The FIRST Robotics Competition recently wrapped up its three regional contests in Istanbul, drawing high school teams from nine countries to showcase their robotics prowess. Organized by the FIRST Foundation in the United States and the Fikret Yüksel Foundation in Turkey, the 31-year-old competition aimed to kindle interest in science and technology, with this year's theme revolving around energy.
Teams from Turkey, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, India, Kosovo, Poland, Romania, and the United Kingdom engaged in friendly competition, designing and operating robots to address the challenges of energy use in complex industrial processes. The competition encouraged participants to navigate tasks with both autonomous and manual operations within tight timeframes.
Winning teams earned the privilege to participate in the World Championship set for April 9-22 in Houston, USA, fostering international collaboration among students. The Near East University contributed significantly, offering full engineering scholarships to global participants. Additionally, GÜNSEL, a prominent player in the robotics industry, provided internship and job opportunities, enhancing students' prospects in the fields of science and technology.
The Turkish leg of the competition witnessed fierce competition, with 153 teams from various countries, alongside over 120 local teams from 16 Turkish cities. Notably, the event recognized the dedication of individuals such as Duygu Kaptanoğlu Coşkun, the General Secretary of Özay Günsel Children’s University, who received the "2023 Volunteer of the Year" award.
This collaborative event not only inspires the next generation of innovators but also fosters global connections in the pursuit of technological solutions. By addressing real-world problems and encouraging collaboration between educational institutions and industry partners, the FIRST Robotics Competition contributes to the development of future leaders and problem-solvers in the fields of science and technology.
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