The Design Award expands on this year's 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 in how the design allows us to think of robots in new ways. The design aspect must serve a function - but they should also differentiate the robot in a unique fashion.

 

Here is what the judges had to say:

This team demonstrated a thorough, iterative, documented manufacturing process. The robot incorporated multiple unconventional materials. Their cutting edge design showed that they have infinite possibilities!

Winner: Team 9791 Divide by Zero

2nd Place: Team 12538 eBorg Robotics      3rd Place: Team 7149 Enforcers

The Collins Aerospace Innovate Award celebrates a team that has the ingenuity and inventiveness to make their designs come to life. This award is given to the team that the Judges feel has the most innovative and creative robot design solution to the FIRST Tech Challenge game. Elements of this award include elegant design, robustness and 'out of the box' thinking with regard to design. This award may address the design of the whole robot or some sub-assembly component of the robot. The creative component needs to work consistently, but a robot does not have to work all of the time during matches to be considered for this award. The team's engineering notebook showed the design of the component(s) and the team's robot, and clearly explains how the team arrived at their solution.

 

Here is what the judges had to say:

This team was really geared up for the competition. Their rebuilt drivetrain went back to the basics. The way they tripled their lifting power required unique logic!

Winner: Team 9872 (In)Formal Logic

2nd Place: Team 12538 eBorg Robotics      3rd Place: Team 7149 Enforcers

The Connect Award is presented to the team that the Judges' feel most connected with their local community, FIRST and the business world. The best team is more than the sum of its parts, and recognizes that their schools and communities play an essential part to their success. The recipient of this award is recognized for helping the community understand FIRST, the FIRST Tech Challenge, and the team itself. In addition, the team that wins this award is aggressively seeking engineers and other STEM professionals and exploring the opportunities available in the world of science and technology.

Here is what the judges had to say:This team policed local industry and community to find sponsors and mentors. They became PALs with FLL teams through hosting online classes. This team is firmly committed to enforcing the importance of STEM to the community.

The Think Award is given to the team that the Judges feel best reflects the journey of the engineering design process. The engineering notebook is the key reference for Judges to help them identify the most deserving team. This team's engineering notebook focused on the design and build stages of the team's robot and exemplified their journey as a team and engineers.

Here is what the judges had to say:

Their notebook was methodically laid out and reflect their cohesive team bonds. With steely resolve, they used math and physics to support their robot's design. This team's presentation buzzed with energy and excitement reflecting the lessons learned throughout the season.

Winner: Team 118 Steel Hornets

2nd Place: Team 12538 eBorg Robotics      3rd Place: Team 9791 Divide by Zero

The Inspire Award is given to the Team that the Judges felt truly embodied the 'challenge' of the FIRST Tech Challenge program. The Team that receives this award is a strong ambassador for FIRST programs and works to promote FIRST and make it loud in their community. The Team that receives this Award has performed well in all Judging categories and was chosen by the Judges as a model FIRST Tech Challenge team both on and off the playing field. The Judges used Match performance, observations made during interviews and in the pit area, the team's engineering notebook, and performance on the playing field in determining the winner.

Here is what the judges had to say:

With innovative thinking, this team's robot rose to the occasion throughout the competition. Their design lifted them above the rest of the field. And their outreach efforts really assimilated the global connections.

Winner: Team 2538 eBorg Robotics

2nd Place: Team 118 Steel Hornets    3rd Place: Team 9872 (In)Formal Logic