Rep. Mike Doyle Cites Achievements in Congressional Record

PITTSBURGH-The Girls of Steel, a first-year, all-girl robotics team from the Pittsburgh area will compete in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Championship in St. Louis, April 27-30, after winning All-Star Rookie awards in regional competitions in Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

The 24-member team includes girls from 11 Pittsburgh area high schools, one from a home school and three from schools outside the Pittsburgh area. Systems Scientist George Kantor and other members of Carnegie Mellon University's Field Robotics Center have hosted and mentored the team.

"I wish the Girls of Steel the best of luck as they head to St. Louis to compete this April, and I hope for their continual success," said U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania's 14th District. Doyle, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Robotics, entered his congratulatory remarks into the Congressional Record last month.

FIRST anticipates about 20,000 people will descend on the Edward Jones Dome for the championship event to support the 11,000 students from around the world who have qualified to compete. FIRST this year will offer almost $15 million of scholarships for college-bound participants.

The Girls of Steel are competing in the 2011 FRC Challenge, "Logo Motion." In Logo Motion, robots have to place tubes on pegs to form FIRST logos and then deploy mini-bots to travel up a 10-foot pole to hit sensors at the top. The Girls of Steel and the more than 2,000 other FRC teams were given six weeks to design and build the robots.

Girls of Steel provides young women with technological and team experiences not always found in the classroom, especially for girls. Doyle commended the Field Robotics Center for its support of the team. "As a result of their efforts, more young women are gaining real-world technological experiences which will certainly aid them in the future," he said.

For more information about the Girls of Steel, contact Patti Rote, CMU robotics industry program director, at prote@andrew.cmu.edu or 412-576-9742. Several videos also are available on YouTube:

• Girls of Steel team video.
• A seeding match at the Pittsburgh regional.
• The team receiving the Pittsburgh Rookie All-Star Award.