XRP for the FIRST® Community
How XRP Is Fueling Camps, Outreach, and Off-Season Skill Building
XRP for the FIRST® Community
XRP’s compatibility with the ethos of FIRST® —Gracious Professionalism®, Coopertition®, and innovation—has sparked widespread adoption throughout the community. Let’s explore the diverse ways XRP is being used to enrich the FIRST experience.
Summer & After School Camps
Orbit Odyssey & Mountain Mayhem
The XRP “Orbit Odyssey” and “Mountain Mayhem” camp experiences, with resources developed by FIRST, provide hands-on activities to:
- Teach the fundamentals of mechanical design, electronics, and programming (using WPILib, Blockly, or MicroPython).
- Provide fun challenges that ask attendees to construct robots that can navigate mazes, perform object recognition, and execute autonomous routines.
- Inspire students to pursue STEM and robotics by lowering technical barriers and strengthens the pipeline of future FIRST participants and STEM leaders.
Off-Season and Classroom Skill Building
Continuous Learning & Upskilling Expanding Access and Impact
The robotics season may have specific timelines, but the drive for innovation and skill development never stops. XRP is a popular choice for FIRST teams and educators to:
- Develop engineering design skills through CAD and 3D Printing.
- Tackle advanced programming, sensor integration, and mechanical design at your own pace.
- Simulate competition scenarios, learn basic skills, and explore new hardware integrations.
FIRST offers training materials to help achieve this through FIRST Training. Explore courses in learning how to use XRP with different coding platforms as well as teach students the engineering design process with 3D printed add-on parts.
Recruitment
Building the FIRST Team of Tomorrow
XRP supports FIRST® Tech Challenge and FIRST® Robotics Competition team recruitment by providing a:
- Friendly entry point for students who might be new to robotics.
- Plug-and-play, click-together nature that enables getting hands-on with robots and programming from day one.
- Platform for recruitment events - teams and robotics clubs across the globe are running events using XRP to facilitate interactive workshops where newcomers build simple robots, learn basic coding, and participate in fun challenges.
Outreach
Expanding Access and Impact
Central to the mission of FIRST is reaching every student, everywhere with transformative STEM experiences, building a global robotics community that welcomes and serves all young people as we prepare them for the future. XRP is a powerful tool for outreach initiatives targeting underserved schools, community centers, and rural areas. Its affordability and open-source nature enable organizations to introduce students to robotics and spark interest that can lead to participation in the FIRST suite of comprehensive robotics programs. FIRST teams use XRP to deliver introductory workshops, mentor programs, and robotics challenges that serve as steppingstones to the transformative experiences offered through FIRST programs.
Sponsor Engagement
Fun, Interactive Demos
Meaningful demonstration events are pivotal for engaging local communities and attracting potential sponsors. Whether at STEM fairs, school assemblies, public exhibitions, or to present to potential sponsors, XRP-powered robots deliver interactive experiences that leave a lasting impression. The platform’s flexibility and compatibility with the FIRST Robotics Competition control system allows teams to quickly assemble robots customized for specific demonstration goals—such as obstacle avoidance, remote control, or sensor integration.
Why XRP?
XRP stands apart for its accessibility, scalability, and community-driven development.
Its open-source ethos invites collaboration and customization, making it ideal for FIRST teams that thrive on creativity and ingenuity. The platform’s affordability means more students can participate, and its robust documentation ensures that help is always available. XRP’s support for multiple programming languages and integration with modern hardware enables teams to experiment and innovate without limits.
If you are part of the FIRST Robotics Community, a curious student, or an aspiring mentor, XRP is your gateway to hands-on learning, innovation, and collaboration. The future is being built today—join us and discover how XRP is shaping the next generation of roboticists and STEM leaders.
As a FIRST mentor, coach, participant or team, you are entitled to receive an educator discount on XRP, please apply before purchasing!
FIRST®, the FIRST logo®, Coopertition®, and Gracious Professionalism® are registered trademarks of For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST®). FIRST is not responsible for this activity, product, or service. Used by special permission. All rights reserved.