The Green Machine will be back in action at the 2009 Minnesota State Fair on Tuesday, September 1, readying “Zeus” to defend the team’s State Fair Championship title of last summer. Facing off in the Education Building on Cosgrove Avenue during the 12 days of the fair, up to three FIRST Robotics teams each day will run an obstacle course created on top of the slippery flooring used during the 2009 FIRST Robotics Lunacy competitions. FRC teams including Prior Lake, Eagan, Champlin Park, and Roseville, will be present. Up to three teams with the highest point totals will be invited back to the State Fair on Labor Day to vie for the championship title on the last day of the fair. This year’s game challenges are: Dump the balls in the trailer; park tFRC teams including Prior Lake, Eagan, Champlin Park, and Roseville, will be present (visit the MN State Fair’s website for the daily schedule of teams competing at the fair). All demonstrations are scheduled for 10 AM and 2 PM each day, with the exception of Monday, August 31.he robot against the barrier; pull a dead weight (with the goal to pull the most weight) that attaches to the robot’s trailer hitch; a tug-of-war between two robots as connected by their trailer hitches, and a tandem dead-weight pull with both robots pulling the dead weight

The FIRST Robotics action this year at the fair also includes a demonstration by local FIRST Tech Challenge teams. On Monday, August 31, FTC teams including Edina’s “Bucket Brigade” and their 2009 robot, Betty, as well as teams from Monticello and Prior Lake will demonstrate their robots in the Education Building at 12 noon. Interested in taking part in this year’s FIRST Tech Challenge?