Hundreds of students design robots to help senior citizens

Grand Forks, ND (WDAY TV) -- More than 200-thousand students are doing what they can to make life easier for older Americans.

Teens from Minnesota and North Dakota are participating in a robotics competition, designing machines to help them out around the house.

Ashley Miller/Organizer: "There's probably around 600 to 700 people here today."

That includes students, coaches, judges, parents and volunteers.

Miller: "It's a big collaboration from a lot of different people to make all of this possible."

Middle school students come from Minnesota and North Dakota show off their robot skills.

Abigail Keys/Student: "In the First Lego League, we have to build a robot and make it go into certain missions."

The day isn't just about science. These kids are having fun finding practical ways to help senior citizens with daily tasks.

Miller: "Their challenged to come up with solutions to things like if a senior citizen has trouble remembering maybe they can come up with some kind of activity to help them remember."

Tim Scott/Judge: "We've seen some really innovative looking contraptions that the kids have come up with."

And after all this hard work students take a break to...dance.

Abigail: "My favorite part has been the dancing."

Abigail: "When you think about a robotics tournament you probably don't think about loud music, and you know a funny DJ dressed up in a nerd costume and cheering and fans."

Tim: "Just seeing them all yell and get excited about engineering. You almost think you're at a football game is what it sounds like."

Winning teams will compete nationally in St. Louis later this year.

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