Family First

Family First: Meet The True Transformers

NYC Robotics Teams Out To Make World Better Place

NEW YORK (CBS) ― It can be tough to get kids interested in math and science unless you hook them using something a little more interesting than just numbers and equations.

So how about robots?

CBS 2 HD recently caught up with some incredibly smart students and their creations.

Meet Joshua the robot, built by the robotics team at Stuyvesant High School. This award winning creation has a mean free throw and has made learning a lot more tangible.

"When you go in school you write reports, but you don't really see much from it, but when you build something like this you can't miss it," said Stuyvesant's Steven Lam.

Students at the High School of Computers and Technology used the electronics from their robot two years ago to build a hybrid go-cart.

The FIRST teams, or the 'For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Robotics Teams from four New York City public schools had lots to show-off Wednesday at the Sony Plaza Atrium, where the goal was to attract young minds to technology.

FIRST was started in 1989 by Dean Kamen, the creator of the segway, to get young folks interested in science and technology.

"The youth is the future, so if you look at little kids, if they get interested in science and math and they're involved with robotics they can help with American advancement," said Lehman High School's Hassan Jalalluddin said.

One Lego robot was a big hit. The students programmed it to dance.

While this is a fun one, students have some pretty serious goals.

"We're hoping that one day we can actually make robots that can do surgery for people," said Ryan Cusack of Middle School 217. "And we can help maybe find a cure for cancer and maybe someday create cures for everything."

These young minds are going for big dreams.

There are more than 200 robotics teams in New York City public schools and about 1,300 teams nationwide.

(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)