SVSU mechanical engineering students score big in national 'robot soccer' competition

Six Saginaw Valley State University students showcased their determined spirit by besting a number of their mechanical engineering peers - many from larger higher education institutions - during a national competition recently.

During the American Society of Mechanical Engineers' (ASME) annual Student Design Competition, SVSU placed 22 out of 50. Penn State University hosted the contest April 13-15.

This year's competition involved "robot soccer," which tasked teams with building robots designed to play the role of soccer players. SVSU's team created two robots - one designed for offense and the other for defense.

Despite Bluetooth-related interference, the team landed five goals, outscoring competition such as University of Wisconsin, Virginia Tech University, and Clemson University.

The opportunity allowed SVSU's ASME students to network within their field and practice solving real-world engineering problems that will benefit them moving forward with their future careers.