B.C. high school students compete at BCIT robotics competition

More than350 high school students from across the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Washington State, and Alberta competed at a robotics competition held at BCIT on Saturday, with the goal being to construct a robot that could most efficiently fire balls into a net for points.

"It's like the real world," said Lance Balcom with the Pacific Youth Robotics Society. "They're involved in designing and engineering a better product, programming a better product."

The robots have to sling dozens of balls in perfect six foot arcs in order to be successful in the game, which is called, 'nothing but net.'

70 teams competed with a select few chosen to travel to the World VEX Robotics Championships in Kentucky.

Balcom says regional competitions started 10years ago and now 125 teams participate.

"It's about developing science, technological, engineering and math skills in our youth," he said.