RIT Engineering-Technology Students Earn Gold and Silver Awards

Thousands cheer on 600 students at national competition this weekend at RIT


Rochester Institute of Technology captured the gold award for a self-controlled journey robot at the 16th annual Robotic Technology and Engineering Challenge this weekend at RIT.

The event, one of the largest robotic and engineering competitions in North America, drew 600 students to compete in 16 Olympic-style challenges. This year marked the first time RIT hosted the competition, which also attracted thousands of spectators from across the United States.

Brian Hirth, RIT fifth-year mechanical engineering technology major, earned the gold award in the college division for his creation of "Cyclops," a self-controlled journey robot. The robot features a video camera that enables it to "see."

RIT also took the silver award in the robot construction challenge and a bronze award in the manufacturing work cell category, both in the college division.

Toledo Technology Academy captured the event’s top honor, the Judge’s Choice Award, for its voice-controlled mobile robot.

Competition was held Saturday and Sunday in RIT’s Frank Ritter Ice Arena and Louise M. Slaughter Building. The event was sponsored by RIT and Robotics International of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.