GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. --  Student engineered, 15-pound robots will compete in head-to-head matches at the Midwest Robotics League Combat Competition at Mall of America sponsored by Dunwoody College of Technology.

This morning students Mike Rhode and Casey Combs joined us with their robot, Rugburn.

Nearly a dozen middle school, high school, and college teams will compete in double elimination, three-minute battles. The winning team will continue on to the national competition in Kansas City, Mo.

The Midwest Robotics League is a hands-on program where students from across Minnesota and neighboring states design, build and test robots during the school year in monthly, interactive battles. The program helps students explore creativity in math, science and technology. Robots from other leagues like this across the nation will also compete this weekend.

In addition to seeing matches up close, guests can enjoy hands-on activities such as testing out demo robots and meeting the teams.

For more information visit www.midwestroboticsleague.org.