Bayer MaterialScience Supports FIRST Robotics Competition With Donation Of TPU Resin

Pittsburgh,PA - Further demonstrating its support for nurturing STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) talent among students, Bayer MaterialScience LLC has donated more than 3,100 pounds of its Desmopan DP 6065A thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) resin for a global robotics competition. Bayer's TPU resin is being used to mold experimental, light-duty tires that are included in parts kits used by high school students participating in the 2007 FIRST Robotics Competition.

Founded by Segway Human Transporter inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) aims to make "science, math, engineering, and technology as cool for kids as sports are today." The FIRST Robotics Competition challenges high school students, supported by their teachers, local companies and volunteers, to design, assemble and test a robot that can perform a specified task in competition with other teams. Some 1,300 teams from across the United States and around the world are competing in this year's "Rack ‘N' Roll" competition, beginning in March with 37 regional contests, followed by the global FIRST Championship April 12-14, 2007, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Upon entering the competition, each team receives a parts kit from which their robot must be built. The kit includes the experimental tires molded from Bayer's Desmopan DP 6065A TPU, The parts kits also include motors, gears/drive trains for transmissions, electronic controllers, and other necessary components. Teams are required to build their robots in just six weeks using only the components in the kit along with materials they may fabricate on their own, such as body panels.

Bayer MaterialScience became involved with the FIRST Robotics Competition through its customer Nypro Inc., which has been a sponsor since the contest's inception in 1995. Nypro sponsored the winning team that inaugural year from a field of 29 teams. In support of the 1,300 teams competing in 2007, FIRST recruited AndyMark, Inc., of Kokomo, Ind., to design a wheel to be included in the 2007 FIRST robotics parts kit. AndyMark recruited B&D Manufacturing, also of Kokomo, Ind., to design and build the required mold, then mold the robot wheels and over-mold them with Desmopan TPU to form an integrated wheel/tire component.

"Through our award-winning corporate social responsibility program Making Science Make Sense, Bayer has long supported programs that strengthen STEM education in the United States. We are now pleased to be supporting the thousands of students participating in the 2007 FIRST Robotics Competition," said Gerry DiBattista, market channel manager for Bayer MaterialScience. "Just as our polymer will play a role in giving the students' robots mobility, so we trust our support of this worthwhile competition will help these students move confidently toward rewarding careers in math, science, technology or engineering."

SOURCE: Bayer MaterialScience LLC