Robotics programs run on collaboration

Robotics, where teamwork extends beyond the team.

They call it a robotics competition, but it's really a collaboration. It starts by entering events like last week's FIRST Robotics Regional Competition in Duluth. Team members had to work together to design a robot according to specifications outlined just a few short months ago, and it had to pass inspection before head-to-head scrambles in the arena began Thursday. For Cloquet's Ripsaw team, it also meant sharing a practice space in February with teams from the region to prepare for the specialized competition floor.

After the early rounds of...