Fusing Fun and Fabrication: NMT Robotics Tournament Drives STEM Engagement

New Mexico Tech’s Miner Mayhem electrified the campus last Saturday, proving that robotics tournaments are less about winners and losers, and more about the thrill of creation and the testing of prototypes. The air crackled with excitement as nearly 300 students from grades 6-12, plus their coaches, parents and friends, from all over New Mexico, converged on Macey Center’s parking lot. 

After prep in the pits, teams unleashed their robots, adhering to stringent weight class guidelines. Each clash was a tense few minutes, followed by the critical analysis of damage. Points were tallied, not in defeat, but as lessons learned.

After battling, the real action began. Engineers, drivers, coaches and teammates huddled, assessing the carnage, strategizing for the next round. To help with on-the-spot practical engineering, New Mexico Tech’s own Mechanical Engineering students stood ready to assist, armed with duct tape, hot glue guns, and soldering irons. One team even brought a 3D printer to fabricate new parts, ensuring they were prepared for any eventuality.

Adding a dash of personality to the mechanical mayhem were the robots themselves, bearing names like Ricky Bobby, Freakbeetle, Smoke Chedda, Butter Cake, The Choppa, and Doug. And who could forget the fearsome “Grilled Cheese?” The day was a vibrant celebration of science and engineering in action, a hands-on demonstration of innovation and collaboration, where every dent and scratch was a step toward improvement.

Miner Mayhem and the NMT Mechanical Engineering outreach program, which began supporting just three high schools with at-home robotics projects in the spring of 2020, has experienced explosive growth. It now supports more than 50 schools in the 2024-25 academic year, a testament to its impact, providing limited robotics kits, educational content, teacher training, and crucial NMT student technical support and mentorship.