerial Assist, the official game of the 2014 FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) season. Much like a sporting event, cheering fans and team mascots filled the bleachers, showing support for their schools as robots scored goals.

UTC and its employees have been supporting FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science & Technology), a nonprofit organization founded by American inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen, for nearly 20 years. FIRST inspires students to look at science and technology in new ways via hands-on challenges that build STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) skills, knowledge, leadership and teamwork.

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About United Technologies Corporation
United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, provides high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit its website at www.utc.com, or follow the company on Twitter @UTC. For more information on UTC’s commitment to the community, visit www.utc.com/makethingsbetter.

The Road to Boston: FIRST Robotics Teams Compete for a Spot at the New England Championship

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