Representatives from more than 50 high schools gathered at San Jose State University Saturday for the kickoff to the 2013 season of the FIRST Robotics Competition, inventor Dean Kamen's attempt to ...

The competition, which attracts thousands of teams from around the world, gives students a challenge (this year’s was “Ultimate Ascent,” the flying-disc-and-pyramid game) and six weeks to ...

This year’s task is called “Ultimate Ascent.” Teams must build a robot capable of throwing Frisbees and climbing a pyramid. More than 1500 teenagers are expected to compete in the 3-day event.

This year’s theme is “Ultimate Ascent.” The 2013 challenge is played between two alliances of three teams, each pitting robot against robot.

This year, the students get six weeks to design and build a robot that can toss flying discs into goals of varying heights and then climb a 90-inch pyramid. Ten volunteer mentors assist the club.