Here is a news report from the Minnesota 10000 Lakes Regional (although not shown, two teams from Memphis attended this event):
From: WCCO TV
Bill Hudson Reporting
On an arena floor where Gophers shoot hoops, high school students are battling with brainpower.
The students lodged in a fierce competition to build the best robot, capable of winning in a sophisticated soccer match.
“That down there is our kicker. It allows us to kick balls away from and into the goals,” said high school Senior Nichole Vincent.
She and her Columbia Heights teammates have worked since January, designing, building, tinkering and perfecting the perfect mechanical player.
“It just gives you a taste of what you will be doing as an engineer or programmer or anything like that,” said Vincent.
That is the point of the Minnesota regional competition of FIRST, which means, “for inspiration of science and technology.” It’s a national program intended to inspire high school students to pursue careers in science, math and technology.
The program forms close partnerships with private industry, which provide monetary support. More importantly, those companies provide mentors for students to guide their understanding and construction of the electrical, mechanical and software systems needed to build their robots.
Mark Lawrence is a retired engineer with Cisco Systems. He says FIRST offers a way to help close the brain drain on our nation’s brightest minds.
“So, the kids get exposure to particular people doing engineering jobs by creating products and using engineering to run a company,” said Lawrence.
Each year, the competition finds a new challenge or game for the robots and their teams to play. This year’s task puts robots onto a high-tech soccer field of sorts, on the floors of Williams and Mariucci arenas. The teams are expected to out score, out maneuver and out perform robots of other teams.
The Columbia Heights students are guided by a mentor from defense contractor, BAE Systems.
Melanie Evanger Bulllinger has given the team help with the electrical, pneumatic and software systems which power their robot.
“I’ve seen first-hand students that may not have had engineering in mind may decide to pursue that as a career, then really take it to the next level,” said Bullinger.
It’s an opportunity that’s not lost on these curious young minds.
“It’s such an accomplished feeling that high schoolers can take all these parts and make such an amazing robot,” said Vincent.
The competition is open to the public April 2 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and on April 3 between 1:45 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. All competition is being held at the University of Minnesota’s Williams and Mariucci arenas.
VIDEO -> http://www.wcco.com/video/?id=77141@wcco.dayport.com