Robot builders face off at Williams Arena

Updated: March 29, 2008 - 4:53 PM

But you have only six weeks to do it. Then, compete at the U. Finally, go to the nationals.?

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High school teams have converged on Williams Arena and the Sports Pavilion at the University of Minnesota, and the competition was like nothing those basketball venues have ever seen.

More than 50 teams from Minnesota and nearby states are competing in the inaugural Minnesota Regional FIRST Robotics Competition. The event began Friday and was scheduled to conclude with championship matches today.

Borrowing from the sports playbook, the robotics competition uses the excitement of athletics to promote science, technology, engineering and math.

The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition challenges team members and their mentors to build a robot in six weeks and enter their creation in competitions.

The robots stand almost 5 feet tall; some will unfold to 9 feet.

This year's game, named FIRST Overdrive, is based on the simple concept of robots racing around a 27- by 54-foot carpeted circular track. A video simulation can be viewed at www.mnfirstregional.org.

The event was free to the public.

Winning teams from the regional competition will advance to the nationals April 17-19 in Atlanta.

The use of Williams Arena by the robotics competitors forced the move of the boys' basketball state tournament this week to neighboring Mariucci Arena, home of the University of Minnesota men's hockey team.

PAUL WALSH