Pradyumna Rao's Eagle project seeks to benefit students interested in STEM fields.
Robots are coming to Phillipsburg High School.
A robotics competition planned 3 to 5 p.m. Friday in the high school cafeteria will mark the completion of a senior's Eagle Scout project, and the beginning of a robotics program at the school.
"I have been working with robots for several years outside of school in a competitive robotics club," said senior Pradyumna Rao, a Boy Scout with Troop 54. "However, my school has never had a program specifically intended for students interested in robotics."
For his service project, a requirement to attain the Boy Scouts' highest rank, Rao said he wanted to provide a new avenue for students interested in STEM fields -- science, technology, engineering and math.
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For the project, Rao enlisted the help of fellow scouts, students and local businesses. He helped students build Lego robots and taught them programming. A table-top arena he built will be kept with the school's technology club.
Friday's competition is called Sumobot. Like sumo wrestlers, robots that students built and coded will attempt to push each other out of a 3-foot ring.
Superintendent George Chando praised Rao's project idea.
"Future students will benefit from his leadership, dedication, and desire to advance a new curricular program," Chando said in a news release.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.