MADERA (KMJ) — Robots are battling it out this weekend – but it's all to inspire young minds.
49 teams from high schools across the state and even as far as Hawaii will be competing in the 2015 Central Valley Regional Robotics Competition. It starts Friday afternoon – and finishes Sunday night.
Each team has designed their own robot to complete a specific task – which this year involves stacking different sized objects and putting them on a beam.
"It's a glimpse almost of what the field is like", says Chris Rieping – co-captain of Madera High's team.
"We get a task we have to do – we have a timeline to do it – these materials to do it".
He says it gives students a head start on their engineering future.
"I feel like this team really gave me a picture of what I'm going into as a career".
Six teams from the three day regional tournament will then qualify for the championship event in Saint Louis, Missouri. Teams there will battle it out against competitors from across the world.
"It really provides an opportunity for kids to get excited about math, science and technology and apply it in a real world way", says Principal Alan Hollman.
"It's way cool", he adds. "This whole competition is a sport of the mind".
