NL LEGO Robotics

Another Video on FLL 2010 Body Forward

2010-11-20T10:12:00.005-03:30

Here is a video of a team from Mexico (CBRoboticSchool) working on the FLL 2010 Body Forward Challenge:

FLL Body Forward YouTube Videos

2010-11-11T11:45:00.004-03:30

FLL Body Forward videos are starting to appear on YouTube. Some are more helpful than others but it always helps teams to have a look at solutions provided by others. Here are a couple I have looked at and thought interesting:

2010-11-08T11:15:00.002-03:30

Here is the official blog for the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) organization:

FLL Blog - http://fllblog.wordpress.com/;

It has some postings that give advice for teams on various parts of the FLL experience.

Robotics Online Conference

2010-10-19T18:15:00.002-02:30

Hi Teams, Coaches, & Mentors,

I am running an online conference with Elluminate Live on October 19, 2010 at 7:00pm for LEGO robotics teams in Newfoundland and Labrador. I will be talking about the partnership between NL Skills Canada and FIRST LEGO League (FLL) NL, discuss some issues around this year's competition, provide some tips, and finsih with a Q&A session.

I recommend you use headphones with a mic if you have a set. If you don't you should at least have the sound working on your computer so you can hear the presentation. To make sure follow the instructions in the document and do an audio test when you get into the E-Live room.

I will be in the room early to prepare for my presentation. Please connect at least 10 minutes before the meeting to make sure you have no technical problems. I will want to start promptly at 7:00pm.

This online conference is also the first one in a series sponsored by the Technology Educators Special Interest Council (TESIC) at the NLTA. Also thanks to Jim Murphy at the VTV and CDLI for their help and support.

See the information below for accessing the E-Room:

-----Here is part of the instructions to get you into the room just in case anybody has trouble opening the document---------------------

Follow this link to the login page for your session.

http://elive.cdli.ca/join_meeting.html?meetingId=1158682050330

This will bring you to the login page for the Virtual Teacher Centre Room. You can also bookmark this location for future use or create a link on your desktop for it.
Here are the directions...
To join the session, you must complete the following information:

1. Email Address: your_email@yourdistrict.ca
2. Display Name: Your First Name and Last Initial (this is in case there are other participants with the same first name)
3. Session Password: vtc
4. Once you complete the info, click the log in button.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope to see you online.

Thomas

FLL Body Forward 2010 Challenge

2010-09-22T19:34:00.005-02:30

One of my favourite times of the year is here once again. The FIRST LEGO League (FLL) challenge for 2010 has been released and this year’s theme is about biomedical engineering called Body Forward. Here is a list of resources that teams should visit:

FLL Body Forward 2010 Challenge (http://www.firstlegoleague.org/media/twocol.aspx?id=247) - On this official FLL page is all the information your team needs. It includes a section on the Robot Game with all the missions and rules explained with . There is also some important information about the Project.

TechBrick (http://www.techbrick.com/) - This is an awesome site with lots of great resources for teams competing in Body Forward. It includes sample scoring sheets, worksheets, and tips to help your team.

FLL Body Forward Scorer iPhone/iPod App by Sachin Patel (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fll-body-forward-scorer/id391265188?mt=8) - I used Sachin’s app for last year’s challenge and it was a great help keeping the scoring straight. This year’s app looks just as useful and Sachin has an update for the app already waiting approval in the iTunes Store.

The NXT Step Blog (http://www.thenxtstep.blogspot.com/) - This is one of my favourite NXT robotics sites to visit. I own several of the NXT robots books written by some of the blog contributors. James Floyd Kelly’s book, LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT: The Mayan Adventure, has been especially useful in my courses about NXT robotics.

FLL also has a good YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/FLLGlobal#p/c/ECD69862A53BE66D).

Well, that should get any FLL team off and running. Good luck to all FLL teams!

TechBrick: Body Forward Challenge 2010-11

2010-08-18T11:02:00.004-02:30

TechBrick is a great resource for teams involved in the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) and NL Skills Canada LEGO Robotics competitions held in Newfoundland and Labrador. They have posted resources to help out with this year's challenge:

Resources for the FLL 2010-11 Body Forward Challenge;

Again this year I hope to use this site to help teams out across the province as we prepare for competition so please check back regularly.

FLL Smart Moves

2009-10-02T19:24:00.002-02:30

Here are the FLL Smart Moves 2009 videos that explain the missions in this year's challenge:

FLL MISSION: GAIN ACCESS TO PLACES:

FLL MISSION: GAIN ACCESS TO THINGS (ACCESS MARKERS):

FLL MISSION: GAIN ACCESS TO THINGS (LOOPS):

FLL MISSION: AVOID IMPACT-WARNING BEACONS (BONUS):

FLL MISSION: AVOID IMPACT-SENSOR WALLS (AVOIDANCE OPTION):

FLL MISSION: SURVIVE IMPACT-SENSOR WALLS (IMPACT OPTION):

FLL MISSION: SURVIVE IMPACT-VEHICLE IMPACT TEST:

FLL MISSION: SURVIVE IMPACT-SINGLE PASSENGER RESTRAINT TEST:

FLL MISSION: SURVIVE IMPACT-MULTIPLE PASSENGER SAFETY TEST:

St. Francis Robotics - House Mission 2009

2009-06-08T11:53:00.004-02:30

This mission completes 6 tasks at once: delivers the bike, insulation and laptop, while opening the window, turning off the lights and raising the house using pneumatics on the attachment. A total of 100 points.

Calibrating NXT motors

2009-05-15T15:30:00.003-02:30

I always wonder why some of the robots my students build often don't go perfectly straight. It seems that not all NXT motors are created equally. This article from TechBrick.com explains how to calibrate the NXT motors to find out which ones match each other most closely:

Simple NXT Calibration: Look Ma! No Tools!

Line Following Chalenge

2009-05-11T21:51:00.005-02:30

My students at MUN Lifelong Learning used the light sensor on an NXT robot to complete a line following challenge. They had to start the robot on the red circle, find the starting position on the oval, follow the line around the oval, and have the robot finish on the red circle.

Here are videos from Groups 1 & 2:

The Scroll Challenge

2009-05-11T21:48:00.002-02:30

My students at MUN Lifelong Learning used the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT kit to complete the Scroll Challenge from James Floyd Kelly's book, LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT: The Mayan Adventure. The students built a simple arm and attached it to a motor on their robot. The robot then had to move in between two boxes and lift the scroll of paper off the boxes and bring it back to start.

Skills Canada Newfoundland & Labrador: 12TH Annual Provincial Skills Competition: Robotics

2009-04-04T16:18:00.005-02:30

The Skills Canada Newfoundland & Labrador: 12TH Annual Provincial Skills Competition was held on April 3, 2009. Robotics is one of the competitions and this year students had to design and build a robot that would pick up tennis balls and drop them into a slot in the center of the field area. The teams that competed were from:

Ascension Collegiate (Bay Roberts)
Carbonear Collegiate
Botwood Collegiate
Marystown Central High
O'Donel High School (Mount Pearl)

I had permission form the organizers to take some videos with my Flip Ultra Video camera and post them to our blog. Here are 3 videos that I quickly threw together with little editing:

For more information please visit Skills Canada Newfoundland & Labrador (http://www.skillscanada-nfld.com/).

LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT: The Mayan Adventure

2009-03-20T15:54:00.003-02:30

To my surprise and delight, Google Books has a preview of one of my favourite NXT books, LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT: The Mayan Adventure, by James Floyd Kelly. It is a great way to combine storytelling and learning about NXT robotics. I have used a few of the challenges in the books in the courses I teach and I particularly like the stringbot.

NL FLL 2008 Results

2008-12-15T20:56:00.004-03:30

Here are the results from the FLL Provincial Competition held December 6, 2009 in St. Mary's, Newfoundland:

Robot Performance:
1st Place - St. Francis School (Harbour Grace)
2nd Place - Frank Roberts Junior High (CBS)
3rd Place - St. Kevin's Junior High (Goulds)

Project Presentation:
1st Place - St. Francis School (Harbour Grace)
2nd Place - Baltimore School (Ferryland)
3rd Place - Holy Name Of Mary (Lawn)

Design/Programming:
1st Place - Brother Rice (St. John's)
2nd Place - Frank Roberts Junior High (CBS)
3rd Place - St. Kevin's Junior High (Goulds)

Teamwork:
1st Place - Frank Roberts Junior High (CBS)
2nd Place - St. Kevin's Junior High (Goulds)
3rd Place - Villanova (CBS)

Overall:
1st Place - St. Francis School (Harbour Grace)
2nd Place - Frank Roberts Junior High (CBS)
3rd Place - St. Kevin's Junior High (Goulds)

NL Skills Canada LEGO Robotics 2008

2008-12-07T10:36:00.000-03:30

The 2008 NL Skills Canada Intermediate LEGO Robotics Competition was held on November 29 at Brother Rice Junior High. It was a fun day with teams from all over the province competing in the 2008 Climate Connections Challenge. We run the Robot Game part for this competition and here are the top result:

1st Place: St. Francis School from Harbour Grace;
2nd Place: Brother Rice Junior High from St. John's;
3rd Place: Frank Roberts Junior High from CBS.

NL LEGO Robotics 2008 Season

2008-10-25T12:16:00.007-02:30

2008 NL LEGO Robotics Competitions:

NL Skills Canada Intermediate Challenge 2008

Date: Saturday, November 29, 2008
Location: Brother Rice Junior High, St. John's
Info: The scopes (guidelines) for the Intermediate Skills Canada Challenge have been released. Check them out here: http://www.skillscanada-nfld.com/ISC.php

NL FLL LEGO Robotics Provincials

Date: Saturday, December 6, 2008
Location: Dunne Memorial School, St. Mary's
Info: The guidelines for the FLL competition are located at: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/

Climate Connections Challenge Revealed!

2008-09-06T21:29:00.005-02:30

The Climate Challenge was unveiled by FLL on Friday but it is difficult to find on their web site. Here is the link to it: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/community/fll/overview.aspx

I recommend watching the videos to make sense of the Robot Game Missions.

Climate Challenge 2008-09

2008-09-03T08:48:00.002-02:30

FLL will be officially releasing the Climate Challenge on September 5, 2008. All information should be available on their web site after that.

Systm - Episode 61 - Build an Android

2008-07-21T20:35:00.002-02:30

Robotics Educators Conference 2008

2008-06-07T12:18:00.002-02:30

The Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Academy cordially invites you to attend this year’s Robotics Educators Conference, to be held at Butler County Community College, north of Pittsburgh in Butler, PA.

The Conference is taking place August 6-8, 2008. For more information please visit this link:

http://www.education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/robots/corridor/main/home_matter/conference.htm

FLL 2008 - Climate Connections

2008-06-03T14:15:00.003-02:30

The First LEGO League (FLL) 2008 season has begun with the opening of registration on May 1, 2008. This year's theme is Climate Connections.

Here are some of the deadlines that teams will need to keep in mind:

May 1, 2008 - Team Registration and Product Sales Open Online (http://www.register4fll.com/)
May - Robot sets, FIRST DVDs and Coaches' Handbooks Begin to Ship
August 1 - Field Set-up kits Begin to Ship
September 5 - International Challenge Announced
September 30 - Team Registration Closes/Last Day to Order Products
October 1-12 - Tournament Applications Accepted
November - December - NL Intermediate Skills Canada Robotics competition and FLL Tournament
April 2009 - FLL World Festival

Below is a summary of the costs to FLL Teams:

Expenses:

FLL Registration Fee - $235.00
FLL Field Setup Kit - $78.00

Optional Robotics Kits:

MINDSTORMS NXT Robot Set - $435.00

Optional Parts - NXT:

Rechargeable Battery - $70.00
Transformer - $25.50
NXT Interactive Motor - $23.00
NXT Touch Sensor - $22.00
NXT Light Sensor - $22.00
NXT Ultrasonic Sensor - $48.00
NXT Resource Set - $65.00

Optional Parts - RCX:

RCX Light Sensor - $18.75
RCX Rotation Sensor - $21.00
RCX 9V Gear Motor - $19.75

FLL Challenge 2008

2008-04-30T20:21:00.005-02:30

The theme for the 2008 FLL Challenge is Climate Connections. There is not a lot of info on it yet but FLL has posted a brief summary about it in the US section of the FLL web site (http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=70).

Registration for FLL 2008 opens May 1, 2008. You can register online on the FLL Registration site (http://www.register4fll.com/).

Corn Toss Challenge

2008-04-16T12:50:00.002-02:30

As part of my robotics club we have a challenge that students complete in groups to decide a club championship. This year's challenge was called the Corn Toss. Here is a video of the robots and the challenge:

Power Puzzle: Perfect Score

2008-04-07T16:53:00.002-02:30

It never ceases to amaze me how young people find solutions to the FLL challenges. Here is a post, FLL - A "Perfecter" Score?, on the NXTStep Blog.

I've posted the video below:

StringBot

2008-03-01T17:25:00.002-03:30

Here is the Stringbot that was built and programmed from James Kelly's book, LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT: The Mayan Adventure ().

NXT Paper Plane Shooter

2008-02-22T19:24:00.003-03:30

How about using the NXT to launch a paper plane. It looks like a plane flying off an aircraft carrier.

For more details head on over the to the nxtasy.org blog.

The Real Life Robotic Arm

2008-02-21T14:23:00.004-03:30

NXT Step blog posted links to a fascinating story and video about Segway's (Dean Kamen's company) efforts to create a robotic arm for disabled people.

Dean Kamen's 'Luke Skywalker' bionic arm

Here is the link to the video report about it on IEEE Spectrum Online:

Video of Dean Kamen's 'Luke Skywalker' bionic arm

NXT Competition Idea: Can Grabber

2008-02-18T14:06:00.001-03:30

Here is an idea for a design challenge using NXT robots:

Bathroom NXT bots

2008-02-18T14:01:00.003-03:30

Some people will build a NXT robot for any purpose. Here is a couple for the bathroom:

Why not a FlushBot:

Worth a Look: NXTCentral blog

2008-02-18T13:51:00.005-03:30

There are a couple of new NXT blogs that look like they are worth a look:

- NXT Central
- TeamNXT

Enjoy!

NXT Resources

2008-02-08T19:10:00.000-03:30

Norm and I held an in-service on NXT robotics today. I mentioned several resources and I wanted to post some further information.

I mentioned the following web sites:

You will find information about the book, Lego Mindstorms Nxt: The Mayan Adventure by James Floyd Kelly on The NXT STEP - LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Blog.

NXT Training in Eastern School District of NL

2008-02-01T11:47:00.000-03:30

There will be an opportunity on February 8th, for teachers in the Eastern School District to attend a training session about using the NXT LEGO MINDSTORMS kit in the classroom. Here is the info:

Title: Introduction to LEGO NXT robotics
Date: Friday, February 8, 2008
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Location: St. Francis School - Tech Ed computer lab
Trainers: Thomas Sheppard and Norm Littlejohn

This session is designed as an introduction to using the NXT MINDSTORMS robotics kit for use in the junior and senior high technology programs (The new kit was introduced in 2006 and is replacing the RCX-based MINDSTORMS robotics kit).

Topics will include the basics of building and programming an NXT robot using sensors and attachments. The priority will be on integrating robotics into the curriculum to accomplish course outcomes.

2007 NL FLL LEGO Robotics Competition Results

2007-12-13T22:21:00.000-03:30

Here are the Final Standings:

CATEGORY	1ST PLACE	2ND PLACE	3RD PLACE
Robot Performance	St. Francis	Br. Rice	Persalvic
Research Project	Frank Roberts	McDonald Drive	Holy Name of Mary
Design and Programming	St. Francis	Baltimore	Leary's Brook
Teamwork	Dunne Memorial	Frank Roberts	I.J. Samson
OVERALL	St. Francis	Br. Rice	Leary's Brook

Most Improved Team	St. Kevins
Against All Odds, Team	St. Thomas of VillaNova

2007 NL Skills Canada LEGO Robotics Results

2007-11-25T19:49:00.000-03:30

Here are the Top 3 results from the event:

1. Dunne Memorial, St. Mary's
2. Brother Rice, St. John's
3. St. Francis, Harbour Grace

Directions to Frank Roberts Junior High

2007-11-25T08:01:00.001-03:30

View Larger Map

NL FLL LEGO Robotics

2007-11-25T07:33:00.001-03:30

Competition info:

When: Saturday, December 8, 2007
Where: Frank Roberts Junior High, Foxtrap Access Road, CBS
Time: 8:00 - 4:00pm (tentative)
Contact: Thomas Sheppard (thomassheppard@esdnl.ca)

HighTech Kids site is worth a look

2007-11-17T14:45:00.000-03:30

MN FLL/MN HSR Training Download Facts
http://www.hightechkids.org/?2-1-1054

The NXT STEP Blog: Robot Design

2007-11-17T14:36:00.000-03:30

Some advice about NXT robot design and programming.

The NXT STEP Blog
http://thenxtstep.blogspot.com/2007/01/some-thoughts-on-fll-bot-design.html

The NXT STEP Blog: Overview of 2007 Power Puzzle Missions

2007-11-17T14:28:00.000-03:30

The NXT STEP Blog: Missions
http://thenxtstep.blogspot.com/search/label/FLL%20Overview

Tech Brick

2007-11-17T14:25:00.000-03:30

The following web site has a lot of great resources for new and experienced teams.

Tech Brick
http://www.techbrick.com/Lego/Lego2007/Resources/

Power Puzzle Scoring Sheets

2007-11-17T14:22:00.000-03:30

The following web site has MS Excel spreadsheets with the 2007 Scoring rubric.

Power Puzzle Scoring Sheets:
http://www.tappoint.com/robotics/scoring/

Advice for Teams being Interviewed by Technical judges

2007-11-17T14:18:00.000-03:30

This is an excerpt from the FLL International forum and requires teams to login to view.

Observations of a Tech Judge (http://www.firstlegoleague.org/scripts/webx.dll?14@156.Tt82aE6sxdi^42@.ee9abc5/0)

1) Teach your kids to answer questions accurately and briefly. I often would get rambles like: "And then we added the yellow beam, and then the blue on, or was it the red one? Suzy did that last week right after we had that great pizza! You like pizza? I sure do!" The longer you take to answer a question the fewer questions we can ask. But this is not your ticket for monosylabic answers. Answer the question answer it well and then allow the judge to continue.

2)As judges we have a hard time limit we can't deviate from. We may be forced to cut you off mid sentence. We are not rude, but having to watch the time. How I wanted to spend another hour talking but had to cut it short in the middle of a facinating exchange.

3) We may not be the teamwork judges, but this is not the time for a team to start arguing!

4) This is not the time to have the kids have ego problems about who built what. I care that all the kids were involved, but I am not keeping a taly. The kids should be taught to celebrate the TEAM'S ideas.

5) Students who hog the conversation are not helpful. I know that its often one or two kids that form the technical backbone of the team. But other team members need to be involved. The quiet kid needs to be given the chance to say something even if its just "Hi, we are team XYZ from ABC town. While the team sets up, I would like to give you our software listings."

6) It is often the case that the team introduction sheet you filled out for the tournament director did not get trickled down to the judges. Bring a second copy to hand to us.

6.5) The photo on your introduction page is IMPORTANT and should be in full uniform as we will see you at competitions. The photo is critical when we try to stretch back to remember your team when deciding on awards. We often talked about teams as the "red shirts" or the "white shirts" not by the team numbers.

7) Your listing in a nice folder can be helpful.

7.5) If you use a laptop (that fine as well) make sure it is powered on and the application is loaded as well as all the programs. Having to wait for NXT-G to load on a slow laptop robs your team of precious minutes I could be appropriate questions.

8) A single page specification is also helpful. A picture of the bot, small team photo, number of motors and sensors, interesting features, etc.

9) If you have things that are important for us to see, please jump in. We are more than willing to let you steer the comveration somewhat. "Yes, we are using two motors for locomotion as well as having incorporated a limited slip differential similar to the one in the book "Building LEGO Robots for FLL" is a much better answer than "Yes, we are using two motors for locomotion".

10) If asked if you have anything you would like to add, NEVER EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE say no. Always have several things in reserve that you can talk about. You NEVER want the judges to think that they were able to fully debrief you in 10 minutes!

11) Make sure that when you go in that the team knows the top points they want to make sure get discussed. I saw one team with a sophisticated drive system never explain it. Now it was possible it had been built for them but just as likely the kids were not aware that they should have mentioned it. Judges are not clairvoyant.

12) Personal skills are not lost on me. When team members are not anwering a question they should be attentive and not talking to other team members. It may not change the technical capability of your robot, but it changes my perception of it. Sorry, but I am human.

13) Fiddling with noise sources like a pocket full of change, noisy necklaces, and whistles have no place when I am trying to concentrate on your team. It is distracting to me and hence I can't do my beat job for your team.

14) Along the same lines, try to to feed the team sugar ten minutes before hand. Find a way to calm them down while you are waitting for your turn. Some teams use prayer, some use directed imagery, whatever works for you.

15) As a coach, make sure you take no part in the interview. I understand that you are an integral part of the team. But on game day, the coach sits on the sidelines and lets the team do the playing. Sit somewhere where the team can't see you. When a hard question comes up, they will have to think for themselves rather than trying to take cues from you. There are a few if any exceptions. The fact that three of your programmers are absent due to the flu can be explained by the team as well as the coach.

16) If you are concerned about handicaps that may seriously effect judging, let the tournament director know in advance. It can be helpful for us to differentiate the reason for behaviour issues.

Now all of this sounds like I am an old grumpy man. I am not. Middle aged at best. What I can tell you is that the above skills are important in life. The sooner the kids learn this, the better of they will be and the better they will judge.

-Skye

2007 Power Puzzle: Fairness Bonus

2007-11-17T14:11:00.000-03:30

This is an excerpt from the FLL International forum and requires teams to login to view.

Calculating Fairness Bonus
(http://www.firstlegoleague.org/scripts/webx.dll?50@156.Tt82aE6sxdi^4@.ee9c39b/0):

The parts of the bonus are considered separately. Your raw score puts you in one of the three categories:

# 0-100
# 105-325
# 330-395

not all of them. There is a different way specified to calculate the bonus in each category.

Note all raw scores are multiples of 5.

In the top category, scores are replaced:
330 --> 386
335 --> 387
340 --> 388
345 --> 389
350 --> 390
355 --> 391
360 --> 392
365 --> 393
370 --> 394
375 --> 395
380 --> 396
385 --> 397
390 --> 398
395 --> 399

Mathmatically, these could be expressed as

# 0-100, Bonus = .6 * RawScore
# 105-325, Bonus = 60
# 330-400, Bonus = .8 * (400 - RawScore)

(The bonus is the amount added to the raw score.)

Video of team in Netherlands completing missions

2007-11-17T14:08:00.000-03:30

C-3PO FLL Power Puzzle

Rule Questions

2007-10-15T21:06:00.000-02:30

Here's the official answer from FLL on the questions we came up with on Saturday. Here's the complete conversation. The answers in italics are from Scott Evans, FLL Engineer and Match Designer. He's the one who designs the challenges each year, and makes up the rules.

1. If the red truck is brought back to base by the robot, can the student then move the truck to the parking lot (by hand) to complete the requirement of having it in the parking lot at the end of the match?

No. QA25 clarifies that a truck moved to the lot by hand is no accomplishment of the robot, and will still be considered to be in Base, just as if it were instead moved to a box off the table.

http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=29620

I think the team's plan was to bring the truck back to base, remove the barrels from the truck, then place the truck (by hand) in the parking lot. Would this give them points for the barrels in the base + credit for having the truck in the parking lot?

half: They'd get credit for the barrels being in Base, since the robot did that, but then the ROBOT would have to take the extra step of pushing the truck into the lot.

The other scenario was to retrieve the truck to base, remove the barrels, then at a later point, have the robot pass through base, and push the empty truck into the parking lot.

That's allowable.

2. If, when delivering the car to the white property, the car doesn't make it all the way in, and some of the car is on the water, but still touching the white area, is this OK? I assume this is OK because the car is still touching the white area, no matter that some of it is in the water.

By Rule 12 and the fact that the scoring condition is "TO," as long as any part of the car breaks into the airspace above the target, the kids are all set.

3. If the coal car falls off the track when it hits the bumpers, do we assume it's then a stray object, and can be removed by the refs, or can the student still take it to the base by hand?

Stray.

I referenced the Q&A in my answer to this one, which talked about the coal falling out, but we are wondering what happens to the car if it falls off the track. I would assume it's then a stray object, along with the coal, and they would get no points for that mission. Am I correct?

You got it right!

FLL 2007 Power Puzzle Challenge

2007-10-06T15:42:00.001-02:30

This video helps clarify the Power Puzzle Challenge missions.

FLL 2007 Registration Cost

2007-06-13T15:47:00.000-02:30

The info about the expenses is explained on the registration web site:

http://register4fll.com/finditem.cfm?itemid=33

Here is my estimate:

FLL Team Registration (Required): Can. $235
FLL 2007 Field Set Up Kit: Can. $78
FLL Robot Set (NXT): Can. $435

TOTAL: $748+tax($104.72)=$852.72

I am not happy about the increased costs, but there seems little we can do about it. It is relatively inexpensive when you compare it to other robotics competitions, but that does not make it any easier for public schools where money is not always available. I fear the smaller and more rural schools will have great difficulty coming up with the money for this.

Registration for FLL 2007: Power Puzzle

2007-06-12T12:52:00.000-02:30

FLL Participants in Newfoundland and Labrador:

Registration for this season's First Lego League (FLL) has been open since May 1st. Please visit the site and register for this year's competition. The theme this year is Power Puzzle.

FLL Registration:
http://register4fll.com/

The web site has good information about FLL and the registration process. Please register as soon as possible to avoid any problems with the shipment of materials. Registration will close between mid-late September.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

NXT training for Eastern School District

2007-05-20T09:50:00.000-02:30

I will be holding a training session on NXT Mindstorms on June 12th, 2007 for the Eastern School District of Newfoundland and and Labrador. Those teachers interested are asked to register on the district's professional development calendar.

NL FLL LEGO Robotics 2006 Competition Results

2006-12-04T20:33:00.000-03:30

Here are the results from the NL FLL LEGO Robotics Competition held on December 2, 2006:

Overall
1st - St. Francis School
2nd - Brother Rice Junior High
3rd - Frank Roberts Junior High

Robot Performance
1st - St. Francis School
2nd - Frank Roberts Junior High
3rd - Brother Rice Junior High

Project Presentations
1st - St. Francis School
2nd - I.J. Samson Junior High
3rd - Lakecrest St. John's Independent School

Robot Design/Programming
1st - Leary's Brook Junior High
2nd - Brother Rice Junior High
3rd - St. Catherine's Academy

Teamwork
1st - St. Kevin's Junior High
2nd - Holy Name of Mary
3rd - Dunne Memorial Academy

Update: Change in Venue and Reminders

2006-11-30T13:27:00.000-03:30

Change in Venue

Due to unforeseen circumstances we will have to move the location of Saturday's competition from Mount Pearl Intermediate to O'Donel High School. O'Donel is a short way up and across the street from MPI (on the corner next to the lights).

Schedule

I sent out an email to all teams and attached a competition schedule for Saturday's competition in MS Excel format.

Reminders and Rules

I have been asked to pass along a few reminders and rules for the competition.

- Only students on the team and mentors/coaches are permitted in the pit area. Team coaches/mentors are asked to make sure that this rule is being followed and ask any individuals that are not permitted in the area to leave. There is a public seating area where these people can sit and watch the competition.
- Due to space limitations in the O'Donel gym, and in an effort to preserve the equal opportunity of teams at the competition, mats are not permitted to be setup in the pit area by any teams. We will have two practice mats setup during the competition and teams will be scheduled times to practice. You are asked to make sure you follow the schedule and there will be a referee placed at the tables to assist with keeping the schedule.
- Please remember to bring a box to cover your RCX and LEGO Tower at your table when you download your programs.

Organizers

Clar Button and Dwight Howse are the official FLL reps that will be running the competition this Saturday. If you have any concerns please feel free to contact them.

Skills Canada NL - Schedule

2006-11-10T20:57:00.000-03:30

4^th Annual Intermediate Skills Challenge

Saturday, November 25^th, 2006

Mount Pearl Intermediate, Ruth Avenue, Mount Pearl

final schedule

Competitions

8:00am – 9:30am Registration

9:30am – 10:00am Orientation – Q&A

10:00am – 3:00pm Competitions

11:00am – 2:00pm *Trade Demonstrations

4:30pm – 5:30pm Medals Presentation

*Trades demonstrations include:

Aesthetics, Hairstyling, Baking, Cooking, Bricklaying, Oil Burner Mechanic, Plumbing, Electrical Wiring, and Welding.

Skills Canada NL - Lego Robotics Update

2006-11-10T20:38:00.000-03:30

Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador 4th Annual Intermediate Skills Challenge 2006 is just around the corner. As you already know, Lego Robotics is one of the many events taking place at Mount Pearl Intermediate on November 25th. Here is a list of teams that have registered and confirmed with Skills Canada NL:

1. Brother Rice Junior High
2. Dunne Memorial Academy
3. Lakecrest St. John's Independent School
4. St. Francis School
5. I.J. Samson Junior High
6. St. Catherine's Academy
7. G.C. Rowe Junior High
8. St. Kevin's Junior High
9. Leary's Brook Junior High
10. Beaconsfield Junior High
11. Frank Roberts Junior High
12. Baltimore School

If your school is not on this list and should be please contact Skills Canada NL and myself right away.

NL Lego Robotics Teams Meeting

2006-10-18T16:03:00.000-02:30

These photos were taken during the NL Lego Robotics Teams meeting that took place on October 14, 2006. The meeting was held at Frank Roberts Junior High and teams spent the afternoon working on Challenge 2006: Nano Quest.

Latest FLL email

2006-10-17T15:55:00.000-02:30

Greetings Teams:

A few updates, notes, and reminders for you today!

Nanooze - Special Nano Quest Edition

The folks at Nanooze, a science magazine about nanotechnology for kids, have put together a special Nano Quest edition to tell you a bit more about the science behind some of the missions. These articles were written specifically for FLL teams so may be a great help in understanding the missions and the tiny world of nanotechnology. Go to the Nanooze website to read all about the missions.

Ask a Nanoscientist!

New - and available online now. The Museum of Science, Boston and the Materials Research Society are providing a great opportunity to assist with the tough questions that FLL Teams may have as they are researching nanoscience and technology for the Nano Quest Challenge. Go to the Ask A Nanoscientist Website to post your question. Once teams have had a chance to formulate questions, the questions and answers will be posted to the "Ask a Nanoscientist Website" - including yours! You may ask as many questions as you want, just check first to see if someone else has already asked it to save yourselves some
time.

Rookie Teams

Participating in an FLL tournament is the best way for your team to learn! Even if your team doesn't complete as much as it wants to this season, take part in a competition anyway. Kids learn from seeing other teams' robots and projects, and they usually leave an event with great ideas for next year. You may even discover that the team accomplished more than they thought, and they always have fun at an event. And be sure to introduce yourself to other teams at the event; veteran teams love to mentor new teams and show them the ropes. That's what FLL is all about!

Challenge Q&A Available

Remember to check the Challenge Q&A often for clarifications, updates, and official rulings. Subscribe today!

Go Teams!

NXT CD and Training Online

2006-10-13T16:28:00.000-02:30

I did an online Lego robotics course a couple of years ago through Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Academy (http://www-education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/). Through the course I learned about the building and programming (using Robolab software) of Lego robots using the RCX-based Mindstorms for Schools kit.

With the introduction of the new NXT-based robotics kits this year, I have been looking into doing a similar course. The Robotics Academy is selling an NXT robotics curriculum (two-cd set) entitled, Robotics Engineering: Introduction to Mobile Robotics, Vol. 1 (http://store.robomatter.com/roenvoiintom.html) for $225.00 (US). With the purchase of the cd set you get an online teacher training course free (8 weeks).

I am considering this option so I thought I would pass along the information to anyone out there that may also be interested. The price is steep, but I learned a lot on the last course and I used the cd that I purchased the last time to teach my students.

BTW, they are still offering the RCX-based online training (8 weeks but no cd) for $55.00 (US).

Thomas

NL Robotics Update

2006-10-13T16:07:00.000-02:30

A few Issues and Events requiring your consideration:

1. TRAINING SESSION SCHEDULE:

October 14

Thomas Sheppard is hosting a working meeting for teachers and students at Frank Roberts JHS, Foxtrap Access Road, this coming weekend. It's a terrific opportunity for students to collaborate and learn a great deal about the design of mechanical and the programming aspects of the FLL competition. Teams willbring their own lego units, some will bring field set-ups, all will bring their own laptops for programming. Don't forget extension cords and power bars.

Other dates may follow.

2. COMPETITIONS

We have had discussions about the dates of the Intermediate School robotics competitions.

November 25

We know that the Skills Canada Intermediate Skills Challenge (ISC-2006) will be held at Mt. Pearl Intermediate on Saturday, November 25th. There will be a robotics element to that competition, which will involve JUST the robot performance on this year's "Nano Quest" Challenge.

December 2

We are examining the dates and location for the full-fledge First Lego League qualifying competition. At the moment, we're pretty sure that the date will be Saturday, December 2, (the weekend after the ISC). We are investigating two sites.....Mt. Pearl Intermediate and St. Francis School , which have graciously offered to be our host venue. Both appear to be quite desireable, albeit for different reasons.

Pre-registration will be required.

3. T-SHIRTS

We have secured permission to use the graphic art produced by Hi-Tech Kids, at a modest cost, and of course, we have access to the FLL Lego and Nano logos for the preparation of team T-shirts. You will be able to select one of an array of colours with these logos on the shirt, as well as your school name and possibly logo as well. My philosophy about these items is that they're excellent promotion for the school and the kids like to wear them. They should be good quality 50/50 shirts.

I'm making a guess at about $15-17 / shirt, given the artwork and the screen printing involved. Given that price, we need to know how many teams will order it as we will pre-order these units, on a pre-paid basis. It's something we need to get rolling now.

4. PD OPPORTUNITY.

There will be a PD opportunity in FLL Robotics during the Avalon East Region close-out, and possibly also in the Avalon West Region PD close-out. Search your PD calendar for this opportunity.

5. REGISTRATION FEE

We'll soon settle on a registration fee for the provncial competition, which will be a little higher than last year, but not enormous, when shared among the team. Pre-competition registration with a reasonable deadline will be a fact of life, as we have to plan on the numbers arriving.

Next Meeting

2006-10-06T15:30:00.000-02:30

Hi Teams,

I will be hosting the next meeting for Lego Robotics teams. This will be an opportunity for you to bring along some team members and work on Nano Quest. Here is the info:

Location: Frank Roberts Junior High (Foxtrap Access Road, CBS)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm

We will be in the gym and we will have two mats setup to work on. If you want your students to work on the mat you will need to bring the following items:

- your computer with the programming software
- your robot and robotics kit
- extension cords

I would like to keep the numbers down due to supervision concerns so I ask that a maximum of 10 students per team be allowed. Please keep in mind that students will not be allowed outside the gym area and that you will be responsible for your students.

I am requiring a confirmation if you plan to attend and please include how many students you will be bringing. The reason is that I need to setup the gym and this can be a lot of work if the numbers are large. Deadline for confirming your attendance is Wednesday, Oct. 3rd. If you do not email me I will assume you are not coming.

I would like you to treat this as an opportunity for students to get together and learn from each other so please come with a spirit of co-operation. Also come prepared with questions and issues you wish to discuss.

Thomas

NXT links

2006-10-04T17:04:00.000-02:30

I was into the forum on the FLL site and noticed a few links about the NXT kit so I added them to the links menu on the right.

Dirt objects getting caught in the net

2006-09-25T14:33:00.000-02:30

I found this on the forum this morning:

"The dirt pieces are Bonus Objects, worth 5 points each in the dirt trap, and 3 points each everywhere else on the table.

If the dirt does not make it into the trap, they are only worth 3 points. Unless they are in the ref's pocket when they are worth 0 points.

Having the dirt get stuck in the net is not a limitation of the model like the release mechanism of the atomic motor. It is fully expected that some dirt will be bounce in wild directions or get stuck in the net. Now is the time for your team to brainstorm a solution to this interesting problem."

Ruling from FLL on Unstainable Fabric Mission

2006-09-25T11:18:00.000-02:30

Just had a reply from Scott Evans on the question that came up on Saturday. The question was did we have to bring the dust container to the marked area on the mat before we could dump the materials into it. As we said on Saturday, we don't even have to deliver the container at all if that's part of your strategy. There are points awarded for the dumper being empty, you just won't receive any points for delivering the container. The only way you won't get points for having the dumper empty, is if there's one piece left and the referee takes it because of a touch penalty.

NXT Software

2006-09-23T21:45:00.000-02:30

There is one thing I forgot to mention at the Orientation meeting about the NXT software. It seems to be easier to program than previous versions, but there's one major thing to keep in mind. It requires a minimum 256 megs of RAM to operate! I installed it on a P4 with 256 megs, but when the software is running, it's quite slow.

First Meeting

2006-09-20T20:17:00.000-02:30

Challenge 2006 - Nano Quest - Orientation meeting

Our first orientation meeting for the 2006 season will be held on Saturday, September 23, between 2:00pm and 4:00pm at O'Donel High School in Mount Pearl. The meeting will be in the Learning Resources (Library) room.

I will ask that we keep this first meeting for coaches/teachers only (no students). We will be including them in the next meeting.

BTW, the meeting is open to teachers in the Eastern District that are interested in Lego Robotics.

FLL Forum Access Code

2006-09-19T09:30:00.000-02:30

The FLL Forum is now open and your codes should work. I find it a great place to find answers to common questions, and other concerns that other teams have. You will find, however, that the best place to find out things is by following the American links. :)

Reminder: Orientation Meeting

2006-09-15T22:08:00.000-02:30

Challenge 2006 - Nano Quest - Orientation meeting

Our first orientation meeting for the 2006 season will be held on Saturday, September 23, between 2:00pm and 4:00pm at O'Donel High School in Mount Pearl. We will be discussing this year's challenge and any other issues that teams bring forward. I realize that not everyone will be able to attend this meeting so please let me know if you are planning to attend. For those of you who cannot make it I will email out any details that are important that may have been discussed at the meeting.

Thomas

Nano Quest: Fairness Bonus

2006-09-15T21:58:00.000-02:30

Here is a new twist for this year:

Fairness Bonus

For 20 bonus points, an RCX robot must earn points in any 3 missions, or an NXT robot must earn points in any 6 missions.

Source: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=23720

Nano Quest: Stain-Resistant Fabric

2006-09-15T21:31:00.000-02:30

Stain-Resistant Fabric

Mission: Test some stain-resistant fabric. The robot must deliver the dirt trap to its location mark and completely dump out the tester’s dirt dumper. The dirt trap at its mark is worth 15 points, and the dirt dumper when empty is worth 15 points. The dirt pieces are Bonus Objects, worth 5 points each in the dirt trap, and 3 points each everywhere else on the table. When removing dirt for a Bonus Loss, the referee takes stray pieces first, then pieces from the dumper, and pieces from the trap last.

Source: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=23720

Nano Quest: Nanotube Strength

2006-09-15T21:27:00.000-02:30

Nanotube Strength

Mission: Lift the truck by a thin cable of carbon nanotubes. The robot must move the truck onto the lift frame and activate the lift. The truck completely on the frame is worth 20 points. The truck and frame supported completely and only by the cable is worth an additional 20 points.

Source: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=23720

Nano Quest: Pizza Molecules

2006-09-15T21:24:00.000-02:30

Smell

Mission: Transfer molecules from the pizza toward the nose. The robot must get pizza molecules completely off the paper plate for 5 points each, and transferred to the yellow or black areas of the person’s head or neck for an additional 10 points each.

Source: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=23720

Nano Quest: Smart Medicine

2006-09-15T21:22:00.000-02:30

Smart Medicine

Mission: Target medicine to reach only a specific problem spot. The robot must release the Buckyball containing medicine into the person’s arm. The Buckyball is placed anywhere in the red/yellow channel of the arm bone is worth 50 points (even if it hasn’t reached the problem spot).

Source: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=23720

Nano Quest: Self Assembly

2006-09-15T21:20:00.000-02:30

Self-Assembly

Mission: Start the self-alignment of atoms. The robot must cause the angled blue nanotube segments to align horizontally end to end. This alignment is worth 30 points.

Source: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=23720

Nano Quest: Molecular Motor

2006-09-15T21:16:00.000-02:30

Molecular Motor

Mission: Deliver an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecule to power a molecular motor, causing it to spin and release energy. The robot must deliver 1 of the 2 ATP molecules through the molecular motor’s black frame for 40 points (even if nothing else happens). The second ATP molecule represents a second chance to complete this mission, but points are only given for 1 delivered molecule.

Source: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=23720

Nano Quest: Atomic Force Microscopy

2006-09-15T21:12:00.000-02:30

Atomic Force Microscopy

Mission: Free the probe’s nanotip. The robot must separate the nanotip from the material surface. The nanotip separated from the surface is worth 40 points.

Source: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=23720

Nano Quest: Atoms

2006-09-15T21:08:00.000-02:30

Individual Atom Manipulation

Mission: Move individual atoms accurately. The robot must remove at least 1 white atom from the blue surface without removing any red atoms. Counting atoms left on the surface, a count of fewer than 8 red atoms is worth no points. A count of 8 red atoms and 7 or 6 white atoms is worth 30 points. A count of 8 red atoms and 5 or fewer white atoms is worth 40 points.

Source: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=23720

Nano Quest: Space Elevator

2006-09-15T20:56:00.000-02:30

Space Elevator

Mission: Operate the space elevator. At least one robot must cause the car with the yellow cargo to come down. If this mission is completed, no matter which robot or robots worked on it, both teams get 40 points.

Source: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=23720

Important Dates this Month

2006-09-07T22:43:00.000-02:30

There are a couple important dates to keep in mind this month:

September 15 - FLL will officially launch Challenge 2006 - NanoQuest
September 29 - FLL Registration closes for Challenge 2006

I expect the mission information will be released on September 15th as well.

No NanoQuest mission

2006-09-05T22:24:00.000-02:30

I checked the FLL web site and could not find any information posted about the missions yet. I expect it will be posted soon so please keep checking.

Registering for FLL

2006-09-05T22:12:00.000-02:30

To get started you will need to register online at the FLL web site. When you are going through the registration process you have to pay the following:

FLL Registration Fee: $180.00
Field setup kit 2006 (includes lego parts and mat): $78.00
RCX robotics kit (mindstorm for schools) OR
the new NXT robotics kit: $375.00

* This is in Canadian dollars (the web site will give you American prices) and taxes are not included.
* There is a new robotics kit out called the NXT and will become the standard but I anticipate that most teams will be using the older RCX-based kit.

Once you complete your registration, Spectrum will bill you for everything and ship your order to the shipping address you specified during registration.

If you decide to get involved this year it is very important that you order right away so that you can get started. The deadline for registration is September 29th.

Here is the web site for more info about registering: http://www.usfirst.org/jrobtcs/flego.htm

This is the registration web site (link is also on info page above): http://register4fll.com/

This is the web site for information about the competition: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/

NL Robotics Blog

2006-09-04T22:41:00.000-02:30

I am hoping to use this blog as a source of information and help to those involved in lego robotics in Newfoundland and Labrador.