Mar 12 2007
FirstFuelCells.com, a distributor of practical hydrogen fuel cells for personal and educational use, announced an exciting new competition designed to encourage young minds to master hydrogen fuel cells.
FirstFuelCells.com has partnered with FIRST Robotics to develop the first Fuel Cell "Green Machine" Pilot Program. This year, thirty (30) FIRST Robotics teams from twenty (20) states will demonstrate the use of fuel cells in competition robots. "Hydrogen can be produced from a wide variety of abundant and renewable energy sources. It is our goal to advance the understanding and use of this clean and efficient energy source" said Diane Sadowski, President of FirstFuelCells.com. "We truly believe that hydrogen and fuel cells hold the key to a clean energy future, and we want young minds to learn how to use these new tools to build a cleaner tomorrow" added Sadowski.
This year's competition required registered teams to develop a fundamental understanding of fuel cell technologies and utilize their high school labs, corporate sponsors' resources, and supporting college facilities to integrate fuel cell technology into a diverse mix of robots. The competition is being made possible through a wide variety of grassroots volunteers, organizations, and corporate sponsorship.
The primary sponsors and supporters responsible for its success are FirstFuelCells.com, Graftech, Parker Hannifin, NASA, Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition, Ohio Aerospace Institute, CASE Advanced Power Institute Department of Chemical Engineering, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, CASE School of Engineering, CASE Western Reserve, TDM Fuel Cell Technology, Pacific Fuel Cell Corp., Kettering University, TMI Technology Management Inc., DLS Design Studio, Randolph Publishing, TheEliteTutor.com, PGM Diversified Ind., Change Management, Linda Harkless Design, The Entrepreneurs EDGE, Kumon Strongsville, TagArt, Eifel Marketing Inc., Benjamin Calkins - Kahn Kleimnan LPA, Shamrock Companies Inc., and Praxair.
The results of the Fuel Cell "Green Machine" Competition will be presented by video at the FIRST Robotics Ohio Buckeye Regional Competition on March 23rd at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center. The entire event (March 22 from 8am to 8pm, March 23 from 9am-6pm, and March 24 from 9am to 6pm) is free to the public, with additional details available at firstbuckeye.org. Further presentations will be offered at the FIRST Robotics National Championship in Atlanta, Georgia April 12th to the 14th, 2007. See usfirst.org for more details.