Imagine walking to class, when suddenly a robot zooms by you with about a dozen others close behind.

No, robots are not attacking the world; you've just experienced one of Penn State Robotics Club's robot competitions.

Robotics Club Interim President Shivang Patel (junior-computer engineering) said the group is going to kick off a round of competitions after spring break.

"Later on this semester, we're competing in Penn State Abington's Mini Grand Challenge, which will have competing robots that drive themselves around campus without any remote controls while avoiding obstacles and tackling off-road detours," Patel said.

The Mini Grand Challenge is a competition at Penn State Abington to showcase the Mobile Robotics Program members' innovative robots.

Patel said the club is also holding a sumo-bot competition on March 19. The sumo-bot competition is a battle between robots, where each tries to force the other out of a five-foot ring.

Patel said he loves designing robots, which is what made him interested in Penn State's Robotics Club.

"Our goals are to further our knowledge of robotics, while also applying what we learn to competitions and outreach programs geared towards university students and the surrounding community," Patel said.

Forty students turned out for the first meeting of the Robotics Club in October. At the next meeting, club officers were nominated and chosen.

Robotics Club Vice President Andrew Siwy (senior-nuclear engineering) said the founder of the club, President Dan McAdams, asked him if he would like to help start a robotics club on campus.

"I did not have much experience with robots, but I told him I had started the Penn State Abington Engineering Club and that I would be more than happy to help out wherever I could," Siwy said.

Robotics Club Secretary Erica Rodriguez (sophomore-communication sciences and disorders) said her favorite part of meetings is developing new skills and being around people who share the same love for creating robots.

"I love meeting all the new people. Its always interesting to hear people's high school experiences with building robots," she said.

"It's also nice to take a break from studying and do some robot engineering," Rodriguez added.

Cara McCormick (sophomore-kinesiology) said she thinks the Robotics Club is a great way to learn more about robots.

"It seems like a great club for students interested in engineering," she said.

The Robotics Club participated in Penn State Abington's Robo-Hoops, a basketball robot competition, and received a special award for technical innovation.

"Being in the basketball robot competition was really an amazing experience for us," Patel said.

The Robotics Club plans to help start the first robotics team at State College Area High School and visit the school with demonstrations of working robots to give the students an idea of what can be created.

"I think all the innovative engineering and robot-building seems like a cool hobby," Joseph Veltre (freshman-biology) said.

The club meets at 8 p.m. most Wednesday nights in 312 Hammond to discuss upcoming competitions and robot-building strategies.

Rodriguez said students who are interested do not need any experience to join the Penn State Robotics Club.