Captain 365 MOE, FIRST State Robotics, Wilmington, DE
        1st Selected 4433 Smokin' Motors, Conrad Weiser High School Robesonia, 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:This team displayed good sportsmanship with alliance and opposing teams alike. Their enthusiasm was infectious; they were able to laugh when their robot struggled in the end game. When they came to the meet, they came to compete and even though the match didn't last a while they still ended with a laugh and a smile.

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:Through their scholarship and demonstrations; thousands of people agree on Twitter that this team makes you GREEN with ENVY.

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 impressed the judges with their simple clean modular design. Their innovative design helped to smoke the competition. They prepared and printed a plethora of precision purple parts for enhance their robot.

Winner: 4433 Smokin' Motors, Robesonia, PA

2nd Place: 365 MOE       3rd Place: 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 illuminating hats shone they way to elegant design. Their chassis cut it's way through the field like a boat in the water. Based on their design, this team does not think in the box.

Winner: 7244 Out of the Box from Thorndale, PA

2nd Place: 7055 Cruzin' Comets Blue     3rd Place: 118 Steel Hornets

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 was well organized & stood out amoung the others. Their design process was documented to the smallest details. When it comes to notebooks this team is a true Guru.

Winner: 4347 NanoGurus from Morris Plains, NJ

2nd Place: 4433 Smokin' Motors      3rd Place: 8528 Rhyme Know Reason

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:

Not Awarded

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 competitive in every aspect. They have a strong foundation of public service and outreach within and outside the FIRST community and are making an impact through STEM with young children, seniors & veterans. They have assembled all the elements required for a role model team.

Winner: 3113 Some Disassembly Required, Glenelg, MD

2nd Place: 4433 Smokin' Motors      3rd Place: 365 MOE

The Judges Award is given at the discretion of the judges to a team they have encountered whose unique efforts, performance or dynamics merit recognition, yet the team does not fit into any of the existing award categories. Here is what the judges had to say:

There are a few golden rules that you can count on throughout your life, one of which is "Do what you say you are goiing to do." This team's actions speak a little louder than their sometimes awkward silences. What they said, was "We always finish in the top 10." What they did, was finish FOURTH!.

Winner: 6613 Yaliens, Cherry Hill, NJ