Hundreds of tech-crazed high school students are gathered in Boston University's Agganis Arena for the FIRST Robotics Competition.

FIRST (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a nonprofit organization started in 1989 by Dean Kamen, the New Hampshire-based inventor of the Segway scooter. Some scenes from preparations on Thursday.

"Drivers" or robot operators, listen intently to instructions before a practice round for the competition.