Robots robots robots!

For the third year in a row, Ben and I were referees at the UPenn FIRST Lego League competition this weekend.

You can tell Ben is the head ref because his hat is bigger.

The competition has grown larger every year we have participated, and this year was even crazier than usual because snow caused a delayed start, meaning what was supposed to be a 10 hour event was compressed into 6 hours. As always, it was super fun to see all the kids so excited about their robots, and have them tell you all about their brilliant designs. But removing all the transition times and breaks from the schedule did result in a constant state of barely controlled chaos as multiple teams at a time jostled for position while referees, design judges, coaches, a photographer, and a videographer all tried to find space to do their jobs as well. This picture does not do it justice at all:

Imagine all these people cycling through every 2.5 minutes, with several hundred middle schoolers watching and cheering.

I guess it's all worth it in the end for a shot at the lego glory!