The Dartmouth High robotics team attracted a lot of attention over the weekend as members finished up their project before the team’s first competition.

The team gathered on November 5 and 6 for Barnes and Noble’s second annual Mini Maker Faire, which celebrates science, technology, engineering, and math with interactive displays and demonstrations of products. At a large table tucked between bookshelves, students worked to perfect their robot’s stabilizing component, and make small improvements.

“We got a lot done yesterday, and we’re getting a lot done today as well,” said president and Dartmouth High student Ashley Vieira.

The project is nearly done for the opening FIRST Tech Challenge scrimmage on November 19. Every year, FTC competitions feature a series of challenges robots and their operators must complete to score points.

Teams must design robots that can navigate a course both automatically and with a driver controlling them. Robots can also rack up points for their teams by successfully pressing color-coded buttons, moving wiffle balls and other objects onto platforms, and parking at designated checkpoints by the end of the round.

Vieira said working in public at the maker faire allowed the team to network with community members. People approached the table to ask questions, and the team picked up new sponsors by connecting with business owners, she said. For Vieira, though, the event served as a good excuse to see friends.

“It’s fun to just hang out as a team,” Vieira said. “It’s a nice way to socialize outside of school.”