They’re back! The robots that is. Last March, Virginia Commonwealth University took part in its first robotics competition sponsored by New Hampshire-based First, which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. Thirty-nine high school teams from the mid-Atlantic participated in the competition co-hosted by VCU and NASA Langley.

"It was a phenomenal success," says Tim Cameron, associate professor of mechanical engineering at VCU. "The level of enthusiasm was too great to be imagined." The event was such a smash that this year the maximum 70 teams have signed on for the competition to be held March 8 - 10. First has sponsored these competitions since 1989. This year 13 sites are hosting the regional event.

Six weeks before the competition, teams received a box of supplies and instructions to use those supplies to construct a robot capable of placing various-size balls in a seven-foot tall cylindrical goal. Teams were also allowed to spend $5,000 to purchase other supplies.

Next month, teams go on to the national championship held at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center in Orlando.