For the fifth consecutive season, igus® is a sponsor for Botball, an educational robotics program produced by the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics. The Botball Educational Robotics Program provides real-world relevance and development of rigorous STEM skills that are immediately applicable in college and industry.

East Providence, Rhode Isand December 13, 2012

For the fifth consecutive season, igus® is a sponsor for Botball, an educational robotics program produced by the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics. The Botball Educational Robotics Program provides real-world relevance and development of rigorous STEM skills that are immediately applicable in college and industry. Teams of middle and high school students design, build, program and document original autonomous robots to play in an open-solution tournament.

Through the Y.E.S. (Young Engineers Support) Program, igus donated Energy Chain® cable carriers and DryLin® linear guide systems to each team for the 2013 competition. The Y.E.S. Program is designed to foster the mechanical design ideas and inventions of students who have a passion for engineering. The program aims to not only support students and engineers, but also educate them on the merits and benefits of plastic components.

Starting in January, students have seven weeks to prepare two autonomous robots while documenting their engineering process online. Participants later compete against each other on a playing field in one of 17 U.S. regional tournaments. The robots must be student-built and programmed to maneuver on the game field without using a remote control. By exposing students to an inquiry-based, learn-by-doing activity that appeals to their hearts as well as their minds, Botball addresses our nation's need for a well-prepared, creative, yet disciplined workforce with leadership and teamwork experience.

To learn more about the igus' Y.E.S. Program or to request free samples, visit http://www.igus.com/yesprogram.

To learn more about Botball, visit http://www.botball.org or contact the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics at (405) 579-4609, via email at info(at)kipr.org or view http://www.kipr.org.

About igus

igus develops industry-leading Energy Chain cable carriers, Chainflex® continuous-flex cables, iglide® plastic bushings, igubal spherical bearings, and DryLin linear bearings and linear guides. These seemingly unrelated products are linked together through a belief in making functionally advanced, yet affordable plastic components and assemblies. With plastic bearing experience since 1964, cable carrier experience since 1971 and continuous-flex cable since 1989, igus provides the right solution from over 80,000 products available from stock. No minimum order required. For more information, contact igus at 1-800-521-2747 or visit http://www.igus.com.