The Chatham-Kent Cyber Pack isn't wasting any time in getting ready for this year's challenge.
Local high school students are working together to build a robot and host community fundraisers to cover the costs of equipment and competition-related expenses.
CK Cyber Pack mentor Greg Vojvodin says the kids take on a lot of responsibility when they join the team.
"We as the mentors assist and guide but it's primarily the high school kids that do all of the work," he says.
Vojvodin says this year's challenge is based off a video game where they'll have to make a robot grab "cubes" or milk crates and move them. Each command the robot is able to complete will earn the team points at competitions.
The Cyber Pack has until mid-February to complete the project and ship it to their first competition, which is in Windsor at the end of March.
Between building the robot and travel needs, costs can really start to add up. Vojvodin says the cost for the robot start-up kit alone is about $5,000, which makes community support crucial.
"If we happen to be fortunate enough to win the district event where we get to go to Toronto, from there we go to Worlds -- our yearly budget runs around $20,000," he says.
Earlier this week, Chris Van Daele and Travis James with the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists, donated $500 to help the group.
For anyone looking to kelp out the team, the Cyber Pack is holding a breakfast fundraiser at the Masonic Temple in Chatham on March 3 from 8am-10pm. A full breakfast costs $5.