Robotics Competition was founded by entrepreneur Dean Kamen to generate interest in science and engineering among youth. The contest, which pairs high school students with engineers from corporate sponsors, gives the students the opportunity to participate in an intense design and engineering experience. The task changes every year and is unveiled at a national kick-off.
Participants then have six weeks to brainstorm strategies and design and build their robot.
These kids had to learn the physical principles necessary to build a robot, and then they had to apply their new-found knowledge. We teach them basic physics and mechanisms so that they understand what can realistically be accomplished. In the end, we had one of the fastest machines out there and were able to use that to our advantage to control the puck and outmaneuver opposing teams. Financial support for the effort came from the office of President Charles Vest, Analog Devices, Neil Pappalardo, Intelligent Automation, Solid Works, Parametric Technology Corp. and Mathworks. Intelligent Automation and Product Genesis also donated engineers to advise the team.