A game called "Lunacy" is designed to be played by robots built by more than 1,500 high school students from across the nation. Rebecca Zisch recently watched a "Lunacy" tournament at the Thomas and Mack Center.
The students competed for a spot in the National Championship.
The theme of this year's event is "Lunacy," during which two teams of three robots race around a low-friction 54' by 27' field to collect and score variable point "Orbit Balls" in trailers attached to opposing teams' robots. Human players positioned around the perimeter can also score by tossing balls into robot payload trailers. The more points, or Orbit Balls, in the opponent's trailer determines the winners.
The team from Cimarron High School shared first place, the fifth time in eight years they have shared top honors, and they also won the Chairman's Award. In about ten days they head to the world championships in Atlanta. Boulder City's team was also a winner, taking the Rookie All-Star Award.
More on the Web:
- NASA: 2009 FIRST Robotics Competition Season
- Telegraph: Robot model debuts on Tokyo Fashion Week runway
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