MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- High school students across the state are putting the final touches on robot creations in preparation for a University of Minnesota robot competition this weekend.

The contest is expected to draw more than 120 teams from Minnesota and surrounding states. It will be held Friday and Saturday at University of Minnesota's Williams and Mariucci arenas.

Students and their mentors get six weeks to build their robots, which are usually about 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide. The robots will compete in teams to assemble and hang different shapes.

The competition uses the excitement of sports to promote science, math and engineering.

Gov. Mark Dayton and Sen. Amy Klobuchar plan to attend on Friday morning. Sen. Al Franken is scheduled to attend Saturday.

The free event is open to the public.

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