AUSTIN (KXAN) — Teams across Texas came together in Austin on Saturday to put robots of their own creations up against each other in a number of challenges and competitions.
The 5th annual Texas Robot Roundup featured more than 40 teams who each brought their own uniquely built robots of all shapes and sizes to compete in events where the robots pass and shoot exercise balls over trusses and into goals.
“They have to talk strategy with other teams. They’re on an alliance with two other teams that they might not know. So they have to go out and they have to say hey our robot can do offense, it can do this and this and this, and what can your’s do? They have to really make a strategy with other people, maybe from other cities, also from other countries, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, FIRST is an international competition,” said Marguerite Shaffer, coach of the Bastrop Beartechs.
The competitions and teams are divided into three different age groups, including elementary school, a combination of junior high and high school, and high school only.
The winner of an event like the Texas Robot Roundup would normally advance to the world championship in St. Louis, MO. However the Roundup happened during the off-season, and was a chance for teams to compete and test our their machines.
Along with computer science and engineering, students are given the opportunity to learn teamwork, public speaking, and the ability to strategize.
FIRST Robotics, the sponsor of the event, offers scholarships to the participants in STEM and business field majors, and is partnered with several universities including Stanford and Texas Tech.
Teenagers competing in the Roundup are set to earn more than just first place.
“I know all of my kids are still Facebook friends with the team from Brazil that they competed with last year. They have connections with other students who are like them, who want to be computer scientists, and who want to be programmers and go off into STEM fields. They realize that they’re not alone in their nerdiness, they’re not alone in their desire to create and engineer neat things for the future,” said Marguerite Shaffer.
For those considering starting up a FIRST Robotics team of their own, you can visit their website here.
