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OCCRA Kicks Off Saturday

It's the Wall Ball Fall! The first competition of the Oakland County Competitive Robotics Association fall 2010 season will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 at Waterford Kettering High School, 2800 Kettering Drive in Waterford Township.

OCCRA's 20 teams, representing 23 high schools and one Oakland Schools Technical Campus, will get their robots in shape for the Wall Ball Fall Up & Over game. OCCRA robots will be placing 10-inch playground balls onto the opponents' playing field. Teams can also score points by allowing their robots to hang from steel bars on the game field. The tournament structure randomly pairs robots from two different schools in an "alliance" against two robots from an opposing alliance.

This is a full contact robotics competition, where students control their 120-pound creations as they clash on the court of play. OCCRA robots play rough and some damage will surely occur but, unlike "Battlebots," the rules prohibit teams from intentionally damaging another machine. In addition to the large robots, teams also use smaller VEX robots for part of the game.

Competitive robotics generates enthusiasm for technical and academic disciplines such as design, engineering, physics, and electronics. The high-energy OCCRA competitions provide recognition and encouragement for students who are devoting their time and energy to this academic activity. Furthermore, OCCRA participants have the opportunity to learn more about the diverse technical career options available in our county and state.

OCCRA is administered by Oakland Schools and supported by the Oakland Schools Education Foundation. This assistance is made possible through the generosity and support of area businesses and individuals. Current corporate sponsors include: DTE Energy Foundation, Chrysler, Delphi Automotive Systems, Denso International America, Inc., General Motors Powertrain, and SMC Pneumatics.

The following teams will be competing at Waterford Kettering on Saturday: Birmingham Seaholm/Groves, Brandon, Brother Rice and Marian High Schools, Clawson, Detroit Catholic Central , North Farmington, Holly , International Academy, Lamphere, Notre Dame Prep, Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northeast, Orchard Lake St. Mary's Prep, Pontiac, Rochester Adams/Stoney Creek, Roeper School, Royal Oak, South Lyon, University High School Academy of Southfield, Walled Lake Northern, and Waterford Kettering.

For more information on OCCRA, visit www.oakland.k12.mi.us/Default.aspx?tabid=535.

(c) 2010, WWJ Newsradio 950. All rights reserved.

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