LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- Robots have invaded the Clinton Center this weekend.
Students crowded the Clinton library to get a glimpse of a new type of team sport: robotics. First Lego League coach Annele King explains how the competition works.
She says, "The kids design their own robot. They figure out which wheel works the best and they put their motors in just the right place."
Robotic teams from around Central Arkansas gave other students their age a tutorial on this growing competition.
Students are given the tools to build their own mini robot and then Legos are placed on a course where the robot is programmed to perform different task.
The idea is to get kids excited about science and technology.
Before getting into First Lego League, team member Katie King thought she wanted to be a photographer, but says she has since been changed her mind. She says, "Now, I want to go into Biology and become a veterinarian."
Rock City Robot coach Annele King says students learn skills that will help them be successful in life, in many different ways. King says, "They learn perseverance because It's tedious at times. They don't just get to play with lego for hours and hours. It's a lot of tedious programming and working out the bugs."
On top of constructing a robot students are also given a real-world scientific concept to be explored through research, teamwork and imagination.
Last year students studied biomedical technology and were required to put a bone back together using a robotic arm.
You can check out robot demonstrations Saturday at the Clinton Library and an added bonus admission is free all day at the Library.