Botball is a worldwide, team-oriented robotics program for middle- and high-school students.  Teams build and program autonomous robots using Botball-provided kits including an iRobot Create robot base, Lego pieces, and other parts — without the need of a machine shop.  Botball staff trains team leaders and mentors starting in January.  A 7-week build period follows, culminating in a regional tournament on March 28.  Teams must be registered by January 9 — two weeks prior to the New England Botball Workshop, which will be held January 23-24, 8AM-5PM, at UMass Lowell.  Massachusetts teams signed up so far for 2015 are from Arlington, Ashland, Chelmsford, Everett, Lowell, Hanover, Haverhill, Malden, Martha’s Vineyard, Pembroke, Roxbury, and Wellesley.