Robots invade RIT

Maura Sutherland is a hands-on learner, and so the senior at Rochester's Wilson Magnet High School has struggled with math.

The solution? Robots.

"FIRST Robotics has really helped because it's using the math and science that you learn and putting it directly into what you're building," she said. "I've ended up, because of this, wanting to become an aerospace engineer."

Hundreds of similarly passionate students from 49 schools traveled from as far away as Florida and Canada to participate in the 10th annual FIRST Robotics regional competition at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Practice rounds for the event began Thursday, with the regional competition taking place over the next two days.

The Gordon Field House was packed with teams facing off in practice rounds. The teams have been working for the past six weeks to create their robots with the help of coaches and mentors from the community.

Every year, FIRST gives each team the same kit of parts — including items such as wires and a snow blower motor — but because the tasks change annually, students have to learn how to apply their skills in new and creative ways.

"They can't reuse any parts of the robot," said Ron Borden, FIRST senior mentor. "But they can reuse the knowledge they've learned."

This year, the task is much like robotic basketball. Each alliance, comprised of three teams, must pass a ball between teammates with the objective of scoring as many goals as possible during the two minute and 30 second match. To emphasize the importance of collaboration, robots are given bonus points for "assists."

About 3,000 spectators are expected to attend the free event on Friday and Saturday, according to organizers.

The tournament will be narrowed down to the top eight teams by Saturday afternoon. Those teams will each choose any two partner teams to work with in the final matches.

More than robotics, Borden said the competition is about cooperation and trying to make sure everyone grows year after year.

"You can go in any pit and you'll find other teams in there helping make robots better even though they will be competing against them," he said.

NUPADHYE@Gannett.com