Billy Maddax (left) and Nate Maughn cheer on their robot as it races to rescue an egg from the top of a platform and returns it safely to the ground without breaking its shell and before the opposing robot successfully rescues an egg.

This competition, Saving Private Humpty, was part of the fifth annual Design Day sponsored by the department of mechanical engineering. Other competitions featured catapults built by junior high school students and jumping robots built by engineering juniors. Mechanical engineering seniors participated in the event by showing their senior design projects, including a combination ice axe and ski pole, a recumbent bicycle and a remote piloted aircraft.

The U’s entry in a national competition for walking robots also was on display. The robot, Quarter, can walk, climb and maneuver around obstacles.