National Robotics League
Do you love to watch robots fight? This cool robotics competition challenges student to design and build remote-controlled robots that fight in a gladiator-style competition. Start at the local level, and advance up to regional and national competitions.
The National Robotics League (NRL) is a manufacturing workforce development program of the National Tooling & Machining Association (NTMA) where students design and build remote controlled robots (Bots) to face-off in a gladiator-style competition. Through the manufacturing process of Bot building, students’ imaginations are captured as they design, build and compete with their own robotic creations. Through this hands-on effort along with industry partnerships, students gain practical knowledge of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) – all essential skills for manufacturing. This robotics competition allows teams of students in middle school and beyond design and build remote-controlled robots to face off in regional and national competitions.
How do I get started? Click here.
How do I expand this narrative arc? If robotics is part of your narrative arc you might consider one of the many national robotics competitions, each of which involves different rules, parameters and prizes. For example:
Build something socially useful in the Firefighting Robot Competition
There are also some interesting marine-based robotics programs where individuals and teams compete to build remotely operated vehicles to explore underwater environments.
HOT TIP: Robotics competitions that are led by a teacher or coach are a great way for you to develop a mentoring relationship with an adult who can comment on your academic and personal strengths. Often teachers in the classroom don’t have insight into things like how a student adapts to challenges and works with a team. Learn as much as you can from your teacher/coach and remember that this is a great “vehicle” for developing a solid college or job recommendation.