What: Robotics teams from 11 area school districts will demonstrate the climbing, racing and Frisbee-throwing capabilities of their robots and discuss their construction at the Tech Valley Robot Rumble being held at Hudson Valley Community College’s Training and Education Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing and Alternative and Renewable Technologies (TEC-SMART) in Malta this Saturday. Hands-on activities for visitors include trying out robot controls and building Lego robots.
Why: This exhibition has been planned as a fun event for the public to support their local team, as well as an opportunity for youth, parents and educators seeking information about forming robot teams and community adults interested in becoming team mentors.
Who: Participating teams are from Albany High School, Shenendehowa High School, Ballston Spa Schools, Colonie High School, Shaker High School, Hudson High School, Amsterdam High School, Saratoga Springs High School, Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake Schools, Schuylerville High School and Mohonasen High School.
Speakers are Congressman Paul Tonko; Assemblyman Tony Jordan; Paul Saulsville, Malta Sunrise Rotary; Andrew Matonak, president, Hudson Valley Community College; Francis J. Murray, President and CEO, NYSERDA; Jennifer Reed Holick, Communications Manager, Time Warner Cable; Elliott Masie, FIRST; and Brett Brimhall, Factory Automation Section Manager, GlobalFoundries.
Where: TEC-SMART (Training and Education Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing and Alternative and Renewable Technologies) at 345 Hermes Road in Malta.
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, May 11
Details: This event is presented by Time Warner Cable, in conjunction with Hudson Valley Community College, GlobalFoundries, Malta Sunrise Rotary Club and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
The student teams are members of US FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a New Hampshire-based, non-profit organization whose mission is to engage students in science and technology. All participate in FIRST Robotics Competitions and each year design, program and construct robots to perform human-like maneuvers such as walking, running, climbing, throwing and more. The competition season recently ended.
