On March 16, 17 and 18, the Alltel Pavilion at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center in Richmond will be invaded by robots from across the mid-Atlantic region.

It’s not a science fiction horror story; it’s part of the NASA Langley First/VCU School of Engineering robotics competition.

New Hampshire-based First — For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology — sponsors 10 such competitions around the country, but this is the first year the contest has come to the commonwealth.

First’s executive director, David Brown, is a former vice president for advancement at VCU. As demand for regional sites for the robotics competition grew, he turned to his old employer to provide a venue.

Virginia’s shortage of high tech workers is well-documented. The robotics competition attempts to find a solution to the problem by encouraging young students to become interested in science, engineering and technology and by fostering mentoring relationships between students and industry.

"There was lots of encouragement for us to get involved," says VCU’s Tim Cameron, an associate professor of mechanical engineering and the school’s point man on the project. "Most of all, though, it’s a way to highlight Richmond’s emergence as a high-tech center."

In the competition, high school students, working with engineers from corporations and universities around the state, have six weeks to conceptualize, design, build and operate task-performing robots that solve a problem set up by First. Competitors use a kit of 950 pieces of equipment and mechanisms, and they can spend another $500 for parts and equipment of their own choosing.

The $5,000 entry fee covers the cost of the original kit, but there are additional expenses, such as traveling to the competition to unveil the finished product. NASA Langley and the Virginia Business — Education Partnership provided grants for 30 high schools, mostly from Virginia. According to Cameron, nearly 40 high school teams, ranging from 10 to 50 members, are now signed up for the competition. "We had hoped to get 25 teams, so we’ve already exceeded our expectations," he says.

Local sponsors include Virginia’s Center for Innovative Technology, Lockheed Martin, Virginia Business —Education Partnership, White Oak Semiconductor and NASA Langley. Team sponsors include Bell Atlantic and Virginia Power.

While the best overall design wins a prize, nearly 20 other prizes also are awarded, including trophies for the most photogenic robot, the lightest robot to reach the finals, and sportsmanship.

"It’s not just the most well-funded teams and the ones with the most engineering support that win," Cameron says. "Everyone has a chance, and the real benefit is just in the contact between the students and the professional engineers."

— Mike Ashley