Students from across the country traveled to Pittsburgh over the weekend to compete in BotsIQ's second annual 'Burgh Bash National Invitational, a competitive robotics competition.
The competition comes as part of the BotsIQ Combat Robotics program, where high schoolers design and build 15 pound robots for competition with the goal of incapacitating their opponent's robot in a small, wrestling-arena style setting. The program was held at the UPMC Events Center at Robert Morris University and featured 33 teams and is one of many offered by BotsIQ, which is the largest youth manufacturing workforce development program in southwestern Pennsylvania.
"It was really impressive to see the level of engagement that these companies are doing, whether it's through donations of materials, sponsorships or even helping by making parts for the teams," Michel Conklin, BotsIQ executive director, said during the event. "This whole process is aimed at trying to introduce [participants] to those careers that exist out there in our communities and to help them to understand that the skills that they are learning and the knowledge that they are gaining relates to the real world."
Despite students traveling from as far as California to participate, the southwestern Pennsylvania area reined victorious — Blackbird, a robot developed by Fox Chapel Area High School, took home the championship prize.
