Now That's What I Call Robots

Since we've taken Teague to events like NASCAR races and Monster Truck Rallies, it only seems fair to present him with the other end of the events spectrum; robots. 

Nearby Homestead recently hosted a DARPA Robotics Challenge, and we weren't going to miss it. Unlike most Miami events, this one started on time and wasn't crowded! I must say the robotics community is one of the most spellbound crowds I've ever encountered. There was even a grandstand, where people watched for what seemed like hours as a robot attempted to pick up a plank of wood. I am no robot expert, but after viewing these challenges, it doesn't seem like that much progress has been made since Johnny 5 made his debut in the 80s flick "Short Circuit". 

But seriously, the robotics that were on display were pretty impressive, especially the snake-inspired robot which could twist and turn into small spaces. We even got to see the Google van! There were also lots of booths with hands-on activities for the kids, and we practically had to tear Teague away from the remote controlled robots. 

This particular robotics group had it's own cheering section. 

                                      Shaking hands with a true metal head.

                            Moving Texas A & M's robot through the table maze. 

          Miami-Dade's Hazmat unit challenged them to remove dangerous "chemicals".