The FIRST Robotics Sacramento Regional competition returns to The Pavilion at the ARC, Thursday through Saturday (March 19-21). Admission is free and all are welcome to catch the excitement and cheer on their favorites.

Participants include Davis High School’s Citrus Circuits and other teams from the Sacramento area, along with teams from as far away as Houston and Anchorage.

This year’s challenge the “Recycle Rush,” played by two alliances of three robots each. Teams score points by stacking totes on platforms, capping the stacks with recycling containers, and properly disposing of pool noodles, representing litter.

In keeping with the recycling theme, all game pieces are reusable or recyclable by teams in their home location or by FIRST at the end of the season.

Thursday is robot testing day, and competition begins in earnest on Friday, after the 9 a.m. opening ceremony. The awards and closing ceremonies will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday.

The teams will be competing for regional awards and a place in the FIRST Championship to be held April 22-25 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. The competition is part of FIRST, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring young people’s interest and participation in science and technology.

Follow Dateline UC Davis on Twitter.