The Flying Atomic Chickens, Burnin' Smyrnans and Mighty Animatronics Robot Stars visited the University of South Florida Polytechnic Jan. 24. So did Somos Extremos, Wolverine Robotics and Ro Ro Ro Ur Bot. Were they rock bands? Fraternity pranksters? No. They and a dozen other teams of Florida high-school students were on campus for the USF Poly RoboBattle.

The event drew more than 100 students from around the state for a FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge regional qualifying competition. In the Challenge, student teams develop robots that can perform defined tasks, and then compete with, and against, other teams in qualifying competitions and a state championship.

Participants gave the RoboBattle-and USF Polytechnic-high marks.

"This is my first event," said Josh Kalinec of Centennial High School in Port St. Lucie. "It's fun and interesting."

Catherine Carbonell of Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Miami said, "I like it, but the competition is nerve-wracking."

"Yeah it's stressful because anything can go wrong," said her teammate, Isabel Betancourt, also from Our Lady of Lourdes.

"It's fun but our robot keeps getting stuck," said Alexander Sabirov of Discovery Academy in Lake Wales, who took part in USFP's inaugural Hot 2 Bot Applied Robotocs Academy in 2008. "It's challenging. Parts keep falling off the robot, but we learn things to work on and improve. It's a learning process."

His teammate Garrett Jones of Lawton Chiles Middle Academy in Lakeland said, "I enjoy the challenge of overcoming problems with the robot." He too participated in Hot 2 Bot, where he designed and built similar robots.

According to Dr. Naomi Boyer, USFP's executive director of Extended University, "The RoboBattle was an amazing demonstration of middle and high school kids having fun while learning physics, math concepts, computer programming, problem solving, communication skills, critical thinking, and marketing. The teams from around the state all exhibited gracious professionalism and impressed the more than 40 volunteers with their commitment and perseverance.

"It was an awesome experience being around the teams who were so engaged and spirited! I believe these students represent the technical, academic, and social foundation upon which USF Polytechnic will thrive. "

Competing in the USF Poly RoboBattle were more than 125 team members and coaches from Lakeland, Winter Haven, Miami, Odessa, Palm Bay, Jensen Beach, Largo, Wilton Manors and New Smyrna Beach. USF Polytechnic VP & CEO Marshall Goodman took part in the opening ceremony and the awards ceremony.

Photos from this event