Robotics Team Preparing for Regional Tournament
Simley's robotics team finished building its robot at the end of February.

Now members of Team 2518 wait eagerly to test their robot at the Minnesota 10,000 Lakes Regional of the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Competition, April 1-3 at the University of Minnesota's Williams Arena.

The team consists of approximately 20 students. A few teachers and three volunteers have helped students along the way.

Students began piecing together the robot on Jan. 9. They spent six weeks working on their creation after school. Entries were required to be submitted by Feb. 22. The team made the deadline with the robot weighing in under the 120-pound weight restriction.

Each year, the robot's performance objective changes. This year, students were challenged to create a robot that can kick a soccer ball into a goal, drive over a 12-inch hump and grab onto a bar that is seven feet in the air and pull itself up.

St. Jude Medical Foundation has sponsored Team 2518 since it was established. They have donated $10,000 to the program each year. This is the third year that Simley is participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition. The school won the Minnesota Regional in 2008 and went on to compete at the national level.

Image Gallery: Simley Robotics Team
Click an image to enlarge a photo or view the gallery as a slideshow.