Luminary Micro Inspires Next Generation of Engineers as Crown Supplier of the FIRST Robotics Competition

AUSTIN, TX, USA – January 7, 2009 – Luminary Micro, creators of the award-winning Stellaris® family of ARM® Cortex™-M3-based microcontrollers (MCUs), announced today that it is joining forces with FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a not-for-profit organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology, as a Crown Supplier of the 2009 FIRST Robotics Competition.

Crown is the highest supplier level for the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), designating a contribution of more than $500,000. Luminary Micro’s donations included several thousand Stellaris Brushed DC Motor Speed Controllers (MDL-BDC) for the 2009 FRC Kit of Parts which was distributed to more than 1,680 teams of high-school students on January 3, 2009. In addition, Luminary Micro has donated Stellaris evaluation kits and reference design kits for the FRC playing field design.

“With its generous contribution to the FIRST Robotics Competition at our highest Crown Supplier level, Luminary Micro makes it possible for us to turn the FIRST vision of inspiring young people’s interest and participation in science and technology into a reality,” said FIRST president, Paul R. Gudonis. “Our partnerships with innovative companies such as Luminary Micro are a major reason that FIRST continues to thrive.”

By providing components for the competition, FIRST suppliers are putting the latest technology in the hands of students, giving them the opportunity to apply the same tools used by professional scientists and engineers and ultimately helping them learn real-world skills they will carry into the workplace.

“FIRST is a remarkable advocate of innovation in science and technology by young people through an environment that promotes spirited competition, gracious professionalism, and teamwork," said Jim Reinhart, Chief Executive Officer at Luminary Micro. “Luminary Micro is proud to employ its best products, people, and resources to ensure that FIRST continues its worldwide success and growth for years to come.”

Since 1992, FIRST has brought the excitement of a sporting event to science and technology via robotics competitions. On January 3, the organization unveiled the annual engineering challenge to teams, who also received a Kit of Parts made up of motors, batteries, a control system, and a mix of automation components – but no instructions. Working with mentors, students now have just six weeks to design, build, program, and test their robots in preparation for regional events that measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration, and the determination of students.

More than 42,000 students from 10 countries will design and build robots to compete in regional events with winners advancing to the FIRST Championship in Atlanta, Georgia, April 16-18, 2009. Participating students are eligible to apply for more than $9 million in scholarships offered by leading universities, colleges, and companies.

About FIRST

Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With the support of many of the world’s most well-known companies, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge for high-school students, FIRST LEGO League for children 9-14 years old, and Junior FIRST LEGO League for 6 to 9 year-olds. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org .

FIRST Company Contact:
Marian Murphy
FIRST Communications Manager
(603) 666-3906, ext. 409
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About Luminary Micro and Stellaris
Luminary Micro, Inc. designs, markets and sells ARM Cortex-M3-based microcontrollers (MCUs). Austin, Texas-based Luminary Micro is the lead partner for the Cortex-M3 processor, delivering the world's first silicon implementation of the Cortex-M3 processor. Luminary Micro's introduction of the award-winning Stellaris® family of products provides 32-bit performance for the same price as current 8- and 16-bit microcontroller designs, providing entry-level pricing at $1.00 for an ARM technology-based MCU. Stellaris mixed-signal microcontrollers contain specialized capabilities for applications in energy, security, and connectivity markets. With the world's largest selection of ARM-based microcontrollers, Luminary Micro's Stellaris family allows for standardization that eliminates future architectural upgrades or software tools changes. Learn more about Luminary Micro at www.luminarymicro.com.

Luminary Micro Company Contact
Jean Anne Booth, CMO
+1-512-917-3088 mobile
+1-512-279-8801 office
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Stellaris is a registered trademark and Luminary Micro is a trademark of Luminary Micro, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. ARM is a registered trademark and Cortex is a trademark of ARM Limited. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders.