Robots Gearing Up For Battle This Weekend

If you hear people talking about robots battling in your town this weekend, don't worry. It's not a sci-fi disaster thriller come to life.

will host a Robotics Qualifying Competition Saturday starting at 10 a.m.

Twenty teams from across the region -- including North Andover High School, Andover High School, and St. John's Prep -- will compete in the 2012 First Tech Challenge Bowled Over. Five teams will earn a spot in the State Finals on March 10.

North Andover School Committee member and retired engineer Stan Limpert, along with George Perna, also a retired engineer living in North Andover, have been helping NAHS team adviser Mike Motherway organize and prepare for the competition.

More than a dozen engineers as well as several NAHS graduates and members of the NAHS National Honor Society will be on site to judge the contestants and serves as emcees and announcers.

Matches will start at 10:30 and will run until 4:30 p.m. The event will be in the NAHS gym and cafeteria and is open to the public. Families are encouraged to bring children to learn all about robotics.