Students from five states are competing in a robotics challenge hosted by Penn State York, and the public is invited to watch for free.

Penn State York engineering students Ben Reinke of Stewartstown, left, and Jamison Taormino of York construct the ring that will be used during Saturday's FIRST Tech Challenge, a robotics competition for grades 7-12. (DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS - KATE PENN)

More than 350 middle- and high-school students from at least five states, including Pennsylvania, will gather at Penn State York Saturday to put their artificial intelligence to work.

"It's the most amazing thing you've ever witnessed in your life," said Marshall F. Coyle, associate professor of engineering, of the quality of competition at the annual robotics challenge hosted by the college.

This is the third year the competition, the FIRST Tech Challenge, has been held at Penn State York. Saturday's contest is the South Central Pennsylvania Regional Qualifier, the winners of which will go on to compete in the state championship. A world championship will be held in St. Louis.

The

Penn State York engineering students John Dagostino of Jarrettsville, Md., left, and Andrew Callaghan of York construct the ring that will be used during Saturday's FIRST Tech Challenge, a robotics competition for grades 7-12, at Penn State York Friday. (DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS - KATE PENN)

Barbara H. Dennis, coordinator of publications and promotions at Penn State York, said the students want to win, but the focus is on "gracious professionalism."

"Teams that want to win, they're socializing, talking to one another, helping one another," Dennis said.

Coyle referenced a team from Phoenixville, Pa., in Chester County, helping a team from York two years ago.

Read the original:

Students to test who's got the smartest artificial intelligence at Saturday's event