FLL - Food Factor: NYC Javits Tournament...

March 18, 2012

8am-3:30pm

FIRST LEGO League NYC Regional

Javits Center Layout

 

Coaches: Check your e-mails for Pit Assignments & Schedule.

Note: Robot Inspection (mandatory) starts at Registration. After registering, bring the team robot(s) and all attachments to the Game Performance Area to be inspected. (Look for the sign) Please know your Pit & Team number.

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FLL - Food Factor: NYC FIRST Tournament...

NYC FIRST Tournament
2012

They're Going to Javits!

655 West 34th Street  New York

FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Winners

Bronx Qualifier

Champions Awards

1st - Knights of The Rectangular Table - Riverdale Country School

Performance

1st - Niles - MS 118

Core Values

Teamwork - Robotronics - Bronx Prep Charter School

Inspiration - HM Lions - Horace Mann

Gracious Professionalism - Bronx Brilliant Engineers - Young Athletes Association Mechanical

Robot Design

Mechanical Design - Robo Rockets - RoboMindTech

Programming - Ridder Kids - IS98

Strategy and Innovation - Techno Tigers - PS/MS 194

Research Project

Research - Bronx Task Force - Good Shepherd Services

Presentation - Bengal Tigerbots - PS 55 

Innovative Solution - CS 66 Brats - CS 66

Note the 2 teams below advanced because the 2 champions are also winners of the performance rounds so the next 2 performance round winners who did not place are advanced to round of the team advancement to 13

• Qualifier No.1 - The Molecules - PS 195
• Qualifier No 2 - The 76ers - PS 76

Manhattan Qualifier

Champions Award

1st - Alien Pi - The Dalton School

2nd - Raging Tigers - The Trinity School

3rd - Food Fighters - NYC Lab Middle School

Robot Design

Mechanical Design - Chelsea Transformers - Chelsea Prep Academy

Programming - Chapin Bots 2 - The Chapin School

Strategy & Innovation - Robo Rodeo - The Dalton School

Core Values

Inspiration - Thunderbots - Metropolitan Montessori School

Teamwork - Hunters to be Hunted - Hunter College High School
Gracious Professionalism - Angry Nerds - Hunter College High School

Research Project

Research - Digital Pride - The Gateway Middle School

Innovative Solution - Columbia Craft Crammers - Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School

Presentation - BISNY - British International School of New York

Rising Star: - MATbots - P.S. 126

Performance

1st - Chelsea Robot Rulers - P.S. 33 Chelsea Prep Academy

2nd - DROIDMakers - The Inwood Academy for Leadership

3rd - Chapin Bots 1 - The Chapin School

Brooklyn Qualifier

Champions Award
1st - Gear Hawk - P.S. 399
2nd - Falcon Robotic Allstars - M.S. 113
3rd - Skybots - I.S. 383

Robot Design

Mechanical Design - Lego My Eggo- M.S. 821
Programming
1st - Master Blasters - P.S. 94
2nd - Mission 11- P.S. 11
Strategy and Innovation
1st - Megaminds - P.S. 94
2nd - Banneker Bots - P.S. 256

Robot Performance
1st - Team: Master Blasters - P.S. 94
2nd - Team: Lego My Eggo - P.S. 821
3rd - Team: Megaminds - P.S. 94

Core Values

Gracious Professionals - Swedish Chef 2 - Packer Collegiate Institute
Inspiration - Bacteria Terminators - P.S. 9
Teamwork - Team [x]- P.S. 321

Project Research

Research
1st - Super Novas - Urban Assembly Institute of Math and Science for Young Women
2nd -  Brick Boyz - P.S. 58
Innovation
1st -  Germinators - P.S. 58
2nd -  Lego-nauts - P.S. 321
Presentation -  LegoMinds - P.S. 233

Judges’ Award - The Nerd Herd - St. Edmunds Elementary School

Against All Odds Awards - Nano Wolves - Fort Greene Preparatory Academy

Rising Stars - RoboTigers - P.S. 3
Rockbots - P.S. 321

Queens Qualifier

Champions Award

1st - Food Fighters - Forest Hills Robotics

2nd -  TopGearz - IS 119

3rd - RobGbots - Brics~2~Bots/RoboMindTech

Robot Design

Mechanical Design - Blood, Sweat, & Gears - IS 318

Programming - Slaughter Bots - The Garden School

Strategy - Ryan Lions - MS 216

Research Project

Research - Cambria Warbots - Cambria Heights School for the Gifted

Presentation - SuperBotz - IS 119

Innovative Solution - PandaBots - PS 94

Core Values

Inspiration - Clean'em Up Crew - IS 318

Teamwork - LegoBots - PS 128

Gracious Professionalism - 49er Miners - PS 49

Robot Performance

1st - Planetary Forces - Forest Hills Robotics

2nd - Food Fighters - Forest Hills Robotics

3rd - Robobeta - RoboMindTech

Judge's Award - GRIP - Forest Hills Robotics

Rising Star - The Phantoms - IS 192

Qualifier - Masterminds - MS 88

Staten Island Qualifier

(Sorry, I was not given the categories)

Panthers 1 - IS 75

Dryfus Torque 1 - IS 49

Genesis Legosmiths - Genesis at Xaverian

Dark Knights of 24 - IS 24

Panthers 2 - IS 75

Transformers 1 - St. Clares

Transformers 4 - St Clares

Eagles - Eltingville Lutheran

PAVE Bots - Pave Academy

Mustangs 2 - IS 27

Mustangs 3 - IS 27

Marauder Bots - Parks Dept.

Special Shout-Out!

to
L3GoBots Lady's team & mentee teams

Congrats!

RoboGbots

Chapin Bots 1

Chapin Bots 2

Raging Tigers

Lego-nauts
Rockbots
RoboTron

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LEGO Tech & Robotics: It's the Year of the Girls...

The Chinese New Year is January 23, 2012.  It is the year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac.

However, at the LEGO(R) Group, it’s the year of the girls!

LEGO in its efforts to get more girls involved in LEGO building has come out with a new line of kits for girl interests. In addition to their “Belville,”(ages 5-10) and their “Pink Brick Boxes – Duplo and regular bricks,”(2-5); there is now “Creative Cakes (Duplo) and “Friends” (6-12). Of course, the girls can also build cars, castles, and spaceships (there are a few female minifigures in those kits too).

P.S. Congratulations Emma W. for her "Golden Sea Chest" winning in the LEGO Cool Creations Pirates of the Caribbean Building Challenge!

Girls are also building and programming the LEGO Mindstorms NXT robots. There is an increasing number of girl participation in the FIRST robotics competitions around the world. Girl Scout teams, all girl school teams, and private all girl teams are competing in the FIRST LEGO League (ages 8-14), FIRST Tech Competition (HS), and FIRST Robotics (HS).

In the NYC regional, here are few that will be competing (if you know the names of other ALL-Girl teams, please send it to  brics2bots@gmail.com   so they can be listed:

roboGbots – Brics~2~Bots Academy & RoboMindTech Center (my team)

The Young Womens’ Leadership School

The Chapin School

Urban Assembly Institute of Math & Science for Young Women

And of course, we should give a special thanks to a couple of the women  LEGO Mindstorms NXT robot builders who paved the way:

Fay Rhodes - http://thenxtzoo.com/

Anika Vuurzoon - http://thenxtstep.blogspot.com/2012/02/lego-nxtified-friends-robolab-3933.html

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Happy New Year: 2012...

]-[ /-\ PP `/ * ]\[ 3 W * `/ 3 /-\ R! 

2012

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The Cult of LEGO...

Just in time for the holidays!

The Cult of LEGO by John Baichtal and Joe Meno - No Starch Press, 2011 gives us a peek into the world of AFOLs, Adult Fans Of LEGO(R) ; yes, they do exist and are growing in number. The book is copiously illustrated with color photographs of amazing models built by some of the most renowned AFOL fans and professionals. For the AFOL it is a must have book for their LEGO book collection and for the non-AFOLs this book beautifully explains what this LEGO world is about.

The book starts off with a brief History of LEGO Group; where it all started. The second chapter answers the questions: who are AFOLs, how do they evolve, and where are they found? One of the things I like about the book is that it also showcases the women AFOLs as well; there are a few of us.

The chapter Minifig Mania is all about those little LEGO people, minifigures, from controversy to famous people – minisized.

(Re)creating Icons shows how LEGO builders are using the brick to represent objects, buildings, people, even classic art as brick art. The next few chapters take the reader into the fascinating world of AFOLs building styles: Building with Imagination, LEGO Art, Telling Stories, Micro/Macro, and Digital Brickage; where science fiction, fantasy, art, and expression reveal the creative and remarkable talent of AFOLs.

As a LEGO Mindstorms robotics instructor and builder, I especially appreciate the chapter on LEGO Robotics: Building Smart Models. This chapter shows how LEGO robotics has taken LEGO building into a new realm with its biggest influence on education and future careers.

The final chapter, Serious LEGO, reveals how a  toy  of fantasy has become a tool in the real world to solve problems of human design and machines.

Check out the video @ Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Cult-LEGO-John-Baichtal/dp/1593273916/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323283857&sr=8-1

Give this book to a LEGO(R) fan (or suspected closeted fan), they will love you for it!

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Science and Math Robotics Training...

Science-and-Math-Geared Robotics Training

free, 6 hours, hands-on, informative training for teachers

Through this training you will gain the skills to:

• enrich your classroom time with engaging, kid-friendly activities and demonstrations
• design and build robotic devices as an engineer
• master implementing use of sensors in science and math lab activities
• program with LEGO Digital Designer and Mindstorms software.

No previous robotics experience is necessary! You will also learn about existing science and math activities and gain access to everything you learned during the training. There is only one condition: since space is limited, only teachers with no experience in robotics are qualify to attend.

If you are planning to attend this crash-course/robotics training, please, choose a date that best fits your personal schedule at www.doodle.com/2m4yavc2z3y2bhsc. The training will take place at Polytechnic Institute of NYU, Six Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, NY on Saturday December 10th or December 17th, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Feel free to contact Irina Igel with any questions at ira_igel@yahoo.com.

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JrFLL - Snack Attack: NYC Registration...

NYC Jr. FLL

Feb. 11, 2012

10am

@

Polytechnic Institute of NYU

MetroTech Center Brooklyn, NY 11201

Registration is Still Open!
(Registration is limited to 24 teams)

Contact: Keith Wynne  kwynne.science@gmail.com

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FLL - Food Factor: What to Bring to the Competition...

 

So what should you bring to a FIRST LEGO League competition event???

•     Robot and attachments

•     Signed Consent and Release forms - English/ Spanish

•     Parts kit

•     Print out of programs and robot specification page

•     Materials, props, and equipment needed for Project presentation

•     Laptop computer with batteries and/or AC adaptor, extra batteries,

extension cords

•     Team scrapbook

•     Team banner, posters, or other  decorations for pit space

•     Snacks and drinks

•     Storage box for personal items

•     USB cable (NXT) or IR tower (RCX)

•     Programming garage (only for RCX)

•     Team introduction page

•     Fun, inexpensive gifts to share with other teams (pins, hats,

personalized, team playing cards)

and don't forget,

Enthusiasm & Team Spirit!

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FLL - Food Factor: NYC Queens Qualifier...

NYC FIRST LEGO League Queens Qualifier

Saturday January 28th, 2011 8:30am-3:30pm 

JHS 216:   64-20 175th Street, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365

All teams must register in advance by filling out the Registration form and mailing in payment.

You must participate in this event to be eligible for the citywide at the Jacob Javits Center

Registration dates: Nov. 9 - January 10.  $40 Per Team Payable to: George J Ryan MS 216, please mail check with team number to: above address ATTN: Peter Xanthus.

Team capacity: 40.


You will be registered in the order in which your forms are received.

Registration is not complete until the attached form AND the check is received at Ryan Middle School.  
IF YOU HAVE DECIDED NOT TO PARTICIPATE THIS YEAR LET US KNOW ASAP
Tournament Contacts: Peter Xanthus: pt...@aol.com, (718) 358-2005

FLL - Food Factor: NYC Brooklyn Qualifier...

The 2012 FLL Brooklyn Qualifier will be held:

Saturday January 14th, 2012 8:00am-4:00pm

Polytechnic Institute of NYU, Brooklyn Campus.

Directions: http://www.poly.edu/node/463

You must participate in this event to be eligible for the citywide competition at the Jacob Javits Center in March

Registration Date: Nov. 8th -Dec 22nd

Registration is not complete until the form and payment has been received.

Registration Fee: $40 Per Team

You will be registered in the order in which your payment has been received.

Checks are payable to: Polytechnic Institute of NYU/FIRST

Please mail check(s) or Money Order(s) with team number(s) to:

Polytechnic Institute of NYU

Attn: Susan Hermon Room JB257A

6 MetroTech Center Brooklyn, NY 11201

You can also make payments by credit card at the registration link below

*The team capacity is 45 we have 53 registered teams, if you would like to participate at another borough qualifier please send me an email shermon@poly.edu indicating which borough qualifier:*

Manhattan and Bronx Saturday, Jan. 21^st (limited availability)

Staten Island Sunday, Feb. 5^th

*Once capacity has been filled and/or you have not registered by the deadline you will automatically be assigned to an available qualifier.*

*IF YOU HAVE DECIDED NOT TO PARTICIPATE THIS YEAR LET ME KNOW ASAP*

Tournament Contact: Susan Hermon: shermon@poly.edu, (718) 260-3524 please contact me with any questions and/or concerns.

Please register at the link below:

http://www.poly.edu/node/4405

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FLL - Food Factor: Robot Awards...

This year the Robot Awards are divided into Robot Performance – Design – Programming – Innovation & Strategy.

For the Design, Programming, and Innovation Awards team members will present their robot with attachments (must be the one used in the Game Performance) to a panel of judges. They should explain the design (using technical terminology), how the robot and attachments work, explain the programming, an example of using strategy, and give a demonstration of the robot in action.

As stated in Rule 4:

ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
If using the NXT, "you are allowed a maximum of six non-rotation sensors in the competition area. Choose your favorite combination from among the LEGO-manufactured Mindstorms touch sensors, light sensors, color sensors (LEGO RGB color), and ultrasonic sensors."

For using the RCX:
RCX robots are allowed, with a max of eight sensors from among touch, rotation, and light.

However, there are no restrictions on the quantities or sources of non-electric LEGO(R) elements, except that factory-made wind-up/pull-back “motors” are not allowed. Pneumatic elements are allowed.

Please read the Complete Challenge PDF Document: http://firstlegoleague.org/challenge/2011foodfactor under "robot game - rules, procedures, philosophies and definitions"

So be CREATIVE!

Use elements/parts of different colors and types from any of the LEGO(R) kits (the Technic series is a good source). If you have an old RCX kit you may use the non-electric elements, as well as, motors and sensors - provided that you do not exceed the limitations of allowable motors and sensors (Rule 4 – Equipment).

Consumer versions of NXT-G software do not have the RCX blocks. Old Educational versions of NXT-G do have RCX blocks for the motor & sensors. The new Educational 2.1 & Consumer versions of NXT-G will program the RCX motor & the touch sensor with its own blocks, but the light sensor only reads around 55 brightness**

Gearing is impressive & very useful. The use of sensors is definitely a plus with the judges and this year's Game Performance challenge has a lot of opportunities for sensor use.

LEt’s GO teams!

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FLL - Food Factor: NXT Robot & Software Resource...

Websites/Books for the NXT User

V. “LeGo-Bots Lady” Greene

2011

http://mindstorms.lego.com/ - NXT

http://www.wonderhowto.com/related/program-movements-in-the-lego-mindstorms-nxt-system/from-79056/ - Programming videos

http://www.ortop.org/NXT_Tutorial/index.html - Programming videos

http://learn.cs2n.org/ - Free online FLL Programming Training

http://www.peeron.com/inv/sets/9797-1 - NXT elements

http://www.legoeducation.com - Purchasing kits & parts

Building & Programming ideas

http://mindstorms.lego.com/NXTLOG/default.aspx - 100s of models & program ideas

http://ldd.lego.com/download/default.aspx - Free designer software for LEGO models & NXT

http://www.nxtprograms.com/ - Models, building instructions, & programs

http://legoengineering.com/component/docman/ - Building instructions & programs

FLL Tournament:

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/fll - FLL home page

http://firstlegoleague.org/challenge/robotgameupdates - Updated Rulings

Books:

Kelly, James Floyd. LEGO Mindstorms NXT-G Programming Guide.2^nd edition Berkley, CA: Apress, 2010. $24.95

Griffin, Terry. The Art of LEGO Mindstorms NXT-G Programming. San Francisco, CA: No Starch Press, 2010. $29.95.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Kelly, James & Daudelin, Jonathan. FIRST LEGO League: The Unofficial Guide. San Francisco, CA: No Starch Press, 2008. $25.

Trrobaugh, James J. Winning Design! LEGO Mindstorms NXT: Design Patterns for Fun & Competition. Berkley, CA: Apress, 2010. $29.99

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FLL - Food Factor: Missions Scorer App...

Last year a great App for "iDevices" was made available to score the missions in the Game Performance of the FIRST LEGO League Competition.

The new App for this year's competition "Food Factor" is now available. Looking at this year's, somewhat complex, scoring rules & conditions, this App is going to be a very valuable tool! It lets you score, time, save & e-mail your missions score, links to the FIRST website for info, rules, Game updates & Project page. Price for this wonderful tool... 99 cents.

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FLL - Food Factor: LEGO Digital Robot Design...

One of the objectives of FIRST is to expose young people to the possibilities of engineering and technology. The LEGO® Digital Designer is an excellent way to introduce kids to the world of Computer Aided Design. FLL and FTC teams can design attachments made with the Mindstorms NXT kit, print out pictures of it, and view or print out the steps for the best way of building the attachment. It is a free download-able program from www.lego.com, so team members who happen to have a brain-storm at home, can download it to their computer, design their idea, and bring in the results to the team at the next meeting.

It is a great tool for designing attachments, or even an entire NXT robot, while teaching young people another technological skill.

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FLL - Food Factor: Color Sensor...

It's official...

The HiTechnic/LEGO color sensor MAY NOT be used in the FIRST LEGO League competition!

The LEGO RGB color sensor is the one that is allowed to be used:

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Omni-Wheels forn NXT - Update...

Omni-Wheels for the Mindstorms® NXT robot hobbyist...


is NOW AVAILABLE from

http://www.rotacaster.com.au/robot-wheels.html


However, a creative alternative...

If you happen to have a pair of Tetrix® Omni Wheels you can adapt them to work on your NXT robot. The Tetrix® Omni Wheel attaches to the Tetrix DC drive motor or uses a metal axle to attach it to the metal frame of the robot, but it can be adapted to attach to the NXT Interactive Servo Motor or as a free moving wheel attached to a Technic beam. It's excellent as a third wheel (see above photo).


The Omni Wheels can also be doubled for more stability & traction.

This Omni Wheel can be ordered from LEGO® Education; come as a pair of wheels, one spacer, and four screws. However, I used two of the 3/8" Butt Head Screws, and two 1/2" Socket Head Cap Screws.

NOTE: The Omni Wheel from Rotacaster is NOT allowed in FIRST competitions. The Omni Wheel from LEGO® Education is used in the FTC competition, which uses the Tetrix® and Mindstorms® NXT® kits to build their robot. Sorry FLL teams, this wheel can not be used in the FLL competition - yet! (:-)

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Remembering 9/11...

May we never forget the heroes and innocent people who lost their lives that horrific day!




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FLL - Food Factor: New Rulings...

Take Note:

There are new rulings concerning Robot Design...

In the Complete Challenge PDF Document: http://firstlegoleague.org/challenge/2011foodfactor under "robot game - rules, procedures, philosophies and definitions" - 4- Equipment:

ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
You are allowed a maximum of six non-rotation sensors in the competition area. Choose your favorite combination from among the LEGO-manufactured Mindstorms touch sensors, light sensors, color sensors (LEGO RGB color), and ultrasonic sensors.

This is in reference to the NXT Mindstorms, any combination folks, and yes, there are only 4 Input ports on an NXT. Hmm, think creatively folks and it does say "in the competition area." (hint, hint, :-)

For using the RCX:
RCX robots are allowed, with a max of eight sensors from among touch, rotation, and light.


Also, be sure to download the awards descriptions, there is a change in the Awards:

http://firstlegoleague.org/event/judging


Remember to keep up with the clarification of or new rulings:

http://firstlegoleague.org/challenge/robotgameupdates

LEt's GO Teams!

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FLL - Food Factor: Kick-Off...

It's Official!

2011-2012
FLL Challenge


has been released

go to

http://firstlegoleague.org/challenge/2011foodfactor

download the complete challenge

Robot Game Updates
bookmark this site

http://firstlegoleague.org/challenge/robotgameupdates

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i.am.FIRST Science on ABC - Something Was Missing...

Reee-Bot your Roving Reporter here...


I just finishing watching “i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll.” I was very disappointed. I thought the program was promoting FIRST, ALL of FIRST. They made it look as if FIRST is just high school, which only has about 2,072 FRC teams & 1,607 FTC teams; compared to the 17,100 FLL teams and 2,147 JrFLL! True it was only an hour-long show, but technically half of the show should have been about the JrFll & FLL. Was the point of the show to just get more students involved on the high school level???

Really, the growth of FIRST on the HS level will depend on the kids coming up through the JrFLL & FLL, they will be the future FTC & FRC. I felt they “dissed” the JrFLL & FLL, and undermined the important role they play in FIRST.

This is...

FIRST @ Javitz Center - NYC

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