Lego 1-Day event ideas

[Andrew Schuetze]

Howdy to all,

Just had a rumination and thought that I would post it here to get some advice and share it with others as well.

My campus has about a dozen complete sets of the Lego Team Challenge Sets. RCX two motors, two light sensors, two touch sensors ....

I don't use them until the Spring semester for classes.

The idea was to host a single day lego tournament as part of a regular academic meet. We have two math teachers who are perennial academic team coaches and host one to two practice meets during the year as fundraisers for the academic team.

My idea was to add to the option of tests and competitions a Lego challenge. Schools could enter multiple teams of up to four students to design and program robots for some challenge.

If most schools in San Antonio are not FIRST teams and likely don't have Lego robots part of their curriculum, what kind of support would I need to provide for the schools in advance of the competition? Should I offer two divisions, one for NQC based programming and the other Lego Inventor? If this is part of a regular academic meet, I will have to limit the challenge to a 2 to 3 hour window for building and programming after conflicting exams such as math, science, and Comp. Sci. are given. The awards could be done immediately after a live competition during the regular awards ceremony....


Any and all ideas are welcome, PLEASE...Especially from teams who have done this in the past. Suggestions for specific web resources would be great


APS

[Ryan M.]

Lego Inventor...? What do you mean? LEGO Inventor is a line of LEGOs which are a branch of Technic. Or it it a programming language for the RCX which I didn't know of? *gasp* It couldn't be.

But, yeah, separate divisions for different programming languages is good. However, maybe NQC/LEGO whatever isn't really nessessary. With RIS 2.0 software, you can do anything NQC can do using the graphical environment. It's less convenient (in my opinion), but it can be done. Maybe a "standard" verses "alternate" firmware division? That way, teams could use an ultra-fast firmware like BrickOS.

[Astronouth7303]

I say 'Official' (RIS and the other stuff only) and 'Free-for-all' (only has to be loaded on the RCX Any LEGO PBrick and can be run w/o a laptop or people in a mile radius)

[Andrew Schuetze]

Originally Posted by Astronouth7303

I say 'Official' (RIS and the other stuff only) and 'Free-for-all' (only has to be loaded on the RCX Any LEGO PBrick and can be run w/o a laptop or people in a mile radius)

I probably have to complete some type of local survey but I would guess in the 'Official' language catagory I would provide the 'standard' robot plateform and allow them to adjust/add sensors and such.

In the other 'Free-for-all' category, the teams probably have their own kits and hardware...

I think I have a lot of researching the local market to do here

If I keep this to a one day event then designs for creative apendages would be out and it would be more of an obstacle course...

Keep the thoughts and ideas flowing,

Thanks

APS

[Rich Wong]

A single-day FLL event for fundraising and to introduction non-FIRST schools to FIRST LEGO is a great idea.

With 12 full FLL kits, you can support 12 possible teams of 4.
Because of time limits, the event must flow quickly to maintain student interest. The students participating in the event may have little or no experience with the RCX programming, therefore I would avoid programming completed.

You can create 5 different generic programs for all the RCX unit. Each programmed pattern will perform different FLL tasks. The students will need to study these patterns and match them to the field missions.
All the RCX units will be pre-programming with these 5 patterns before the start of the competition.

Have each team construct the LEGO robot around these pre-programmed PCX. The performance of the robot will be determined by the design of the robot and the program they elect to run during the matches. That is enough variety to create a fun and easy competition that will quickly introduce new students to FLL competitions.

If you can afford to run this type of event once of month, you will build a large group of followers who will want to start their own FLL team. All participants can receive a certificate or and actual FLL medallion (depending on your budget).

Trophies are always treasured and creates more excitement and competitive event. There are resources in usfirst.org under FIRST Jr. Robotics link.
Good Luck!

[Andrew Schuetze]

Originally Posted by Rich Wong

You can create 5 different generic programs for all the RCX unit. Each programmed pattern will perform different FLL tasks. The students will need to study these patterns and match them to the field missions.
All the RCX units will be pre-programming with these 5 patterns before the start of the competition.

This is an excellent suggestion. That really helps me to begin framing this 'event in the works' idea. I was thinking more along the line of HS but maybe grades 7-9 is a more logical choice with the unkowns about user experience. I could do a significant amount of recruiting from within our school district and then bring in students from neigboring districts or from the feeder schools to the other two FRC teams in town...

Have each team construct the LEGO robot around these pre-programmed PCX. The performance of the robot will be determined by the design of the robot and the program they elect to run during the matches. That is enough variety to create a fun and easy competition that will quickly introduce new students to FLL competitions.

I have been wanting to introduce FLL to our district junior highs but have not made many in roads. A fun and exciting competition could be the vehicle to do so.

I would like to hear from any others who can expand upon this latest concept or offer additional concepts that would entice HS students and deal with the limited expereince factor