Robots to take center stage at WSU's Koch Arena Oct. 14 Robots to take center stage at WSU's Koch Arena Oct. 14

The 19th Annual Kansas BEST robotics competition, designed to inspire and motivate high school students toward careers in engineering, science and technology, will be held from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, in Charles Koch Arena on the campus of Wichita State University.

Kansas BEST is sponsored by WSU's College of Engineering. Admission is free.

Thirty-two schools from Kansas will compete in the Kansas BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) event. This year's game is called "CROSSFIRE." The game involves the use of robots in fire emergencies. Competitors will design and build a robot to rescue a fire test mannequin, contain dangerous chemicals and extinguish flames during a three-minute match. The game will be played on a 24' x 24' field divided into three zones " the cold zone, hot zone and no-entry zone.

The sports-like technology contest combines the excitement of a high school football game with the strategy of a chess match and the intellectual challenge of a science fair. Working from identical kits, each team has had six weeks to design and build their robot.

The game includes an additional competition for the BEST Award to the team that best embodies the concept of Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology.