High school students from around the Tri State are taking part in a robotics competition this weekend at Xavier's Cintas Center. Who better to explore the wonder of it all than our own Bob Herzog.
Every year the First Robotics Competition puts out a challenge to high school teams all over the world-build a robot that can complete certain tasks. This year's challenge is called ultimate ascent. A simulation video created by the First Robotics Competition and NASA gives competitors and spectators a feel for how the game works.
Two three-team alliances go head to head in each round. Points are scored when the robots successfully fire frisbees into various goals and also when those same disc-slinging sentinels climb the pyramids in the middle of the playing field.
Cydney Huey and the Jay County Patriot Robotics Team made the trip from little Portland, Indiana to the Cintas Center to compete this weekend against robot squads from all over the country... including 11 teams from our area. "It's a lot of fun and i get to meet a lot of new kids and stuff. and it teaches you a lot of life skills that you'll need later on in jobs and stuff."
And the work that these kids do in the vast pit area is both intricate and... intense. And, though there certainly is an air of camaraderie among the gizmos, gadgets and gearheads, the competition is very serious. Even during these practice rounds, the robot rowdies in the crowd made their presence known.
The Queen City Regional Competition continues at the Cintas Center tomorrow from 9 am to 5 pm. Spectators are welcome and admission is free as teams look to earn a spot in the First Robotics Championship. Students from eleven local high schools are taking part in the competition.
