What Is FIRST?
FIRST Robotics is a not-for-profit international high school level robotics
competition. Founded in 1989, FIRST is a competition where high school
teams design, build, and put to the test new robots each year to compete in
regional and international level events. Competition season runs from the
start of January into the Spring each year. Ironworks Robotics gives
students a chance to develop real world technical skills in an engaging,
hands-on way.
Ironworks Robotics
Ironworks Robotics, Team 7690 was founded in 2019 with a group of passionate students who wanted to
explore the world of robotics and compete in
the FIRST Robotics Competition. Since then, we have grown in both size and accomplishments, thanks to
the hard work and dedication of our team
members. With a current team size of 40 members we are proud to be an important part of the Alexander
Mackenzie High School community. Together,
we work tirelessly to build and program robots to compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition, and to
participate in community outreach events to spread awareness about STEM education.
Outreach
Team 7690 does not only compete in FRC
we want to be active parts of our community,
involved in helping people of all ages to learn
basic robotic skills. We have engaged our
community by attending events including Grade 8
Orientation day and Parent-Teacher nights.
Our History
2019: Destination Deep Space
Founded in 2018, we are a new FIRST Robotics team from Alexander Mackenzie High School. During
our rookie year in 2019, our team of around a dozen students and mentors competed at Durham College and
Ryerson University as part of the Ontario District.
At Ryerson, our team won both the Rookie All Star Award and Rookie Inspiration Award at Ryerson
University, ending our first year of competition on a high note.
Since then, our team has continued to grow, giving more students from all walks of life the
chance to develop their skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
2020: Infinite Recharge
During our 2020 season, we competed at Humber College as a sophomore team. Though the results we
were hoping for were not attained, we held our spirits high and worked around the clock for our second
regional event.
Unfortunately, after much dedication and late nights at school, the Ryerson competition was
canceled due to COVID-19. We are disappointed about this outcome to say the least. Nonetheless, we are
working hard to bring our team together again and stronger than ever to compete in the next year's First
Robotics Competitions.
2021: At Home Challenges
Due to COVID-19 safety restrictions, the 2021 season was all done virtually. Still, the team had
a great time working away at both the Game Design Challenge and the Innovation Challenge.
2022: Rapid React
To prepare and equip students for this year, our 2022 season was spent holding build, design
and programming workshops where we could share our knowledge and experience with the students,
and help them develop their skills in these areas. It was an exciting opportunity to see the students'
creativity and problem-solving abilities come to life as they worked on various projects and challenges.
2023: Charged Up
Using our training and newly acquired skills from the past season, we took to this year with a team of students
with no previous FIRST experience. However, after the countless hours of dedication, our team was able to find success
in our district events, qualifying to provincials.