Captain 4347 NanoGurus, NanoGurus robotics, Morris Plains, NJ
        1st Selected 6378 Jaybots, Central Columbia High School, Bloomsburg, PA
            2nd Selected 8645 Robotic Doges, Laurel Highlands Education and Robotics, Hollsopple, PA

The Motivate Award recognizes outstanding team spirit shown though costumes and outfits, team support, and other methods of standing out and raising attention. Teams that reach out to their schools and community to raise awareness of FIRST and their FTC efforts have done so in a variety of cool and inventive methods - this winner is no exception.  Here is what the judges had to say:The three primary finalists for this award had strong team spirit and their outfits included primary colors - red, yellow, or blue. Many teams reached high to to deposit balls; our winner took a bird's-eye view with its name. Our winner may have been the most comfortably dressed for this event.

The Connect Award is a bit different than the Motivate Award. Winners of the Connect Award have done a great deal of community outreach not only to spread the word about FIRST but specifically to include engineers, scientists, and other technology professionals into their outreach efforts. This creates connections between teams, FIRST, and the professional world that can last years beyond their participation in FTC. Connect Award winners also develop and execute plans to fund their team including clear goals and objectives - including how they can give back to their community in the future.  Here is what the judges had to say:This team as spread FIRST to an INTERNATIONAL audience. They have brought their veteran experience to our nation's heroes. When it comes to Connect, instead of silver, they're taking the gold!

The Rockwell Collins Innovate Award is robot specific. It celebrates teams who come up with innovate solutions to the Game Challenge that most others have overlooked. These solutions can't just look good - they've got to work... at least most of the time. Historically, some of the most innovative breakthroughs in science and technology have come when fresh thinking is applied to a known problem. This year's Rockwell Collins Innovate Award winners demonstrated that type of thinking. Here is what the judges had to say:

This team's efforts are by no means small. In terms of innovation, this team connected all the dots. By now you must be all ears.

Winner: Team 4856, Minnie MASH from Chester Springs, PA

2nd Place: Team 5484, Enderbots      3rd Place: Team 6964, Team Igutech

We are happy that PTC has offered to sponsor the PTC Design Award. The intent of this award is to expand the challenge, inspiring teams to incorporate industrial design into their robots. These elements can be shown in the simplicity of the design as it applies to the tasks, the look and feel of the robot, and how the design allows us to think of robots in new ways. The Design aspects must serve a function - but they should also differentiate the robot in a unique fashion - not an easy task with a limited set of parts and game challenge. Here is what the judges had to say:

This team's wheels pointed them in the right direction. Their 3-D printer got them RED-y. Their clean design will keep them from being FIRED.

Winner: Team 7423, Flaming Phoenix from Kennett Square, PA

2nd Place: Team 4347, NanoGurus      3rd Place: Team 8645, Robotic Doges

Every team at this event has had to think - hopefully a lot. The Think Award recognizes the team that has successfully thought, organized, and documented their journey from their starting point to their final design. The engineering notebook is the record of this journey. Just like in real life, teams that can document their process have the best chance at learning from it and improving on it. Here is what the judges had to say:

This team's notebook is exemplary, made even more impressive since they only had a single returning team member. The judges especially liked page 194-A. Unlike their name, their book is not so small but it is big on detail.

Winner: Team 4347, NanoGurus from Morris Plains, NJ

2nd Place: Team 5421, RM'd and Dangerous      3rd Place: Team 7314, Sab-BOT-age

The Control Award celebrates a team that uses sensors and software to enhance the robot’s functionality on the field. This award is given to the team that demonstrates innovative thinking in the control system to solve game challenges such as autonomous operation, enhancing mechanical systems with intelligent control, or using sensors to achieve better results on the field. The control component should work consistently on the field. The team’s Engineering Notebook should contain details about the implementation of the software, sensors, and mechanical control. Here is what the judges had to say:

This team ruled the competition in autonomous mode. This team's gears had all their teeth. This team turned out to be the BIG DOGS of the day.

Winner: Team 8645, Robotic Doges from Hollsopple, PA

2nd Place: Team 7314, Sab-BOT-age      3rd Place: Team 3113, Some Disassembly Required

The Inspire Award is the highest award given by FTC. The winner of the Inspire Award is automatically eligible for advancement to the next tournament level. The Inspire Award winner is the 'prototype' for what we'd like to see all teams achieve as part of the FIRST Tech Challenge. They do many of the things mentioned in the other awards. The difference is that they've tied these together in a comprehensive manner resulting in success in the competition, outreach to the community, robot design, team spirit, and engineering accomplishment. That's a tall order but we've got some great candidates for this award today. Here is what the judges had to say:

This team was Really Motivated. They were not upstream without a paddle. They didn't throw CAUTION to the wind.