Tristan Bissinger wants to build robots. It is a dream he has had since seventh grade. “My parents got me an issue of Robot Magazine,” he said. “I’ve actually attended two robotics workshops.”

Naturally, the Austin High School junior did not hesitate when his school launched a FIRST (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Team earlier this year.

“I was way into this,” Bissinger said.

The district is one of 81 teams in Minnesota to plan, build, promote, operate and compete with real robots. Bissinger, who serves as team media, said although he has always wanted to be a robotics engineer and is even building his own at home, the FIRST team was still a very new experience.

“I think the hardest part was not knowing much about the competition,” said Bissinger, who explained that the team prepares him to design on a timetable and problem-solve.

“You learn a lot about organization,” he said. “You actually don’t have to do anything with robotics to be a part of this. It pretty much covers all aspects of professional life.”

Building his own robot at home, however, has also opened his eyes to how expensive the endeavor is. The Austin team — Furious George 3055 — was partially funded by Medtronic and the Mayo Clinic, who pay rookie team fees. Entry into FIRST is $7,000 alone; the robotics kit and software cost at least $20,000.

Despite its rookie status, Furious George placed remarkably well in its regional competition April 2-4 at the University of Minnesota’s Mariucci Gym. Of the 51 teams in the North Star Regional, Austin placed No. 25. Minnesota has the third-largest number of FIRST teams in the nation; it is No. 1 for team growth.

During an open house Wednesday in the AHS gym lobby, the Furious George team introduced its robot and its members to the community with a video presentation, competition simulation and handouts.

Team co-adviser and welding teacher Craig Robertson, who leads the team with science teacher Mark Raymond, said FIRST has pushed students’ limits and expectations of what education is.

“We believe we did exceptionally well,” Robertson said. “We had no clue what we were getting into.

“We beat half the competition our rookie year,” he said.

FIRST evolved from being a “geeky thing” into a cool, new challenge students dedicated themselves to, Robertson said.

“I saw it as a joint venture between science and technology,” he said.

The FIRST team required not only mechanical skills, but Web design, bookkeeping, graphics, promotion and computer abilities.

The team of about 18 students had only six weeks from the time they opened the kit to its completion. It was then shipped to the U of M; however, students continued to market their team while waiting for competition time.

Students put an extraordinary amount of energy, time and dedication into their FIRST team; for about three weeks, they were at school every day until 9 p.m. as well as weekends.

“We worked on it almost full-time,” Robertson said.

Each year the regional FIRST “game” changes. This year was “Lunacy,” a futuristic game based on a moon landing anniversary theme. Two teams of three participants maneuver their robots — square-shaped contraptions with hard, plastic wheels and shooting mechanisms — to shoot “orbit balls” into opponents’ “trailers.” Jay Wilson served as the shooter, Michelle Johannsen was the driver and Ben Bachmeier was the co-pilot.

The first day of regionals was practice, and the following two days consisted of heats in which judging was based on point accumulation. Austin was ranked in the top 10 their first day.

“Every single one of them was glowing,” Robertson said. “They are excited for next year.”

Raymond said during a presentation Wednesday that robotics turns the way schools educate students upside down.

“The school experience in the United States really hasn’t changed in 150 years,” Raymond said.

FIRST, he explained, is “an environment that is really engaging to students.”

Raymond said interest in the Furious George team is building, and they are now recruiting for next year. He would like to see at least 30 participants in 2010.

“People are starting to show up,” he said. “I’ve had kids coming to my room saying, ‘I want to be involved.’”

Johannsen, a junior and team captain, said Raymond had encouraged her to join the team.

“I definitely plan on coming back,” she said. “I thought it sounded like fun. It’s like a sport, but it’s technology-based.”

Bissinger said his experience in FIRST has only deepened his love for robotics. He plans to continue next January with the team, which now has one year under its belt and is working to promote itself within the community and to potential donors.

“This is the hardest fun I’ll ever have,” Bissinger said.

For more information about FIRST or the Furious George team, visit www.mnfirstregional.org or e-mail furiousgeorge3055@hotmail.com. The AHS team is in the process of developing its own Web site.