International robotics competition at KDays features over 1,000 students from 10+ countries

Over 1,000 robotics competitors from more than 10 countries are descending on Edmonton for a major FIRST Robotics competition at KDays, making it one of the event's most talked-about attractions this year.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is hosting the Alberta team competition, which brings together high school robotics teams from multiple countries in a competitive tournament. According to event coordinator Jeremy St-Laurent, it's an incredibly busy time for the program.

The robots must pick up five-inch wiffle balls and shoot them into an elevated goal platform. The challenge involves multiple aspects: robots need to scan the colour of the balls, sort them, and shoot them in the correct order to earn bonus points. Matches are decided by who accumulates the most collective points.

Nick McCurry, one of the directors of FIRST Alberta, said fostering competitive spirit and excitement is a core goal. "We really want to bring the excitement that comes with things like sports, where teams are being brought together, they're being celebrated, they're being cheered on by crowds," McCurry said. "We specifically want to bring these feelings to kids who didn't get to experience that sporting atmosphere previously." Beyond competition, FIRST's main goal is preparing kids for the future through hands-on learning in areas they're passionate about—whether that's engineering, welding, or other skilled trades.

The final competition runs Friday to Sunday, with tournament finals taking place Sunday.