The National Robotics Challenge is an annual

robotics Robotics is an interdisciplinarity, interdisciplinary branch of computer science and engineering. Robotics involves design, construction, operation, and use of robots. The goal of robotics is to design machines that can help and assist human ...

competition in the United States, established in 1986, in which

robot A robot is a machine—especially one programmable by a computer—capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically. A robot can be guided by an external control device, or the control may be embedded within. Robots may be ...

contestants compete in one or more of a number of different disciplines.

History

The National Robotics Challenge was originally known as the

Society of Manufacturing Engineers SME (previously the Society of Manufacturing Engineers) is a non-profit student and professional association for educating and advancing the manufacturing industry in North America. History SME was founded in January 1932 at the height of the ...

Robotic Technology and Engineering Challenge (SME-RTEC). SME-RTEC was established in 1986, one of the oldest

contests in the

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, by Tom Meravi, Associate Professor from

Northern Michigan University Northern Michigan University (Northern Michigan, Northern or NMU) is a public university in Marquette, Michigan. It was established in 1899 by the Michigan Legislature as Northern State Normal School. In 1963, the state designated Northern a uni ...

and James Hannemann, co-chairman of the event. The first edition of the competition had two work cells and two pick-and-place competitions, and over the next 15 years, Meravi and Hannemann oversaw the growth of the competition to 17 different contests by 2002. Hannemann died in July 2001, after which the SME announced, at the 2003 awards ceremony in

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, that it would discontinue its sponsorship of the event. Following this announcement, three educators from

Marion, Ohio Marion is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio, approximately north of Columbus. The population was 35,999 at the 2020 census, slightly down from 36,837 at the 2 ...

: Ed Goodwin, Ritch Ramey, and Tad Douce, took over the organization of the competition. The 2004 event was held at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Marion, with over 200 students participating from several states. The 2005 event grew in both participants and sponsors, and concluded with the addition of 2005 judge Brad Pottkotter, a teacher at Ridgedale High School, as a fourth committee member. The 2006 National Robotics Challenge included 300 students from five

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, 27 high schools, and four post-secondary schools from

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Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...

South Carolina )'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = "Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = G ...

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and

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, with over 180 robots competing in 11 different contest categories. In 2008 Mark Robinson of Marion Harding High School was added to the organizing committee. The three-day event in 2009 included college students participating from Iowa, Arkansas, New York, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

Ohio Northern University Ohio Northern University (Ohio Northern or ONU) is a private United Methodist Church–affiliated university in Ada, Ohio. Founded by Henry Solomon Lehr in 1871, ONU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It offers over 60 programs to ...

contributed an automated Ice Cream Sundae machine, which made over 1,000 sundaes for those present. That year saw the largest field of entries to date, and the addition of: the Math Machine challenge, which involved middle school and high school teams compete to complete a maze using Ti-83/84 programmable calculators; the Vex Robotics regional contest; and the AgBot contests for elementary and middle school students.http://www.getsetsite.org/robokids/AgBot.htm The event also included booths and displays from various robotic industry companies, and various other robotics-related attractions.

References

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External links

National Robotics Challenge websiteMath Machine Challenge
- Students use Math Machine robots with Ti 83/84 graphing calculators to solve mathematics problems using geometry and Algebraic expressions.
GetSETgo!Project Lead the WayTechnology Student AssociationRobotWorx Video ToursVex Robotics regional competitions
Robotics competitions Recurring events established in 1986 Robot combat competitions 1986 establishments in the United States SME (society)