Robots clash at First Tech Challenge Charlottesville qualifier

CHARLOTTESVILLE, V.A. (WVIR) - Some of Virginia’s best and brightest students converged on University of Virginia grounds to put their brains, and robots, to the test.

UVA played host to the Charlottesville regional qualifier for the First Tech Challenge. Middle and high school students built robots to complete tasks and go head to head with other teams.

“They’re just small, 18-inch cube robots," Jay Gardner, from Albemarle County High School, said. "They compete in games of four robots each, that’s two v. two and we rank the teams based on how they do in qualification matches. After that they have elimination matches and we decide who the best robot overall is.”

The event featured teams from all over Virginia, and surrounding states. Gardner’s team has already qualified for the finals in Richmond. The team spent the day volunteering, with some students commentating on the matches for crowds of onlookers.

The finals will take place in February in Richmond.