Applexus Sponsors Team Syntax Error 42 for FTC West Super-Regional Championship

Online, May 29, 2014 (Newswire.com) - FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a not-for-profit organization to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. FIRST Tech Challenge West Super-Regional Championship challenges students to think like engineers and scientists. It's a widely accessible robotics program for grades 7 through 12 and was held at the McClellan Conference Center Sacramento, California, on March 20-22, 2014.

Applexus Technologies, a global provider of end-to-end IT services, was at the championship to support team 6930, Syntax Error 42, one among the top 72 from 900 teams selected from 12 Westerns States after 40 qualifying and Championship Tournaments.

"We are delighted to have supported the team that inspired young minds to explore excitements and rewards of science and technology", said Nixon Xavier, VP - Innovation and Product Development, Applexus Technologies.

Understanding the importance and influence of science and technology on today's young minds, Applexus initiated STEMplexus, a program to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) among students. By sponsoring events of such kind, Applexus plans to engage with young generations to inspire and support tomorrow's scientists and technology experts.

The object of the 2013-2014 game was to score more points than an opponent by placing plastic blocks into pendulum goals. Teams challenged to raise their team alliance flag up a flagpole, raise their robots off the ground using a platform pull-up bar, and ended the match with a balanced pendulum to earn extra points.

FTC BLOCK PARTY! matches lasted two minutes and 30 seconds, and began with a 30-second autonomous period followed by a two-minute driver-controlled period. The final 30 seconds of the driver-controlled period was the "end game;" it is during this time that teams attempted to earn bonus points.

Using a combination of motors, controllers, wireless communications, metal gears, and sensors, including infrared tracking (IR) and magnet seeking, students programed their robots to operate in both autonomous and driver-controlled modes on a specially designed field.

To learn more about FIRST, please visit www.usfirst.org.