The annual firefighting robot design contest for K-12 and college students was held on campus Saturday, March 31, 2007. Over 120 students and over 120 spectators were in attendance. Abington undergraduate Engineering students participated, in addition to Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (ECAT) and Middle Bucks Institute for Technology (MBIT) high school students. The ECAT and MBIT students are currently taking a Penn State college-level engineering course at Abington.
Other high schools included Council Rock South, Council Rock North, Central Bucks East, West, and North, Springfield, William Tennent, Upper Dublin, Hatboro-Horsham, Upper Moreland, Northeast, Abington, and the George School.
A college team from Ohio Northern University drove 9 hours to participate in the contest! There was also a team from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and University Park.
Abington sophomore Engineering student Rich Mattes (above) won first place in Outdoor Robot Contest. Rich competed successfully against several other college teams and several professional engineers. Also, a high school team from ECAT won a special recognition award for their participation in this outdoor event as they were the only high school team participating in this very challenging event.
See Rich's robot truck video (1:15).
The contest event was very successful in its 13th year. More information on the Penn State Abington Mobile Robotics Program.