PITTSBURGH-Teams of Carnegie Mellon University students will compete for more than $2,000 in cash prizes as they race small autonomous robots they've designed and built on a torturous, 255-foot-long, downhill course in the School of Computer Science 10th annual Mobot Slalom Race. (Mobot=MObile roBOT) The Mobots must find their way along a marked path on the paved sidewalk beside the front entrance to Wean Hall on the Carnegie Mellon campus. There are several forks in the pathway where they must make decisions about which direction to take to reach the finish line.

First prize of $1,000 will be awarded to the top finishing undergraduate team. Second prize is $500. Third and open class prizes are $250 each. A $100 Judge's Choice prize will be awarded to the most unique robot, and an extra $250 is available for any robot that beats the course record time standing on the books.

The competition is sponsored by the School of Computer Science with support from the Harris and Lockheed Martin corporations.

WHEN: Noon, Friday, April 16, rain or shine.

WHERE: Paved walkway beside the front entrance of Wean Hall, fifth floor level, on the Carnegie Mellon campus.

For more info, check the Web site: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~mobot/
For assistance with parking, contact Anne Watzman: 412-268-3830.