Luminary Micro is joining forces with FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a not-for-profit organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology, as a Crown Supplier of the 2009 FIRST Robotics Competition.

(Source: press photo usfirst.org)

Crown is the highest supplier level for the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), designating a contribution of more than $500,000. Luminary Micro's donations included several thousand Stellaris Brushed DC Motor Speed Controllers (MDL-BDC) for the 2009 FRC Kit of Parts which was distributed to more than 1,680 teams of high-school students on January 3, 2009. In addition, Luminary Micro has donated Stellaris evaluation kits and reference design kits for the FRC playing field design.

Since 1992, FIRST has brought the excitement of a sporting event to science and technology via robotics competitions. On January 3, the organization unveiled the annual engineering challenge to teams, who also received a Kit of Parts made up of motors, batteries, a control system, and a mix of automation components but no instructions. Working with mentors, students now have just six weeks to design, build, program, and test their robots in preparation for regional events that measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration, and the determination of students.

More than 42,000 students from 10 countries will design and build robots to compete in regional events with winners advancing to the FIRST Championship in Atlanta, Georgia, April 16-18, 2009. Participating students are eligible to apply for more than $9 million in scholarships offered by leading universities, colleges, and companies.