By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Ten area homeschoolers are hoping robots will soon take over the world. Colburn Agencies Farmers Insurance Group has stepped up to help finance the venture.
Niles Area Christian Homeschool Group has already conquered the district and the state competitions. Now they take on the world in Atlanta, Ga., April 12 to 14.
The group recently received $1,000 from the agency in support of the group's trip to the 2007 International Lego Robotics Festival. The winning team will be treated to a trip to California and a tour of the IBM factory located there.
Some members of the Niles team have been working toward this competition for five years.
During the challenge round of the Internationals, they will set their robot against those assembled by teams from Japan, Germany and Delaware.
In the final round, four robots each have to complete nine missions or tasks within two and one half minutes. Not only will they have to overcome the challenge of different approaches to a task, but they will face language differences as well.
The robot's construction counts for only 25 percent of the overall scoring. Research presentations, technical presentations and teamwork/team spirit each make up 25 percent of the marks to be gained.
The team says they are up to the challenge.
With a personal pledge of gracious professionalism, each of these leaders of tomorrow hopes to bring the world prize in robotics home from Atlanta.