Let’s get ready to rumble, robot style. Yes, it’s time for the annual robot rally at Cal Poly Pomona on Friday.

Hundreds of mechanical men will battle it out through four unique challenges in the largest event of its kind in the nation.

This year, 600 students from 12 local schools are expected to bring
their best and brightest robots to the arena. Many will enter, few will
leave victorious.

A tough lesson to learn, even for artificial intelligence. But the
kids at Shelyn Elementary in Rowland Heights believe they’re up to the
task.

Last year, one of its teams made it to the finals, taking second
place in a field of 200. This year, the Rowland Unified school hopes to
do even better with 40 teams from its fifth and sixth grades.

Read more in Rich Irwin’s story ROBOTS.