Microsoft continues to expand the uses for its Kinect motion gesture device. On Saturday the official Kinect for Windows blog announced that the device would be used by a new student competition that involves one of our favorite things: robots. The event itself is called the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition.
Students worldwide in grades 9-12 will be competing in this event. 2,500 student teams will be given a kit that contains between 600 to 700 parts, which include the Kinect device itself along with the Kinect for Windows SDK. The students will build robots out of the parts and will be able to control them via the Kinect senor with both voice commands and motion gestures.
The students will have to build robots that will compete in a basketball-like game called Rebound Rumble. You can check out a simulated version of the game in the video above this post.
Microsoft will help students use the Kinect device to drive their robots, including workshops. In addition, Microsoft says, "Microsoft Stores across the country are teaming up with FIRST robotics teams to provide Kinect tools, technical support, and assistance."