“Big Ben,” a six-foot-tall robot built last year by the Hall-Dale High School’s robotics team, REM Delta Prime Robotics, is on display as part of the Robot Zoo exhibition at the Portland Science Center, 68 Commercial St., in Portland. The exhibition is an interactive learning experience that can teach the mechanics of how animals move using robotics. Other robots will be on display, including those created by Maine high school students.

The Riot Crew of South Portland has two robots on display. Both teams are members of FIRST Robotics Competition, an international high school robotics competition that gives students real-world engineering experience. FRC combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources, and facing a deadline, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. It’s as close to “real-world engineering” as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team.

All FRC teams are in the middle of build season, during which they have just six weeks to build and program a robot able to compete in this year’s game called First Stronghold.

For more information, visit www.deltaprimerobotics.com or www.portlandsciencecenter.com, or email info@deltaprimerobotics.com.


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