History

Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816, “The Green Machine,” is the longest-sustaining FIRST Robotics Competition team in Minnesota. We were established in Fall 2005 by a group of Edina students, aided by a seed grant from NASA. Community and engineering outreach, fully grounded in FIRST tenets and STEM, is a team hallmark. In 2019, we were awarded the Championship Chairman’s Award (the award is now known as the FIRST Impact Award). This award is focused on FIRST teams’ activities over a sustained period, not just a single season or build period. We invite you to browse our team history in hopes that we inspire you to join us in the inspiration and celebration of STEM.
2013: Ultimate Ascent

2013: Ultimate Ascent

Publicizing the Values of FIRST: “be FIRST” Campaign Inaugurated; Front-page Publicity for FIRST Robotics in Minnesota. In 2013, The Green Machine introduced its “be FIRST” campaign at the Lake Superior Regional: To be gracious, to be...

read more
2012: Rebound Rumble

2012: Rebound Rumble

Varsity Robotics: FIRST Robotics Recognized by the Minnesota State High School League as a Varsity Sport; Winners of North Star Regional Chairman’s Award. It was with great pride that Team 1816 stood with Minnesota Senator Al Franken at the Minnesota State...

read more
2011: Logo Motion

2011: Logo Motion

Engineering Inspiration: Team awarded the Lake Superior Regional Engineering Inspiration Award. Outreach and community activities filled out the summer 2010 calendar for Team 1816, with the highlight of summer 2010 a gathering of The Green Machine and 15 other...

read more
2010: Breakaway

2010: Breakaway

Gracious Professionalism: Team awarded the Johnson & Johnson “Gracious Professionalism Award” at North Star Regional. In addition to the team’s typical full slate of outreach events, which begin long before kick-off, the team added to its “green” theme by...

read more
2009: Lunacy

2009: Lunacy

Building the FIRST Pipeline: Team 1816 Helps Launch Edina’s first-ever FTC Team; Mentor Recognition: Woodie Flowers Award presented to Team 1816 Founding Mentor Mark Lawrence. In September 2008, The Green Machine helped launch Edina’s...

read more
2008: Overdrive

2008: Overdrive

Outreach: Development of Minnesota Splash; Winner of Minnesota Regional Chairman’s Award. The Green Machine’s 30 members focused on Outreach in 2008, including the extension of Friday night Kickoff seminars into development of Minnesota Splash, a first-ever all...

read more
2007: Rack and Roll

2007: Rack and Roll

Growth: Team Doubles in Size; Recruits and Mentors 7 New Minnesota Teams, Newton Division Finalist at World Championships. In 2007, the team more than doubled in size to 35 students. The Green Machine recruited and mentored seven new Minnesota teams, and helped...

read more
2006 Team History

2006 Team History

Rookie Year: “Highest Rookie Seed Award” and Quarterfinalists at World Championships. The Green Machine had an outstanding rookie season in 2006, winning the Wisconsin Regional Competition with its alliance partners FRC 111-WildStang and 1625-Winnovation, and...

read more