Friday, November 30, 2007

MEDIA ADVISORY - Pace University to host FIRST LEGO League robot

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact
Cara Halstead Cea, (914) 906-9680, chalstead@pace.edu

PHOTO EDITORS: THE KIDS AND ROBOTS ARE MARVELOUSLY VISUAL

Pace University to host junior FIRST LEGO League robot
expo for 6-9 year-olds and Manhattan qualifying tournament for 9-14-year-olds

20+ teams of scientists as young as 6, plus 75 volunteers
to converge on Pace’s downtown campus for day of competition

Year’s theme encourages practical solutions for responsible energy use

New York, NY – Pace University, in partnership with Stuyvesant High School, will host the New York City FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Manhattan Qualifying Tournament for 9 to 14-year-olds this Sunday, December 2, 2008. The same day, Pace will also host the 2nd annual Junior FIRST LEGO League (JFLL) non-competitive Expo for children age 6 to 9. FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).

Pace students and faculty members from the University’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems are among the organizers and volunteers.

Date: Sunday, December 2, 2008
Time: 8:30am - 3:00pm
Location: Pace University, downtown campus, One Pace Plaza, just east of City Hall

Supported by the New York City FIRST LEGO League chapter, 10 to 15 teams of 9 to 14 year olds from the Borough of Manhattan will come together at Pace University’s downtown campus for a day of competition. Qualifying teams will go one to compete in the FLL expo in Manhattan in late January. The winners of that competition compete internationally. The schedule for Sunday’s qualifying tournament is as follows:
8:30-9:30 Registration
9:30-12:00 Judging (FLL) – Gym and Student Union
12:00-1:00 Parade of Teams– Gym
1:00-2:30 Robot Performance (FLL) – Gym
2:30 Awards (FLL) – Gym

The 2nd Annual Junior FIRST LEGO League Expo, a program for 6 to 9-year-olds, is expected to attract 9-12 teams, a 30 percent increase from last year. The schedule is as follows:
9:30-10:15 Registration
10:15-12:00 Team Showcase – Multipurpose Room
12:00-1:00 Parade of Teams (FLL and JFLL) and JFLL Awards - Gym

The approximately 75 volunteers will come from Pace students, staff, and faculty members, students from Stuyvesant High School, and industry professionals.

Unique to this event is the partnership between Pace University and Stuyvesant High School – and the fact that on the Pace NYC campus there will be students from all levels of schooling from first grade through graduate school working together to promote science and technology.

The FLL theme for this year is Power Puzzle, which is about understanding the elements of energy use in a world where people use more energy every day. The Power Puzzle missions get FLL teams to consider the energy choices available and how those choices affect the world. The teams are challenged to find practical solutions in their communities while considering the impacts their actions or inactions can have on their lives and the world. As they work to make the puzzle pieces fit, they must consider all parts of energy use, including how energy is made, stored, used and consumed, and how resulting waste is disposed of.

The FIRST organization was founded by inventor Dean Kamen to get children interested in and excited by technology. The FLL robotic competitions have become internationally recognized. A partnership between FIRST and the LEGO Company resulted in the formation of FIRST LEGO League (FLL) in 1998.

The pilot year had 200 teams participating. This year, nine years after the initial tournament, there are over 8000 teams internationally.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

MANHATTAN FLL QUALIFIER

Get ready for the Power Puzzle!

Stuyvesant High School Robotics Team 694 and Pace University welcome
you to the 2007 Manhattan FLL Qualifying Tournament We're looking
forward to a great day!

Sunday, December 2, 2007 at 8:30 AM

PACE University
1 Pace Plaza / Spruce St. Entrance
New York, N.Y. 10038

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&time=&date=&ttype=&q=Pace
+University-New+York,+1+Pace+Plaza,+New+York,+New+York,+New+York,
+United
+States&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=33.175045,63.632813&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geo
code=0,40.711600,-74.005790&z=17&iwloc=addr&om=1

Pace is near the City Hall Station (R & W),the Park Place Station (2
& 3), Fulton St. Station (2,3, 4, 5, J, M & Z ) and the Broadway
Nassau St. Station (A & C).

NOTE: THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT WILL *NOT* BE HELD AT STUYVESANT HIGH
SCHOOL.

==================

Remember each of your team members, coaches, faculty members, parents, siblings (even babies in strollers!) need to provide a consent form. If you haven't already provided payment for your team, the fee will be $30.00 per registered team. Cash and checks only will be accepted.

MANHATTAN FLL QUALIFIER
Pace University
Sunday, December 2, 2007

Schedule:

8:30-9:30 FLL Registration

9:30-10:00 Practice Tables are open

9:30-10:15 JFLL Registration

9:30-9:45 Coaches meeting
-State the rules of this tournament
-Introduce the people in charge, head judge and head ref
-Ask for a round of questions
9:45-10:00 Morning Introductions

10:00-10:30 Practice Round of Robot Game

10:15-11:45 Junior FLL Expo

10:30-12:00
FLL Judging
Practice Tables are open
No Formal Lunch Break – teams eat in between judging

12:00-12:30
Parade of Teams
Star Spangled Banner
Remarks and Acknowledgments
JFLL awards

12:30-2:30 Robot Game Rounds 1 - 4
2:30-3:00 Awards and Closing ceremonies

3:00-4:00 Clean up

FLL Queens Qualifying Tournament Schedule

FLL Queens Qualifying Tournament Schedule

Location Aviation High School
& Time: 45-30 36th Street (between Queens Blvd and 47th Ave.)
Long Island City, NY 11101 (718) 361-2032
Saturday, December 15, 2007

Schedule: 8:00 – 8:45 Registration

8:30 – 9:00 Judging (Judging continues after the opening ceremony and ends at the start of lunch)

9:00 – 9:15 Opening Ceremony

9:30 – 10:20 Round 1

10:20 – 10:30 Break

10:30 – 11:10 Round 2

11:10 – 11:30 Round 3

11:30 – 12:15 Lunch

12:15 – 12:40 Round 4

12:40 – 12:50 Break

12:50 – 1:40 Round 5

1:40 – 2:00 Break

2:00 – 2:40 Awards/ Closing Ceremony

2:40 – 3:30 Clean Up (We ask all teams to help stack the chairs and clean the pits.)

Directions: 7 train to 33 St./ Rawson St. Parking is available under the 7 train on Queens Blvd. It costs $4 for the day. You must pay with quarters so bring at least 16.

Contact Info: Michael Koumoullos mike@koumoullos.com (917) 208-5629
Google Group: fllqueens. Go to http://groups.google.com and search for fllqueens.

Brooklyn Qualifier Schedule for Dec. 8 at Brooklyn Tech HS

Brooklyn Qualifier Schedule for Dec. 8 at Brooklyn Tech HS

Dear teams,

Registration is officially over for the FLL qualifier in Brooklyn hosted by Brooklyn Tech. We ask that the teams that have not submitted payment to do so now.
We are not accepting any new teams, since we are officially at max capacity. If any teams have not registered contact Norm Scott NorScot@aol.com immediately so that you may participate in the qualifier being held in queens on December 15.

All competing teams should fill out the attached FIRST release form for
every student they will bring to the competition.

The competition is on Dec. 8 at Brooklyn Technical High school, 29 Fort Greene Place Brooklyn, N.Y. 11217
Once you Enter the school go up to the cafeteria. The competition will be held there.

This is the schedule for the day.

7 AM: Volunteers, judges, and referees arrive for final preparations.
8 AM: Teams arrive. Registration/sign in.
9 AM: Opening ceremonies.

9:30 AM: Start of competition and judging.
9:30 -10:30: Round 1
10:30 - 11:30: Round 2

12 PM - 1 PM: Lunch

1 PM - 2 PM: Round 3

2 PM - 3 PM: Round 4, Judge deliberation

3 PM - 3:30 PM: Awards and closing ceremonies.

We will be sending more venue pertinent information next week. So stay tuned.
We look forward to seeing all of you in just over a week!
If you have any questions feel free to ask.

-Boris Yuditskiy
Registration Coordinator, Brooklyn Tech HS


NYCFIRST Update 16: Tournaments About to Begin

Nov. 28, 2007

A newsletter for the NYCFIRST robotics community in New York City and the surrounding area.

ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION IS POSTED AT
http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/

If you want to be removed from this list type “unsubscribe” in the subject area and hit return. If you already asked and it didn’t happen yet, ask again as sometimes I get behind in paperwork.


For a calendar of tournaments and to register for your team’s borough tournament, please see http://nycnjfirst.org/newsletter_fll.html.

A scolding
We are getting reports from some of our volunteer organizers that emails and phone calls requesting info, registration forms, etc have not been returned by some of you. BAD. These people are giving their time and energy to make these events work for you and your kids. So even if you are not coming or have some problem, at least have the courtesy to respond in some way, even if to say “hi.”

Weds. Nov. 28 – Brooklyn Practice Tournament
10 teams are registered for a practice tournament at Brooklyn Polytechnic. Thanks to our practice event coordinator Maureen Reilly, coach of Packer Collegiate and the Polybots lead by Jose Munoz for helping organize this event.


ONLY TEAMS WHO TAKE PART IN A QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE FIRST SPONSORED ACTIVITIES.

Register for borough qualifying tournaments:
DON’T GET SHUT OUT.

I have heard this: “We are not ready and will be using this year to prepare for the future but will not take part in the events.”
This is the wrong way to think about it since the events themselves fuel interest in the program, excitement amongst kids for the future, etc.

Don’t over emphasize the competitive aspects rather than the experience itself. No one is really ready but if you use that as a reason not to take part in an actual event, the kids are being denied a great experience no matter how they make out in the tournament.

And with other events being held in the spring when you might be truly ready, just showing up at a qualifying event gives you the opportunity to take part. So even if your robot leaves parts all over the table this time, the kids see what other robots are doing and will go back to school and fix it. That is what this entire learning experience is about.

Are you having difficulty with certain tournament dates?
CALL ME 917-992-3734


Manhattan Teams competing Sunday Dec. 2 at PACE U
PLEASE NOTE THE INFO NEXT TO YOUR NAME AND TRY TO PROVIDE WHAT IS NEEDED ASAP by CONTACTING CATHERINE IMMEDIATELY.
THEY NEED YOUR REGISTRATION FORMS. EMAIL IT.
IF YOU HAVEN’T PAID YOU CAN DO SO AT THE TOURNAMENT.
$= You paid the $30.

0526 East Harlem Tutorial
1447 Trevor Day School $ - Registration form rcvd
2627 Little Red School House Team 1
4719 Epiphany School
4795 Manhattan Youth @IS 289
4850 Man Acad of Tech PS126/MAT/ChinatownYMCA
4909 HCCI Computer Clubhouse $ - Registration form rcvd
5195 Union Settlement Association $ - Registration form rcvd
5205 The Brearley School $ - Registration form rcvd
6047 PS 1 M
6115 Manhattan East School MS 224 Team 1 Registration form rcvd
6116 Manhattan East School MS 224 Team 2 Registration form rcvd
6482 Little Red School House Team 2


Man. Teams Delisted
0527 Danny PeraltaJoseph ContrerasMark NeversEast Harlem Tutorial
0944 Marymount School Eric Walters
2955 Vision Education & Media
5036 Lisa Sausner PS/MS 278
5522 Adaliz Gonzalez-Medaglia IS 52 Inwood
6143 Terence Finch East Side Middle School
6613 Lisa Maldonado PS 115 M
6737 Ken Marseille MS 344 ACE
6904 Dave Post PS 155 William Paca
7209 Tanika Thomas MS 326 M


Bronx FLL Practice
Date: Saturday December 1
Registration: 9am
Time: 10 am-1 pm
Location: PS/MS 194
1301 Zerega Avenue
December 8th, 2007
Bronx FLL Qualifying Tournament
Full details at the blog

Schedule of Events

7:30 AM Registration & Pit Open for all teams
8:30 AM MANDATORY Coaches Meeting
Main Gym
9:00 AM Opening Ceremony
9:45 AM First Match Begins
1:15 PM Last Match Ends
1:40 PM Awards Ceremony Begins
3:00 PM Awards Ceremony Ends


Compiled by Norm Scott
NYCFIRST Registration coordinator
norscot@aol.com
normsco@gmail.com
917-992-3734

Bronx FLL Qualifying Tournament Information

December 8th, 2007


Tournament Information


Location: The event will take place in the Lehman High School gym.

Transportation and Parking: Parking on the street will be limited. Public Transportation is recommended.
# 6 Subway to Westchester Square -East Tremont Avenue / Westchester Avenue
The following buses go Westchester Square and walk east on East Tremont
Bx4, Bx8, Bx14, Bx21, Bx31, Bx40, Bx42

Event Schedule
Registration begins: 7:30 am
Mandatory Coaches Meeting 8:30 am
Opening ceremony: 9:00 am
First match: 9:45 am
Awards Ceremony concludes: 3:00 pm

Team Registration
Upon arrival, please proceed with your team directly to the Pit Area and find your pit table by your team number. Please then have one adult member or coach go to the pit administration table for Check-In and to receive schedules and other information.

Snacks and Lunch
There will be no scheduled lunch break. There will be an opportunity to purchase food at the event, although it is suggested that teams bring lunch, and/ or snacks as their most practical food option. Please be mindful to keep the Lehman High School.

Supervision
Adults are expected to actively supervise the youngsters they accompany to the event during the entire time they are at the event.

How many students should you bring?
The FIRST LEGO LEAGUE Challenge Competition has become very popular and roughly 50 teams will participate in the Bronx Qualifying event this year. In order to provide room for all teams in the pit area and in accordance with FLL rules, we ask that you limit the number of students competing to 10. Additional spectators and supporters are welcome to attend but will be restricted from entering the pit area.

Photo and other permissions:
This event will be heavily photographed for press coverage and inclusion on the FIRST website. All teams will receive a plaque and are likely to be photographed at that time as well as during the course of the day.

Accordingly, we request that all students submit a photo permission form (signed by parents) as part of their participation in the event. School personnel accompanying students are requested to keep this on file and inform appropriate event staff of any problems arising from this situation.

All adults accompanying students should be certain to obtain written permission from parents as part of youngsters’ attendance.

Participation Plaques and Awards:
In order to qualify and compete at the 2008 New York City FIRST LEGO League Championship, a team must:
1. Be based within the five boroughs of New York City;
2. Compete at one of the five borough qualifying FLL tournaments;
3. Win at least one of the six awards (any place) given out at their borough qualifying tournament.
The following awards will be given out at each tournament:
1. Directors Award
2. Robot Performance Award
3. Project Award
4. Teamwork Award
5. Robot Design Award
6. Judges' Award

The number of places for each award (i.e., 1st, 2nd, etc.) will be based on the planned size of the borough tournament such that the number of teams advancing from each tournament will be roughly proportional to the tournament's size. A total of 86 awards will be given out at the five borough tournaments, thereby qualifying up to 86 teams to compete at the New York City Championship. Judges will be using the standard judging criteria for each award as explained in the coaches' manual as well as outlined on the firstlegoleague.org webpage: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=29660

What to Bring
A laptop(s) and robot(s) ready to go, as well as spare parts and batteries to support your robots. A power strip and a spare battery for the laptop are also advised. Snacks, etc. are also recommended – this is a busy and exhausting day of competition, and you will need your energy!

What to expect from the FLL competition
Pit Area – each team will be given the use of a cafeteria table. After the opening ceremonies, the pit area will be limited to coaches and their team members who have the appropriate wristband or identification only. Guests of teams are welcome to watch and cheer their teams on throughout the day in the competition area. Practice tables will be provided in the pit area. Please do not bring your own for reasons of safety and space.

Competition Area- 6 double sets of fields will be setup, so up to 12 teams will compete at the same time.

Information Tables-There will be a team information table set up in the pits and a general information table set up in the competition area.

Rounds – Teams will be given the opportunity to compete 4-5 times during the course of the competition. Schedules will be available on competition day.

Judging – All teams will be scheduled for a technical and a research judging session. In addition, judges will be floating around the pit area to interview teams for special recognitions. Each team will have up to 5 minutes to present in front of each judge panel. Up to 10 students may present. No coaches or spectators will be allowed into the judging rooms.

Readiness – Teams are expected to report to their assigned challenge field promptly when called to compete, or they will forfeit that round. Coaches should also be aware of when their team will be called for research and technical judging. Schedules for each team will be available on the day of the competition.

Team Number – Teams will be addressed as well as tracked in scoring and judging by your team number. Please make sure that all students know your team number.

Important: The Bronx FLL committee will not repair or supply any team equipment! Teams should come prepared to participate and come supplied with everything they need to do so. This includes equipment for the technical and research presentations. Please bring any AV equipment (projectors, power strips, computers) that might be necessary for these presentations.

The Bronx FLL planning committee is not responsible for misplaced or lost items.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

NYCFIRST Update 15: REGISTER FOR THE QUALIFIERS

Nov. 20, 2007

A newsletter for the NYCFIRST robotics community in New York City and the surrounding area.

ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION IS POSTED AT
http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/

If you want to be removed from this list type "unsubscribe" in the subject area and hit return. If you already asked and it didn't happen yet, ask again as sometimes I get behind in paperwork.

I will be sending a flurry of these UPDATES in the next week or so.


QUALIFICATION STATEMENT

VERY IMPORTANT!


From NYCFIRST

Earlier in the year, we announced that in order to compete at the New York City FIRST LEGO League Championship at Riverbank State Park on January 26, 2008, NYC FLL teams must first qualify at one of five qualifying tournaments being held in the boroughs beginning December 1, 2007.

Please see our complete announcement on this matter which was sent to teams and posted on our website at: http://nycnjfirst.njit.edu/fll_announce.html .

To reiterate, teams that do not qualify at a borough qualifying tournament will not be able to compete at the citywide championship. NO EXCEPTIONS. In addition – New York City FIRST will not be offering any other additional events for teams that fail to compete at the qualifying tournaments.

In order to qualify and compete at the 2008 New York City FIRST LEGO League Championship, a team must:

1. Be based within the five boroughs of New York City;

2. Compete at one of the five borough qualifying FLL tournaments;

3. Win at least one of the six awards (any place) given out at their borough qualifying tournament.

The following awards will be given out at each tournament:

1. Directors Award
2. Robot Performance Award
3. Project Award
4. Teamwork Award
5. Robot Design Award
6. Judges' Award

The number of places for each award (i.e., 1st, 2nd, etc.) will be based on the planned size of the borough tournament such that the number of teams advancing from each tournament will be roughly proportional to the tournament's size. A total of 86 awards will be given out at the five borough tournaments, thereby qualifying up to 86 teams to compete at the New York City Championship. Judges will be using the standard judging criteria for each award as explained in the coaches' manual as well as outlined on the firstlegoleague.org webpage: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=29660

If your team is not yet registered for a borough qualifying tournament, please do so right away.

For a calendar of tournaments and to register for your team's borough tournament, please see http://nycnjfirst.org/newsletter_fll.html.




ONLY TEAMS WHO TAKE PART IN A QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE FIRST SPONSORED ACTIVITIES.

Yes, there may be life beyond the citywide Riverbank tournament, most notably at the Javits Center in early April. Even teams that do not make it to Riverbank will be eligible but ONLY IF THEY TOOK PART IN THE QUALIFIERS.

We know the timetable is tight this year and we will work to make adjustments next year. But no matter what the state of your team at this time, make sure to….


Register for borough qualifying tournaments:
DON'T GET SHUT OUT


Are you having difficulty with certain tournament dates?
CALL ME AND WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK OUT AN ALTERNATE DATE: 917-992-3734

There is a $30 fee for registering. This fee covers the local costs for building the tables, food for volunteers, etc. The rest of the items like trophies and tee shirts are covered by NYCFIRST, which does a massive job of local fund raising to cover the costs of Riverbank, Javits, etc. That is why there will be No fee at Riverbank on Jan. 30

What happened to the $250 registration fee you paid when you first registered?
That money has nothing to do with the local events and is used by FIRST nationally to support all its activities.


To Register for Qualifiers
Send team number, school, contact, email, cell # to

BOROUGH CONTACTS

Sunday, Dec. 2
* Manhattan: Pace U, Dec. 2 (Sun) Catherine K. r0bot@mac.com and cc: Hans Zhou hans.s.zhou@gmail.com

Saturday, Dec. 8
* Brooklyn Tech: Dec. 8 Ruwan: brooklynfll@gmail.com and Boris: borabora188@gmail.com

Saturday, Dec. 8
* Bronx: Lehman HS, Dec. 8: Gary Israel: Ggimhs@aol.com

Saturday, Dec. 15
* QUEENS: Aviation HS, Dec. 15, Michael Koumoullos at mike@koumoullos.com AND fllqueens@googlegroups.com. (917) 208-5629

Saturday, Dec. 15
* Staten Island: Dec. 15 Dennis Giurici at Staten Island Tech 718.667.5725


Technical judging
To assist judges we urge teams to bring with them either printouts of their robot programs or a laptop with the programs already loaded when entering the judging room. Technical judges ought to be able to see teams' programs and ask questions about them.

Rick Kline from PACE U writes:
On page 66 of the coaches' handbook, it suggests this -- twice! -- Under technical judging:
"We recommend that your team brings a print-out of its best programming, to leave with the judges. This gives the judges a sample of your team's work that they can reference during their judging deliberations."
And in a sidebar:
"Tip! Have a copy of your latest programs printed out to give to the judges. Choose a section that is easy to follow but highlights some difficult problem you overcame. ... Make sure your team name and number are on the printout ... "

NOTE TO ALL COACHES
You are welcome to bring your teams as observers to all qualifying events and the citywide.
We can really use your help as judges at tournaments you are not directly involved in.



List of all registered teams can be accessed at:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pgxRf3gM4qtx9R1ic9TfNKw&hl=en

Please check to see that the info is correct. If you have teams listed that are not competing let me know ASAP.



Compiled by Norm Scott
NYCFIRST Registration coordinator
norscot@aol.com
normsco@gmail.com
917-992-3734

Have a good day

Norm

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Team Registration and Field Set Ups for Sale

Bruce at Brooklyn Automotive has 2 team reg. for sale: brajswasse@msn.com


Monday, November 19, 2007

Qualification document

VERY IMPORTANT!

Earlier in the year, we announced that in order to compete at the New York City FIRST LEGO League Championship at Riverbank State Park on January 26, 2008, NYC FLL teams must first qualify at one of five qualifying tournaments being held in the boroughs beginning December 1, 2007.

Please see our complete announcement on this matter which was sent to teams and posted on our website at: http://nycnjfirst.njit.edu/fll_announce.html .

To reiterate, teams that do not qualify at a borough qualifying tournament will not be able to compete at the citywide championship. NO EXCEPTIONS. In addition – New York City FIRST will not be offering any other additional events for teams that fail to compete at the qualifying tournaments.

In order to qualify and compete at the 2008 New York City FIRST LEGO League Championship, a team must:

1. Be based within the five boroughs of New York City;

2. Compete at one of the five borough qualifying FLL tournaments;

3. Win at least one of the six awards (any place) given out at their borough qualifying tournament.

The following awards will be given out at each tournament:

1. Directors Award
2. Robot Performance Award
3. Project Award
4. Teamwork Award
5. Robot Design Award
6. Judges’ Award

The number of places for each award (i.e., 1st, 2nd, etc.) will be based on the planned size of the borough tournament such that the number of teams advancing from each tournament will be roughly proportional to the tournament’s size. A total of 86 awards will be given out at the five borough tournaments, thereby qualifying up to 86 teams to compete at the New York City Championship. Judges will be using the standard judging criteria for each award as explained in the coaches’ manual as well as outlined on the firstlegoleague.org webpage: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=29660

If your team is not yet registered for a borough qualifying tournament, please do so right away.

For a calendar of tournaments and to register for your team’s borough tournament, please see http://nycnjfirst.org/newsletter_fll.html.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

A few helpful downloads

Sent along by Mike Farrel from PS 148Q:


LEGO Engineering's NXT Constructopedia: PDF of useful building ideas

http://www.legoengineering.com/component/option,com_docman/task,cat_view/gid,38/Itemid,69/


LEGO Education's Lego Digital Designer is a free download that will allow you to build virtual 3D models of your robots including a step-by-step guide for others to copy.

ldd.lego.com/download/

Robolab @ Tufts

http://130.64.87.22/robolabatceeo/

Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Academy

http://www-education.rec.ri.cmu.edu

Lego Engineering

http://www.legoengineering.com/content/view/25/36/

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Hello Brooklyn FLL Teams!

Brooklyn Tech and Polytechnic University are hosting two separate practice tournaments before the qualifying tournament on December 8th. These will be small informal events where teams can practice at an actual tournament table set up (2 tables adjoined), in a 2 ½ minute time limit, and be scored by seasoned FLL referees.

Your team can also bring their research presentation to practice with other teams and with the FLL refs.

Practice events are a great way to help your team get some exposure to a tournament setting without the pressure of the crowds. When I was a first year coach I brought my rookie team to a practice event with the team prepared to do one mission. During the event the team got to meet other teams, share and try out ideas, and left with three new missions added to their robot as well as a great deal of excitement for the qualifying tournament. I am a third year coach coaching a rookie team this year at a new school. I will be bringing my team - even if we have only a 1/2 a mission down - to help the kids gain some experience before the big "show."

If you wish to participate in either event please contact me at reilly.maureen@gmail.com with your preferred date, team and school's name and your contact information.

Sign up quickly as space is limited!

Practice tournaments are free.

Here are the dates, locations and # of spots available:

Friday November 16, 3:00 – 5:30 pm
Brooklyn Tech
29 Fort Greene Place, Brooklyn NY 11217.
Directions to the school:
http://www.bths.edu/about/directions.jsp?rn=3792638
6 Teams

Wednesday November 28, 3:30 – 5:30 pm
Polytechnic University
6 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201
10 Teams

Good Luck!

Sincerely,

Maureen Reilly
FL: Coach and 3rd Grade Teacher
Packer Collegiate Institute
reilly.maureen@gmail.com

Friday, November 02, 2007

Coaches Conference Call - Nov. 6 8pm

Greetings FLL Teams:

The next Senior Mentor teleconference is on Tuesday, November 6th at 8pm Eastern. All FLL coaches are welcome. NEW coaches are strongly encouraged to attend. The topic will be "What to Expect at the Events", hosted by Senior Mentor Dawn Lutz. The call in number is 1-800-503-2899 and the access code is 6663906.

For those unable to participate or procure one of the 100 lines, the call will be recorded. Once the recording is available, it will be posted for download at:

http://www.usfirst.org/community/fll/content.aspx?id=6906

Go Teams!

Thursday, November 01, 2007

FLL Official Q&A #61 - #69 is now posted.

From Richard Wong

QA61 Counts As A Wave Turbine�
QA62 Robot Not Pieces�
QA63 Passing Through Base�
QA64 Parts Of The Dam�
QA65 Container Left Out Of Base�
QA66 North Of The Main River�
QA67 Fragile Models�
QA68 Loading The Robot�
QA69 Car Upright�

In addition, QA#26 and QA#33 has been re-written under QA#51.
QA#38 and QA#39 is also condensed under QA#37.

Read more at:
http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=29550