MSB Engineers Mentor Regional FIRST Robotics Competition Team

METAIRIE, La.–(March 26, 2018)–M S Benbow & Associates engineers served as mentors for a robotics team competing in the 27th-annual FIRST Robotics Competition Bayou Regional, a high school regional event of teams from Louisiana and Mississippi taking place March 23-24 at the Pontchartrain Center.

The FIRST Robotics Competition is a nationwide competition that teams professionals and young people to solve an engineering design problem in an intense and competitive way. The program, called FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), is designed to engage students in “real world engineering” and discovery while also providing experience with project management, deductive reasoning, business planning, public speaking and working together as a team.

MSB engineers led a robotics team through a six-week design, build and programming exercise to complete their competitive robot. The robots are programmed to perform a series of tasks using offense, defense, quick thinking, rope climbing and scouting techniques.

Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams of 25 students or more are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of our work is using the process of engineering to find solutions to complex problems,” said MSB CEO and Founding Partner Michael S. Benbow, P.E.. “We are excited to participate in programs such as the FIRST Robotics Competition that help young people learn more about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) career paths.”

MSB employees are engaged in a variety of charitable organizations, including the United Way, Habitat for Humanity, Children’s Hospital, and Special Olympics, along with several workforce development and regional economic development associations. A Times Picayune New Orleans’ “Top Workplaces” honoree, MSB is a multi-discipline, integrated engineering consultancy with expertise in Electrical Power Systems, Instrumentation & Controls, Telecommunications & Technology, Drafting / Design and project / construction management services.

Based in Metairie, MSB has four locations in Louisiana and Texas and more than 100 associates delivering integrated engineering services serving the industrial, government, institutional and energy sectors.