(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)I’m thrilled to be part of a new phase of the partnership between Dean Kamen (opens in new tab)’s FIRST (opens in new tab) (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) organization and Microsoft (including the Microsoft Research Connections group). Last week, FIRST announced that Microsoft’s Kinect for Xbox 360 (opens in new tab) sensor and the Kinect for Windows SDK beta (opens in new tab) software will be included in the standard robotics Kit of Parts for the 2012 FIRST Robotics Competition (opens in new tab) (FRC) season.
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Dean Kamen, an American entrepreneur, inventor, and founder of FIRST, reveals Kinect as part of the 2012 FRC competition
FRC is a unique “Varsity Sport for the Mind,” which is designed to help young people discover the interesting and rewarding aspects of engineering and research, while challenging teams and their mentors to solve problems in a six-week timeframe by using a standard Kit of Parts and a common set of rules. The 2012 kit will include Kinect technology, enabling competitors to not just control the robot, but to “be the robot.”
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By combining the Kinect technology with robotics, competitors will be able to control their robots by using a natural user interface—with potentially no joystick, game controller, or other input device required. Teams will have the option of programming their robots to respond to custom gestures that their human teammates create, or by using default code and gestures. Kinect will be beta tested by using robots built by FIRST students in the coming weeks in preparation for the 2012 competition.
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“This is an awesome capability to incorporate into a robot,” said Bill Miller, director of FIRST Robotics Competition. “By working with Microsoft, we are able to provide FRC students with an additional high-level sensor capability, adding to the options for our students’ strategy on the field as well as delivering a unique robotics experience. This experience will take the competition to a new level, while also helping equip students with the skills and tools to innovate in the twenty-first century.”
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)During the 2011 season, 2,072 FRC teams, totaling 51,800 students, competed at 59 events in the United States, Canada, and Israel. Participants are eligible to apply for nearly (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)US$15 million in scholarships at more than 140 colleges and universities. An estimated 60,000 competitors will have access to Kinect technology in the 2012 competition.
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)“By putting the amazing capabilities of the Kinect sensor in students’ hands, FIRST is able to provide a compelling and powerful new technology for the teams,” said Tony Hey (opens in new tab), corporate vice president, Microsoft Research Connections. “With so many students already familiar with Kinect for Xbox 360 at home, in school, and lately even on their PCs via the Kinect for Windows SDK beta, I’m sure it will be a popular choice.”
We are honored to partner with the amazing FIRST organization and their thousands of student, educator, and parent participants. It is exciting to see so many young people inspired by these technologies and we look forward to being amazed by their creativity during the upcoming competition!
—Stewart Tansley (opens in new tab), Director of Natural User Interface, Microsoft Research Connections
Learn More
- FIRST Adds Kinect for Xbox 360 Technology to High-School Robotics Competition Tool Kit for 2012 (opens in new tab)
- FIRST (opens in new tab)
- Kinect for Windows SDK beta (opens in new tab)
- Kinect for Xbox 360 (opens in new tab)
- Natural User Interface at Microsoft Research Connections (opens in new tab)