By Karen Colbenson
Post-Bulletin, Austin MN
An Austin robot named George will face off against other robots this weekend at the FIRST (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Minnesota Regional Competition in Minneapolis.
Teams of high schools students from around the country will be competing head-to-head in a fast-paced robot game challenge. Students were challenged to build a robot in six weeks using a standard "kit of parts" and a common set of rules.
Twelve students from Austin High School are participating in the competition with their robot, George.
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During the past three years, the Minnesota FIRST Robotics contingent has grown from two to 81 teams. As result of its growth, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus is hosting the largest of all FIRST Robotics regional competition nationwide, with 102 teams attending from across the country.
This year’s game challenge, FIRST Lunacy — in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission — pits alliances of three teams against each other in a two-minute, 15-second match.
To score, the robots must place balls called "Moon Rocks" into the trailers towed about the playing field by robots of the opposite alliance.
The goal of FIRST is engage students in mentor-based program and build their science, engineering and technology skills.
For more information, go to Postbulletin.com/weblinks.
Minnesota FIRST Regional: http://www.mnfirstregional.org/
