http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fpYk_8ujWo
FIRST LEGO League Robotics in New York City
Monday, January 21, 2008
NYCFIRST Update 21: THIS SATURDAY IS THE DAY
A newsletter for the NYCFIRST robotics community in New York City and the surrounding area.
Jan. 21, 2008
ALL UPDATES POSTED AT
http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/
NYC/NJ FIRST web site
Team Info: http://nycnjfirst.org/documents/TeamInfoSheet08.pdf
Map: http://nycnjfirst.org/nyc_fll_parking.html
or directly at: http://nycnjfirst.org/documents/FLL-Riverbank-3D-v3.JPG
Program Guide: http://nycnjfirst.org/documents/FLLProg07-8.pdf
All of this information can be downloaded from the NYC FLL Tournament page:
http://nycnjfirst.org/nyc_fll_tournament.html
This will be the last Update before the tournament.
Check the blog for late-breaking news.
I hope you're all enjoying your day off. Four days left to get ready. Have fun with the time. No matter what happens, Saturday will be great.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Daily News looking to visit this week
A reporter from the Daily News would like to visit some teams in Brooklyn or Staten Island that will be practicing this week for Saturday's event.
Respond ASAP if interested. I'll send in the first 5 responses.
Information on events at the Javits Convention Center in April will be forthcoming a few weeks after Riverbank.
The full list of 82 teams with the up-to-date information is posted at:
http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/2008/01/teams-going-to-riverbank-jan-26-2008.html
The program guide has been sent off to the press today.
A pdf will be made available for downloading at the NYC/NJ FIRST web site:
http://nycnjfirst.org/
A map of the parking underneath will also be available at http://nycnjfirst.org/
It is a bit of a trip to get there so check it out.
When you arrive at Riverbank
The doors open at 8.
Make sure to have the Team Information sheet filled out in advance.
If you forgot it, don't panic. We'll have some blanks.
HAVING IT FILLED OUT IN ADVANCE WILL GET YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS FASTER.
The form is also located at: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcj5ndsz_20dm7rmsg5&pli=1
Downloadable from: http://nycnjfirst.org/documents/TeamInfoSheet08.pdf
You will need to know your team number and team name. We are also asking you to list the names of your team members.
Procedure
1. Take your team to the stands (not the pit area) and get them seated.
They cannot leave the stands until you have been assigned your pit table.
WE CANNOT ALLOW KIDS INTO THE PIT AREA UNTIL THE TABLE IS ASSIGNED.
2. Get on the line to register – only one person on the line – do not bring your kids to the line.
If you are the only adult and are uncomfortable in leaving you kids in the stands alone, ask me to help find someone to keep an eye on them.
3. You will be assigned a pit number when you register in the order of registration. It is irrelevant what pit number you get. But schools with 2 teams should make sure the teams are separated and placed in an area where you cannot keep an eye on them. There are maps of the layout at the registration table.
4. Gather your flock and take them to the pit table to settle in. Then fasten your seat belts.
5. Robot inspections, research and technical presentations will start around 8:15 and run till 9:30 when opening ceremonies will take place. Matches begin at 10.
Schedules of when you are due and where will be posted near the entrance. This process takes some time so be patient. Someone will come to the pit and get you for each event.
Many teams bring their mats and field-set up to use as an alternative to the practice tables. Please set these up out of the main paths. And share with your neighbors.
Plugging in: You cannot run extension cords across the space. There will be recharging areas along the back wall.
Last year there were reports that some parents planted themselves there and told people it was "their" space.
I will be walking around with a stun gun if this should occur.
I will be your point person for any issues you might have during the day. My cell is 917.992.3734. I probably won't be able to hear the phone so leave a message with a return number. We will also use the Volunteer Check-in table at the entrance as a place for you to go to ask any questions and they will round me up. Or ask another coach for info. Most are vets and know the ropes.
Make sure to have spare food and drink to keep the troops from getting edgy.
Confirming you are attending
We have received responses from 72 teams who have confirmed they are attending.
Why we asked for you to confirm when you were automatically entered:
Here are the top 5 reasons we asked:
5. Just making sure things are going ok – some of you are too shy to say if there's a problem.
4. We need to know if for some reason you will not make it. (You won the lottery and retired to Hawai).
We are very tight for space and if some teams are not coming, we can remove some tables to make things less "cozy."
3. I have been working on the program guide and wanted to get the team names and coaches listed (I have some very old data – like some teams are still using Nanobots from last year and coaches are listed from 5 years ago.)
2. We wanted to get an idea of the numbers you were bringing to get a rough count that we are not going to get too severely overcrowded and have to ask people to limit their numbers.
1. I get lonely when I don't hear from you.
The teams that have not yet responded (it is too late to change the program guide):
NOTE: I was away for a week and some email responses may have slipped by.
Please include the team number and your school/organization in the email and check the accuracy of the information for your team(s) listed by borough:
Team # School/Organization Team Name Coaches' name(s)
1654 PS 21K Crispus Attucks School Panthers Carla Arnold
1673 PS 195X Molecules Zelma Torres-Rosado
2132 IS 98 X Ridder Kids Harold Smith
2880 Benjamin Banneker Academy K RoboWarriors Imani Fischer
3107 Bedford Academy BedBot Cluny Lavache
4084 Bronx Latin MS Architecti Eddie Branchaud
4795 Manhattan Youth @IS 289 M Cougers Annie Xu Theseus Roche
5499 IS 49 SI Robo Spartans Carol Obler
5501 IS 49 SI Powah Playaz Carol Obler
7203 IS 126 Q 126Q Stingers Stephan Linardic
The I.S. 75 Lego Robotics Team will be on the cover of the Middle School Principal Association (MSPA) Magazine
Coach Donny Swanson sends this along.
My principal informed me of great news. The I.S. 75 Lego Robotics Team will be on the cover of the Middle School Principal Association (MSPA) Magazine. After my principal was contacted, I sent information about the Lego Robotics program at I.S. 75, some background on inspiring students, and some of the unique points of the F.I.R.ST. Lego League Tournament many are not aware of at first.
The full letter on at:
http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/2008/01/is-75-on-cover-of-mspa-magazine.html
IS 72 Rocco Laurie Press Release
from coach Randi Huss
The IS 72 Rocco Laurie Lego Robotics Team would like to announce their partnership with Hewlett Packard in the successful completion of a Consumer Electronic Recycling Saturday Project.
On Saturday January 5th from 9am - 2 pm Hewlett Packard sent the We Recycle Truck, bins, pallets and brochures to 33 Ferndale Avenue and the team provided the person power. NY 1 was on hand to document the event as well as to interview the students. The piece ran that weekend on Staten Island News Now.
Full press release posted at:
http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/2008/01/is-72-rocco-laurie-press-release.html
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.
Compiled by Norm Scott
NYCFIRST Registration coordinator
norscot@aol.com
normsco@gmail.com
917-992-3734
--
Have a good day
Norm
Jan. 21, 2008
ALL UPDATES POSTED AT
http://normsrobotics.blogspot
NYC/NJ FIRST web site
Team Info: http://nycnjfirst.org/documents
Map: http://nycnjfirst.org/nyc_fll
or directly at: http://nycnjfirst.org/documents
Program Guide: http://nycnjfirst.org/documents
All of this information can be downloaded from the NYC FLL Tournament page:
http://nycnjfirst.org/nyc_fll
This will be the last Update before the tournament.
Check the blog for late-breaking news.
I hope you're all enjoying your day off. Four days left to get ready. Have fun with the time. No matter what happens, Saturday will be great.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Daily News looking to visit this week
A reporter from the Daily News would like to visit some teams in Brooklyn or Staten Island that will be practicing this week for Saturday's event.
Respond ASAP if interested. I'll send in the first 5 responses.
Information on events at the Javits Convention Center in April will be forthcoming a few weeks after Riverbank.
The full list of 82 teams with the up-to-date information is posted at:
http://normsrobotics.blogspot
The program guide has been sent off to the press today.
A pdf will be made available for downloading at the NYC/NJ FIRST web site:
http://nycnjfirst.org/
A map of the parking underneath will also be available at http://nycnjfirst.org/
It is a bit of a trip to get there so check it out.
When you arrive at Riverbank
The doors open at 8.
Make sure to have the Team Information sheet filled out in advance.
If you forgot it, don't panic. We'll have some blanks.
HAVING IT FILLED OUT IN ADVANCE WILL GET YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS FASTER.
The form is also located at: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id
You will need to know your team number and team name. We are also asking you to list the names of your team members.
Procedure
1. Take your team to the stands (not the pit area) and get them seated.
They cannot leave the stands until you have been assigned your pit table.
WE CANNOT ALLOW KIDS INTO THE PIT AREA UNTIL THE TABLE IS ASSIGNED.
2. Get on the line to register – only one person on the line – do not bring your kids to the line.
If you are the only adult and are uncomfortable in leaving you kids in the stands alone, ask me to help find someone to keep an eye on them.
3. You will be assigned a pit number when you register in the order of registration. It is irrelevant what pit number you get. But schools with 2 teams should make sure the teams are separated and placed in an area where you cannot keep an eye on them. There are maps of the layout at the registration table.
4. Gather your flock and take them to the pit table to settle in. Then fasten your seat belts.
5. Robot inspections, research and technical presentations will start around 8:15 and run till 9:30 when opening ceremonies will take place. Matches begin at 10.
Schedules of when you are due and where will be posted near the entrance. This process takes some time so be patient. Someone will come to the pit and get you for each event.
Many teams bring their mats and field-set up to use as an alternative to the practice tables. Please set these up out of the main paths. And share with your neighbors.
Plugging in: You cannot run extension cords across the space. There will be recharging areas along the back wall.
Last year there were reports that some parents planted themselves there and told people it was "their" space.
I will be walking around with a stun gun if this should occur.
I will be your point person for any issues you might have during the day. My cell is 917.992.3734. I probably won't be able to hear the phone so leave a message with a return number. We will also use the Volunteer Check-in table at the entrance as a place for you to go to ask any questions and they will round me up. Or ask another coach for info. Most are vets and know the ropes.
Make sure to have spare food and drink to keep the troops from getting edgy.
Confirming you are attending
We have received responses from 72 teams who have confirmed they are attending.
Why we asked for you to confirm when you were automatically entered:
Here are the top 5 reasons we asked:
5. Just making sure things are going ok – some of you are too shy to say if there's a problem.
4. We need to know if for some reason you will not make it. (You won the lottery and retired to Hawai).
We are very tight for space and if some teams are not coming, we can remove some tables to make things less "cozy."
3. I have been working on the program guide and wanted to get the team names and coaches listed (I have some very old data – like some teams are still using Nanobots from last year and coaches are listed from 5 years ago.)
2. We wanted to get an idea of the numbers you were bringing to get a rough count that we are not going to get too severely overcrowded and have to ask people to limit their numbers.
1. I get lonely when I don't hear from you.
The teams that have not yet responded (it is too late to change the program guide):
NOTE: I was away for a week and some email responses may have slipped by.
Please include the team number and your school/organization in the email and check the accuracy of the information for your team(s) listed by borough:
Team # School/Organization Team Name Coaches' name(s)
1654 PS 21K Crispus Attucks School Panthers Carla Arnold
1673 PS 195X Molecules Zelma Torres-Rosado
2132 IS 98 X Ridder Kids Harold Smith
2880 Benjamin Banneker Academy K RoboWarriors Imani Fischer
3107 Bedford Academy BedBot Cluny Lavache
4084 Bronx Latin MS Architecti Eddie Branchaud
4795 Manhattan Youth @IS 289 M Cougers Annie Xu Theseus Roche
5499 IS 49 SI Robo Spartans Carol Obler
5501 IS 49 SI Powah Playaz Carol Obler
7203 IS 126 Q 126Q Stingers Stephan Linardic
The I.S. 75 Lego Robotics Team will be on the cover of the Middle School Principal Association (MSPA) Magazine
Coach Donny Swanson sends this along.
My principal informed me of great news. The I.S. 75 Lego Robotics Team will be on the cover of the Middle School Principal Association (MSPA) Magazine. After my principal was contacted, I sent information about the Lego Robotics program at I.S. 75, some background on inspiring students, and some of the unique points of the F.I.R.ST. Lego League Tournament many are not aware of at first.
The full letter on at:
http://normsrobotics.blogspot
IS 72 Rocco Laurie Press Release
from coach Randi Huss
The IS 72 Rocco Laurie Lego Robotics Team would like to announce their partnership with Hewlett Packard in the successful completion of a Consumer Electronic Recycling Saturday Project.
On Saturday January 5th from 9am - 2 pm Hewlett Packard sent the We Recycle Truck, bins, pallets and brochures to 33 Ferndale Avenue and the team provided the person power. NY 1 was on hand to document the event as well as to interview the students. The piece ran that weekend on Staten Island News Now.
Full press release posted at:
http://normsrobotics.blogspot
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.
Compiled by Norm Scott
NYCFIRST Registration coordinator
norscot@aol.com
normsco@gmail.com
917-992-3734
--
Have a good day
Norm
IS 72 Rocco Laurie Press Release
The IS 72 Rocco Laurie Lego Robotics Team would like to announce their partnership with Hewlett Packard in the successful completion of a Consumer Electronic Recycling Saturday Project.
On Saturday January 5th from 9am - 2 pm Hewlett Packard sent the We Recycle Truck, bins, pallets and brochures to 33 Ferndale Avenue and the team provided the person power. NY 1 was on hand to document the event as well as to interview the students. The piece ran that weekend on Staten Island News Now.
The recycling project was another part of the teams effort to reach out to the community in the spirit of this years tournament theme of "going green". Schools from as far away as Teaneck and Englewood , New Jersey showed their support with generous contributions. The local Chinese School housed at IS 72 also showed their support.
Over five thousand pounds of computer accessories, monitors, keyboards and CPU's were collected, as well as ink cartridges and printers. The curbside drop off manned by the team helped to keep donations moving smoothly. The team had their project on display offering information to local residents on the Tibetan Museum's highlights as well as visitor information. Brochures were given out sharing information on recycling, solar energy and other energy saving measures locally available.
The Team recently won first prize for their research project at the Borough Wide Robotics tournament held at Staten Island Technical High School in December. Their research project gave the recently sixty year old Jaques Marchais Tibetan Museum, a birthday "energy makeover". The challenge was to both preserve the authentic integrity of the museum as well as making it energy effective. Proposals for solar power, wind mills and energy efficient windows are currently being developed by local and California based companies.
The project will be installed at the museum beginning in February after a reception for museum members, sponsors and students. Meg Ventrudo,the Museums curator made the enthusiastic initial donation of some outdated equipment to clean out their garage and start the project.
The two time New York State Champions will go on to the State finals on January 26th to compete once again for the chance to attend the National/International Competition in Atlanta in April.
Randi Huss Lego Robotics Coach I.S, 72
On Saturday January 5th from 9am - 2 pm Hewlett Packard sent the We Recycle Truck, bins, pallets and brochures to 33 Ferndale Avenue and the team provided the person power. NY 1 was on hand to document the event as well as to interview the students. The piece ran that weekend on Staten Island News Now.
The recycling project was another part of the teams effort to reach out to the community in the spirit of this years tournament theme of "going green". Schools from as far away as Teaneck and Englewood , New Jersey showed their support with generous contributions. The local Chinese School housed at IS 72 also showed their support.
Over five thousand pounds of computer accessories, monitors, keyboards and CPU's were collected, as well as ink cartridges and printers. The curbside drop off manned by the team helped to keep donations moving smoothly. The team had their project on display offering information to local residents on the Tibetan Museum's highlights as well as visitor information. Brochures were given out sharing information on recycling, solar energy and other energy saving measures locally available.
The Team recently won first prize for their research project at the Borough Wide Robotics tournament held at Staten Island Technical High School in December. Their research project gave the recently sixty year old Jaques Marchais Tibetan Museum, a birthday "energy makeover". The challenge was to both preserve the authentic integrity of the museum as well as making it energy effective. Proposals for solar power, wind mills and energy efficient windows are currently being developed by local and California based companies.
The project will be installed at the museum beginning in February after a reception for museum members, sponsors and students. Meg Ventrudo,the Museums curator made the enthusiastic initial donation of some outdated equipment to clean out their garage and start the project.
The two time New York State Champions will go on to the State finals on January 26th to compete once again for the chance to attend the National/International Competition in Atlanta in April.
Randi Huss Lego Robotics Coach I.S, 72
Teams Going to Riverbank - Jan. 26, 2008
QUEENS
0394 MS 67 Energize67 Ruta Dave
0573 IS 125 Mr. Roboto Rudy Vera
0948 Brics-2-Bots CyberbotsTechs Veryl Greene
1863 IS 119 TopGearz Chris Dudin
2395 IS 192 Robo Fusion Eric Greene
2728 IS 10 Q IBest 3000 Pat Shubitz
3126 JHS 185 (Bleeker) Stars Primal Dhillon
3840 Bric-2-Bots Cyberbot- Eng. Veryl Greene
3874 MS 216 Ryan Lions Peter Xanthus
4113 Resurrection Ascension R.A. Titans Janna Valente
5517 IS 119 Q TopGearz Chris Dudin
5618 Louis Amstrong IS 227 Lamchops 1 David Mabrey
Richard Akalski
Joshua Blum
5619 Louis Armstrong IS 227 Lamchops 2 Same as 5618
6292 Cambria Center Warbots Sheryl Liles
7203 IS 126 Stingers Stephan Linardic
BROOKLYN
0160 MS 51K Generals James Hoffman
0447 PS 372 K Static Fanatics Rita Fasano
Vicki Holland Haiva Albuliwi
0844 St. Edmund School Nerd Herd Christine Zaremba
1435 Packer Collegiate Inst. Pack-a-Watt Maureen Reilly
1472 The Carroll School Black Hornets Keith Wynne
Roger Levy
1475 PS 58 The Carroll Sch Robot Shockers Keith Wynne
1654 PS 21K Crispus Attucks Panthers Carla Arnold
2070 PS 11K Mission 11 Rasheda Lyons Vlad Kop
2090 PS 261K The Energy Freaks Chris Peyser
Scott Howard Jennifer Lindauer-Thompson
2880 Benj Banneker Acad RoboWarriors Imani Fischer
3107 Bedford Academy BedBot Cluny Lavache
3628 IS383 Philippa Schuyler M.S. Skybox Lindrick Outerbridge
4949 Brooklyn Tech HS Brooklyn Tech Knights Gordon Williams
5090 PS 282 K RoboWarriors Aisha Marsh
5100 MS 88 K Masterminds2 Andy Singh
5101 MS 88 K Masterminds3 Andy Singh
5689 PS 81 PS 81 RoboKids.com Everbell Bishop
Diane Moore
BRONX
0083 CS 66 X CS66 B.R.A.T.S Christopher BladesJames Bellon
0196 PS/IS 123 X Solargy Chris Gooding
0268 MS 101X Maritime Academy The Power Solvers Michele Sikoryak Doug Dalessandro
0506 Pablo Casals MS 181x The RoboCopz Terry Buchalter Constantine Kouvatsos
0705 Globe Schl for Environ. Rsrch GLOBE Masters Michael Joyce Paul Riter
0707 Globe Schl for Environ. Rsrch GLOBE Masters Michael Joyce/ Paul Riter
0845 MS 302 X MS302 Tech Squad Sharon Shoatz
1634 ESMT IS 190 X Team X Maribeth Whitehouse Ms. Pernitz
1673 PS 195X Molecules Zelma Torres-Rosado
1822 MS 118 X Pacers Ralph Corvino
1911 PS 76XThe Bennington School 76ers Russell Heath
2132 IS 98 X Ridder Kids Harold Smith
2154 PS 121 X Storm Throopers Kathy BormannMaria Scher
2201 MS 144 xMichaelangelo MS 144 GoBots Victoria Lowe Natasha Balkcom
2269 PS 68 X PS 68 Mind Openers II Andrew Harrison
Margaret O’Donohue, Sallie Williams
2284 HS of Computers & Tech LEGO Devils Stan Bellis
2349 PS 103 x RoboStingers Cathy Wilson-Daly Cristen Delaney 2350 PS 103 x RoboBeez Jarret Jackob Linda Matos
2415 Kezner Academy @IS 192 X Accelerators Jim Love Donna Kinford
4084 Bronx Latin MS Architecti Eddie Branchaud
4785 PS 153 x Nanobots Ms. Pelzar
4815 Frederick Douglass Academy FDA LEGO Raiders Danielle Nunez Alyssa Rosenbaum
4817 Frederick Douglass Academy Junior Raiders Megan Wasserman
Henry Encarnacion
5148 PS 304X DragonBots Sandra Kamelgarn Millie DeGennaro Debbie Varca
5264 IS 174 X Cybernetic Rebels Esteban Vazquez
5744 PS 108X Energy All-Stars Vanessa Jones
STATEN ISLAND
0198 Staten Island Tech Tech Knights Mike Siegal Steve Raile
0199 Staten Island Tech Tech Knows Dennis Giurici
0332 IS 24 SI Rogue Leaders Raymond Cottrell
0990 IS 34 SI Techno Eagles Joseph Buro Ann Verderber
0992 IS 34 SI Stell Talons Joseph Buro Howard Leventhal
1408 St. Clare School Transformers 1 Mary Lee
1409 St. Clare School Transformers 2 Mary Lee
1410 St. Clare School Transformers 3 Mary Lee
1411 St. Clare School Transformers 4 Mary Lee
1965 IS 72 SI Rocco Laurie Robotics Randi Huss Danny Colosanto
1995 IS 75 SI Panthers 1 Donny Swanson Andrew Grandner
1996 IS 75 SI Panthers 2 Donny Swanson Denise Carsten
2235 Coen at Home Micro Bots Patrick Coen
2258 IS 27 SI Mustangs 2 Bryan Kilgallen
5499 IS 49 SI Robo Spartans Carol Obler
5501 IS 49 SI Powah Playaz Carol Obler
MANHATTAN
1447 Trevor Day School The Little Dragons Steven Schechter
2627 Little Red School LREI Knights Sherezada Acosta
4795 Man Youth @IS 289 M Cougers Annie Xu Theseus Roche
4850 Man Acad of Tech MATobot Hau-Yu Chu
PS126/MAT/ChinatownYMCA Luigi Cicala
6047 PS 1 Robotics Seung Won Lee
6115 Man East MS 224 Thing 2 Melissa Cancel LLiana Villegas
6482 Little Red School LREI 2 Sherezada Acosta
0394 MS 67 Energize67 Ruta Dave
0573 IS 125 Mr. Roboto Rudy Vera
0948 Brics-2-Bots CyberbotsTechs Veryl Greene
1863 IS 119 TopGearz Chris Dudin
2395 IS 192 Robo Fusion Eric Greene
2728 IS 10 Q IBest 3000 Pat Shubitz
3126 JHS 185 (Bleeker) Stars Primal Dhillon
3840 Bric-2-Bots Cyberbot- Eng. Veryl Greene
3874 MS 216 Ryan Lions Peter Xanthus
4113 Resurrection Ascension R.A. Titans Janna Valente
5517 IS 119 Q TopGearz Chris Dudin
5618 Louis Amstrong IS 227 Lamchops 1 David Mabrey
Richard Akalski
Joshua Blum
5619 Louis Armstrong IS 227 Lamchops 2 Same as 5618
6292 Cambria Center Warbots Sheryl Liles
7203 IS 126 Stingers Stephan Linardic
BROOKLYN
0160 MS 51K Generals James Hoffman
0447 PS 372 K Static Fanatics Rita Fasano
Vicki Holland Haiva Albuliwi
0844 St. Edmund School Nerd Herd Christine Zaremba
1435 Packer Collegiate Inst. Pack-a-Watt Maureen Reilly
1472 The Carroll School Black Hornets Keith Wynne
Roger Levy
1475 PS 58 The Carroll Sch Robot Shockers Keith Wynne
1654 PS 21K Crispus Attucks Panthers Carla Arnold
2070 PS 11K Mission 11 Rasheda Lyons Vlad Kop
2090 PS 261K The Energy Freaks Chris Peyser
Scott Howard Jennifer Lindauer-Thompson
2880 Benj Banneker Acad RoboWarriors Imani Fischer
3107 Bedford Academy BedBot Cluny Lavache
3628 IS383 Philippa Schuyler M.S. Skybox Lindrick Outerbridge
4949 Brooklyn Tech HS Brooklyn Tech Knights Gordon Williams
5090 PS 282 K RoboWarriors Aisha Marsh
5100 MS 88 K Masterminds2 Andy Singh
5101 MS 88 K Masterminds3 Andy Singh
5689 PS 81 PS 81 RoboKids.com Everbell Bishop
Diane Moore
BRONX
0083 CS 66 X CS66 B.R.A.T.S Christopher BladesJames Bellon
0196 PS/IS 123 X Solargy Chris Gooding
0268 MS 101X Maritime Academy The Power Solvers Michele Sikoryak Doug Dalessandro
0506 Pablo Casals MS 181x The RoboCopz Terry Buchalter Constantine Kouvatsos
0705 Globe Schl for Environ. Rsrch GLOBE Masters Michael Joyce Paul Riter
0707 Globe Schl for Environ. Rsrch GLOBE Masters Michael Joyce/ Paul Riter
0845 MS 302 X MS302 Tech Squad Sharon Shoatz
1634 ESMT IS 190 X Team X Maribeth Whitehouse Ms. Pernitz
1673 PS 195X Molecules Zelma Torres-Rosado
1822 MS 118 X Pacers Ralph Corvino
1911 PS 76XThe Bennington School 76ers Russell Heath
2132 IS 98 X Ridder Kids Harold Smith
2154 PS 121 X Storm Throopers Kathy BormannMaria Scher
2201 MS 144 xMichaelangelo MS 144 GoBots Victoria Lowe Natasha Balkcom
2269 PS 68 X PS 68 Mind Openers II Andrew Harrison
Margaret O’Donohue, Sallie Williams
2284 HS of Computers & Tech LEGO Devils Stan Bellis
2349 PS 103 x RoboStingers Cathy Wilson-Daly Cristen Delaney 2350 PS 103 x RoboBeez Jarret Jackob Linda Matos
2415 Kezner Academy @IS 192 X Accelerators Jim Love Donna Kinford
4084 Bronx Latin MS Architecti Eddie Branchaud
4785 PS 153 x Nanobots Ms. Pelzar
4815 Frederick Douglass Academy FDA LEGO Raiders Danielle Nunez Alyssa Rosenbaum
4817 Frederick Douglass Academy Junior Raiders Megan Wasserman
Henry Encarnacion
5148 PS 304X DragonBots Sandra Kamelgarn Millie DeGennaro Debbie Varca
5264 IS 174 X Cybernetic Rebels Esteban Vazquez
5744 PS 108X Energy All-Stars Vanessa Jones
STATEN ISLAND
0198 Staten Island Tech Tech Knights Mike Siegal Steve Raile
0199 Staten Island Tech Tech Knows Dennis Giurici
0332 IS 24 SI Rogue Leaders Raymond Cottrell
0990 IS 34 SI Techno Eagles Joseph Buro Ann Verderber
0992 IS 34 SI Stell Talons Joseph Buro Howard Leventhal
1408 St. Clare School Transformers 1 Mary Lee
1409 St. Clare School Transformers 2 Mary Lee
1410 St. Clare School Transformers 3 Mary Lee
1411 St. Clare School Transformers 4 Mary Lee
1965 IS 72 SI Rocco Laurie Robotics Randi Huss Danny Colosanto
1995 IS 75 SI Panthers 1 Donny Swanson Andrew Grandner
1996 IS 75 SI Panthers 2 Donny Swanson Denise Carsten
2235 Coen at Home Micro Bots Patrick Coen
2258 IS 27 SI Mustangs 2 Bryan Kilgallen
5499 IS 49 SI Robo Spartans Carol Obler
5501 IS 49 SI Powah Playaz Carol Obler
MANHATTAN
1447 Trevor Day School The Little Dragons Steven Schechter
2627 Little Red School LREI Knights Sherezada Acosta
4795 Man Youth @IS 289 M Cougers Annie Xu Theseus Roche
4850 Man Acad of Tech MATobot Hau-Yu Chu
PS126/MAT/ChinatownYMCA Luigi Cicala
6047 PS 1 Robotics Seung Won Lee
6115 Man East MS 224 Thing 2 Melissa Cancel LLiana Villegas
6482 Little Red School LREI 2 Sherezada Acosta
IS 75 on Cover of MSPA Magazine
My principal informed me of great news. The I.S. 75 Lego Robotics Team will be on the cover of the Middle School Principal Association (MSPA) Magazine. After my principal was contacted, I sent information about the Lego Robotics program at I.S. 75, some background on inspiring students, and some of the unique points of the F.I.R.ST. Lego League Tournament many are not aware of at first.
Donny Swanson
NOTE: IS 75 was one of the two winners at last year's tournament and took the team to Atlanta for the World Festival.
Donny Swanson
NOTE: IS 75 was one of the two winners at last year's tournament and took the team to Atlanta for the World Festival.
Information in letter to MSPA
"The Lego Robotics Program at Intermediate School 75 was developed to reinforce skills in mathematics, science, communication arts, and technology through a hands-on collaborative approach. Children are grouped heterogeneously by academic performance to encourage further achievement on all levels.
In the fall of 2006, Paulo Intermediate School 75 created a Lego Robotics Team. The Lego Robotics Team is an extension of the program where children can further develop their understanding of engineering through the New York City F.I.R.S.T. (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League. It is a pathway for students of all physical levels to become immersed in an environment of teamwork and fair play as well as an opportunity to experience healthy competition. Our teams consists of 20 students from ages 11 to 14 years old in the sixth through eighth grade. We are proud to say, the team has accomplished more than we could have even imagined.
What makes this program unique is that is gives all children, including those with disabilities, the chance to actively participate in a team setting. Many other competitive activities are not completely inclusive.
One student on the team, has a condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). He has excelled through Lego Robotics and is now one of the team’s head programmers. Although he may be confined to a wheelchair, he has proven to play a major role in the success of the group. His knowledge of the subject has inspired many students to look beyond his disability and celebrate his strength.
Another member of our team suffers from a condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, which prevents him from physical overexertion. This program allows him to actively participate in competitive events and experience the benefits of being part of a team.
In addition, I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth. Through this program, I can show the children that a setback is an opportunity to think out of the box and create an alternative solution. This motivation shows the students that despite their disability or weakness, anyone can be a productive member of society when using their mind to focus on their strengths.
The theme of the F.I.R.S.T. Lego League Tournament is, “Sports for the Mind.” This organization, founded by Dean Kamen, encourages people to celebrate intelligence, teamwork and character. We will be purchasing baseball jerseys to proudly represent our school and the theme we are grateful to be a part of."
Thank you,
Donny Swanson
Lego Robotics Coordinator
Intermediate School 75
Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Ridder Kids to Go To Japan
In the LEGO® Education's blog the Ridder Kids are congratulated for being selected to go to Japan this coming April.
Click below for more about the FLL team from the Bronx and their upcoming trip.
Below the Japanese Letter of invitation is a photo of some of this year's Ridder Kids and a photo taken last year accepting their trophy for winning the 2007 NYC FLL Directors Award.
Letter of Invitation
Letter of Invitation
Details of the event will be sent in separate by FIRST Japan, including preparation requirements.
Please kindly send us your confirmation of participating to the event at your earliest convenience.
Congratulations, we wish you the great success in your FLL activities.
10/DEC/2007
Dr. Haruhisa Ishihda
Chairman
First Japan
Waka bld 4F 1-3-4 Kamiasao
Asao-ku Kawasaki-city
Kanagawa,
Saturday, January 12, 2008
NYCFIRST FLL Team Bulletin: VERY IMPORTANT
NYCFIRST FLL Team Bulletin: VERY IMPORTANT
So far, 46 teams have confirmed for Riverbank on Jan. 26, as per our request in update #20, posted at http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/ . The list of the confirmed is also posted on the blog.
If you have not done so, send an email to Norm, normsco@gmail.com confirming. List the names of the coach (es) and include the number of team members and the number of adults and other children attending from your school.
The deadline has passed to change the information in the program guide as to team names and coaches.
Recent articles posted on the blog:
Pack-A-Watt to go to City-Wide Tournament
Organizing Your LEGOs
This bulletin will also posted on the blog.
The Team Information Form that must be handed in upon registering which is being attached as a pdf (see details below), is posted at Google docs: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcj5ndsz_20dm7rmsg5
From Randy Schaeffer, Co-director, NYCFIRST
Jan. 13, 2008
Hello NYC FIRST LEGO League Teachers Coaches --
The 2008 New York City FIRST LEGO League Tournaments are almost here!
You are all terrific to devote the time and energy to make it possible for your kids to participate in the FIRST celebration of young people working smart in science and technology! Thank you so very much for all your courage and hard work.
This is a long e-mail with a lot of information to help you prepare for your participation at the 2008 New York City FIRST LEGO League Tournaments. Please be patient and read it though to the end. There may be additional bulletins coming your way in the days ahead. Be sure to check your e-mail regularly.
Please contact us if you have any questions or we can help in any way: Norm Scott at norscot@aol.com. Or call 917-992-3734.
NOTE: We are short of volunteers, in particular judges. If teams can find one interested parent or teacher each that would be of great help. Contact Elizabeth Almonte: LIZBETH311@aol.com
*** *** *** *** *** ***
TEAM INFORMATION FORM:
Please download, print, and complete the attached-pdf "Team Information Form", bring it with you to the tournament, and hand it in at the registration table. Having it complete when you arrive will speed you and your team to your pit table and avoid unnecessarily long waits in line. If you have trouble downloading let us know and we will send you the form inserted in an email.
The form asks for information we will use in introducing your team to the public, assigning your team a pit table, scheduling your team's research and technical presentations, and scheduling your matches at the game tables.
If you have multiple teams, PLEASE COMPLETE ONE FORM PER TEAM participating in the tournament.
The form asks for your TEAM NUMBER -- that's the 3 or 4-digit number you were assigned upon your FLL on-line registration. IF YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR TEAM NUMBER, check the list at the bottom of this e-mail.
Please list the names of team members attending!
LOCATION:
Gymnasium
Riverbank State Park
679 Riverside Dr. (at 145th Street)
New York, NY 10031
The entrance to the park is on Riverside Drive at West 145th Street in Manhattan. Go down near the end of this e-mail for travel directions and VERY important instructions about PARKING.
For directions, go to: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=75
SNOW CANCELLATION:
If the weather causes Riverbank State Park to close, we will cancel the tournaments. You may call 718-260-3383, 973-596-3234, or 973-596-3572 for a recorded message regarding our status.
THE SCHEDULE:
8:00am - 9:00am Registration, Robot Inspection
8:15: Research and Technical Presentations begin
9:30am - 10:00am Opening Ceremonies
10:00am - 11:00am Competition Round I *
11:00pm – 12:00pm Competition Round II *
12:00pm-1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm - 2:00pm Competition Round III *
2:30pm - 3:00pm Award Ceremony
8-9am, 10:00am - 2:00pm - Research Presentations (see below)
8-9am, 10:00am – 2:00pm – Technical Presentation (see below)
* These times are approximate. Depending on how quickly we progress through the matches, there may be a 4th round. Announcements will be made throughout the day to keep you informed.
(As noted in previous Updates, there is a better chance for this to occur on Sunday due to fewer teams. There is still time to switch from Saturday to Sunday.)
If you are arranging for pick-up at the end of the day, our experience has been that the event should be completed no later than the 3:30-4pm range.
BE SURE TO ARRIVE EARLY. Teams that do not complete Registration and Robot Inspection before 9:30am may not be permitted to compete. We strongly recommend that you arrive NO LATER THAN 8:30am. Parking, registration, and getting your team set and ready to go are all going to take time -- so give yourself enough time. Doors will be open at 8:00am.
COACH'S MEETING
At approximately 9:00, there will be a coach's meeting where details of the competition day will be discussed and rule questions can be asked of the head referees. Please make sure that one coach from your team or adult representative is present at the meeting to ensure that your team receives the latest information about how the day will run.
MATCH AND JUDGING SCHEDULES
Every effort will be made to avoid having matches scheduled for your team at the same time as your team's research and/or technical presentation. There will be times however when these schedules overlap. In such an event, make sure that your team attends the research and/or technical presentation and skips the match for which they are scheduled. We will be having make up rounds around lunchtime and before the end of the day to make sure that any team which missed their match has a chance to make it up and therefore have a score on the board for each round (whether it is 3 or 4).
TEAM REPRESENTATIVES AT PIT TABLES
Please ensure that there is at least one team representative at your pit table at all times. This person should be aware of where the team is in case any judges or queuers come to get your team. Queuers will be coming around to get your team for the robot matches, research judging and technical judging throughout the day. It is therefore very important that a representative is at your tables at all times.
USE OF THE ULTRASONIC SENSOR (NXT ROBOTS):
If your team is working with the NXT Ultrasonic Sensor, we remind you about the warning on page 25 of the NXT User Guide: "Note that two or more Ultrasonic Sensors operating in the same room may interfere with each other's readings." Use of this sensor is at the team's own risk, since tournaments cannot control this interference and cannot conduct rematches. If you do use this sensor, LEGO recommends that you mount it as low as possible on the robot, that you do not use it while aimed at the other team, and that you use it for as little time as possible
BATTERIES:
Be sure to bring extras, and importantly, when changing batteries remove and replace batteries one at a time in as short a time as you can to avoid losing your programs on the RCX. If you are using an NXT robot with the rechargeable battery, make sure that you bring the appropriate charger and spare batteries in case you need to swap out your existing battery.
PLUG-INS FOR COMPUTERS:
There will be nine power stations with electrical outlets for computers in the pit area. We are not able to provide outlets at each team's pit table. Everyone's cooperation in use of the outlets will be very important. Please come with well-charged computers and know how to put your computer on stand-by mode.
We have been informed that some teams have occupied these areas for long periods of time. If you have trouble getting access to these areas inform our representatives at the Volunteer Sign-in/Team Info table across the way from Registration sign-in and they will send someone over.
PRACTICE TABLES:
There will be practice tables set up. These tend to get crowded. Though you do not have to bring your field set-up kit and mat, some teams find some space to set up on the floor to avoid the crowds at the practice tables. People involved in FLL are very accommodating so feel free to ask someone to share their mat.
GAME TABLE LIGHTING:
The lighting in the Riverbank Park gym is bright and uniform throughout. The pit, the practice tables, and the game tables are all going to be in the same gym subject to the same high-level, uniform illumination. Therefore, we will not be providing fluorescent lighting over the game tables. If your team's robot is using the light sensor, you will need to recalibrate to the ambient lighting at the practice tables upon your arrival.
LUNCH AND SNACKS:
The park snack bar will be open. It is small, the selection is limited and the lines were VERY long last year. The park has also invited outside street food vendors to be on site. However, cold/bad weather will cut down on their participation. There are a number of eating places a few blocks walk away on Broadway. Teams may bring their lunches and refreshments and eat in the stands or at their team pit tables.
PLEASE urge your team to dispose of trash in the containers that are to be available throughout the gym.
We will have a list of local eateries available for you.
RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS:
Teams that indicate that they are making a research presentation on their "Team Information Form" handed in upon registration will be scheduled for a research presentation. The presentations will be made in the Cultural Education Hall, adjoining the gymnasium. Teams will have 5 minutes to make their presentations to the judges. Every effort will be made to avoid scheduling a team's presentation at the same time as their robotic match. You might consider, however, having a one set of kids be presenters and another set be robot drivers – just in case. The schedule of matches and presentations will be posted throughout the venue.
Presenters need to be self-sufficient re AV equipment for their presentation-- meaning, teams have to provide any AV equipment they intend to use -- an electrical outlet, however, will be provided.
TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS:
Those teams wishing to be considered for the ROBOT DESIGN AWARD will be able to present their robot to a panel of judges at presentations during the day.
Teams wishing to be considered for the ROBOT DESIGN AWARD must indicate that they are making a technical presentation on their "Team Information Form" handed in upon registration. The teams will be scheduled for a technical presentation. The presentations will be made in the Cultural Education Hall, adjoining the gymnasium.
A game table will be available so that each team may demonstrate and explain their robot's capacities and how the team arrived at their design. Teams will have 5 minutes to tell the panel of judges about their robots' design and programming as well as demonstrate their robots' operation and answer questions from the judges.
Every effort will be made to avoid scheduling a team's presentation at the same time as their robotic match.
ROBOT PERFORMANCE SCORING:
It is our plan to give each team at least three opportunities to complete their missions. Robot performance awards will be based on the highest score resulting from the teams' matches. Additional matches will be used to break ties for 1st, 2nd or 3rd places. If time permits, we may be able to run a fourth round and base winning Robot Performance scores on the best of four matches instead of only three.
REFEREEING AND SCORING:
FLL is a human endeavor involving dedicated individuals wanting to do the absolute best they can. "Gracious professionalism" is the standard for the day. All scoring questions and disputes are to be resolved by the Head Referee. The Head Referees decisions are final. Team members may ask to review their score sheets before they leave the game table. Video will not be considered for review purposes (this ain't the NFL).
Any team that has received a "Paper Ruling" from FLL in Manchester should bring the ruling to the Head Referee table before the beginning of matches at 10:00am. (Don't worry – if you don't know what this is, you don't have one).
DOWNLOADING PROGRAMS FROM COMPUTERS TO ROBOTS:
We are told that if two teams are close to each other and attempting to down load programs via their infra-links (RCX), its possible for there to be interference which might scramble a program being loaded on the RCX. We therefore suggest that you bring a small cardboard box with which to shield your robot and tower when downloading programs. If you are using the NXT robot, downloading programs via Bluetooth is strictly prohibited in any competition, judging, or pit areas. Please make sure that you disable your robot's Bluetooth feature in order to make sure that your programs do not get erased or overwritten.
PARKING:
AHHHHH - we saved the best for last -- the directions below will get you to the park entrance at Riverside Drive and West 145th Street.
CARS and VANS -- Drive into the park, past the information booth at the 145th St. entrance, over the bridge and to the circle and a look for a Park Ranger giving out parking permits and maps to the lot located on the lower level, below the park. Then follow the map to the parking lot. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR UNATTENDED AT THE CIRCLE – IT WILL BE TICKETED. It is a long walk back upstairs from the lot to the gym. You may want to drop off your stuff and kids (WITH AN ADULT) when you get your parking permit from the ranger on the park level. To get to the lot, you'll have to go back out on to the streets, follow the directions carefully - we do mean carefully –they're not that easy to follow. Assuming you find your way to the lot (a little dark humor there), park your car, take the elevator or stairs (six flights - good aerobic workout to start the day) and walk back up to the gym. THIS WILL TAKE SOME TIME - perhaps as much as 10 minutes. Not an ideal arrangement, but you've made it this far, no need to despair now!!.
BUSES - Drive into the park, past the information booth at the 145th St. entrance, over the bridge and to the circle where a Park Ranger will direct you to the bus unload area. Buses will then park on Riverside Dr. or 12th Avenue, space permitting.
DIRECTIONS TO RIVERBANK STATE PARK:
See: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=75
** By bus: From Bronx - Cross-town BX19 to Riverbank.
From Manhattan - M11 Bus directly into the park.
** By subway: Westside IRT #9 (skip service) to 145th Street. Walk one block west.
** By car from the NYS Thruway: Take Major Deegan Expressway South; exit at the 155th Street Bridge, turn right & bear right off the bridge onto 155th Street, continue straight to Broadway, turn left and continue to 145th Street, turn right and continue down the hill one black to the entrance of the park.
** By car from New Jersey: Take George Washington Bridge (lower level) to
Henry Hudson Parkway South, bear left and exit at Riverside Drive, continue South on Riverside Drive to 145th Street, turn right to enter the park.
By car from Long Island: Take Whitestone Bridge to Cross-Bronx Expressway, take Westside Highway exit, bear left to Riverside Drive exit, turn right off the exit and continue straight to Riverside Drive to 145th Street. Turn right into the park.
--
Have a good day
Norm
So far, 46 teams have confirmed for Riverbank on Jan. 26, as per our request in update #20, posted at http://normsrobotics.blogspot
If you have not done so, send an email to Norm, normsco@gmail.com confirming. List the names of the coach (es) and include the number of team members and the number of adults and other children attending from your school.
The deadline has passed to change the information in the program guide as to team names and coaches.
Recent articles posted on the blog:
Pack-A-Watt to go to City-Wide Tournament
Organizing Your LEGOs
This bulletin will also posted on the blog.
The Team Information Form that must be handed in upon registering which is being attached as a pdf (see details below), is posted at Google docs: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id
From Randy Schaeffer, Co-director, NYCFIRST
Jan. 13, 2008
Hello NYC FIRST LEGO League Teachers Coaches --
The 2008 New York City FIRST LEGO League Tournaments are almost here!
You are all terrific to devote the time and energy to make it possible for your kids to participate in the FIRST celebration of young people working smart in science and technology! Thank you so very much for all your courage and hard work.
This is a long e-mail with a lot of information to help you prepare for your participation at the 2008 New York City FIRST LEGO League Tournaments. Please be patient and read it though to the end. There may be additional bulletins coming your way in the days ahead. Be sure to check your e-mail regularly.
Please contact us if you have any questions or we can help in any way: Norm Scott at norscot@aol.com. Or call 917-992-3734.
NOTE: We are short of volunteers, in particular judges. If teams can find one interested parent or teacher each that would be of great help. Contact Elizabeth Almonte: LIZBETH311@aol.com
*** *** *** *** *** ***
TEAM INFORMATION FORM:
Please download, print, and complete the attached-pdf "Team Information Form", bring it with you to the tournament, and hand it in at the registration table. Having it complete when you arrive will speed you and your team to your pit table and avoid unnecessarily long waits in line. If you have trouble downloading let us know and we will send you the form inserted in an email.
The form asks for information we will use in introducing your team to the public, assigning your team a pit table, scheduling your team's research and technical presentations, and scheduling your matches at the game tables.
If you have multiple teams, PLEASE COMPLETE ONE FORM PER TEAM participating in the tournament.
The form asks for your TEAM NUMBER -- that's the 3 or 4-digit number you were assigned upon your FLL on-line registration. IF YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR TEAM NUMBER, check the list at the bottom of this e-mail.
Please list the names of team members attending!
LOCATION:
Gymnasium
Riverbank State Park
679 Riverside Dr. (at 145th Street)
New York, NY 10031
The entrance to the park is on Riverside Drive at West 145th Street in Manhattan. Go down near the end of this e-mail for travel directions and VERY important instructions about PARKING.
For directions, go to: http://nysparks.state.ny.us
SNOW CANCELLATION:
If the weather causes Riverbank State Park to close, we will cancel the tournaments. You may call 718-260-3383, 973-596-3234, or 973-596-3572 for a recorded message regarding our status.
THE SCHEDULE:
8:00am - 9:00am Registration, Robot Inspection
8:15: Research and Technical Presentations begin
9:30am - 10:00am Opening Ceremonies
10:00am - 11:00am Competition Round I *
11:00pm – 12:00pm Competition Round II *
12:00pm-1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm - 2:00pm Competition Round III *
2:30pm - 3:00pm Award Ceremony
8-9am, 10:00am - 2:00pm - Research Presentations (see below)
8-9am, 10:00am – 2:00pm – Technical Presentation (see below)
* These times are approximate. Depending on how quickly we progress through the matches, there may be a 4th round. Announcements will be made throughout the day to keep you informed.
(As noted in previous Updates, there is a better chance for this to occur on Sunday due to fewer teams. There is still time to switch from Saturday to Sunday.)
If you are arranging for pick-up at the end of the day, our experience has been that the event should be completed no later than the 3:30-4pm range.
BE SURE TO ARRIVE EARLY. Teams that do not complete Registration and Robot Inspection before 9:30am may not be permitted to compete. We strongly recommend that you arrive NO LATER THAN 8:30am. Parking, registration, and getting your team set and ready to go are all going to take time -- so give yourself enough time. Doors will be open at 8:00am.
COACH'S MEETING
At approximately 9:00, there will be a coach's meeting where details of the competition day will be discussed and rule questions can be asked of the head referees. Please make sure that one coach from your team or adult representative is present at the meeting to ensure that your team receives the latest information about how the day will run.
MATCH AND JUDGING SCHEDULES
Every effort will be made to avoid having matches scheduled for your team at the same time as your team's research and/or technical presentation. There will be times however when these schedules overlap. In such an event, make sure that your team attends the research and/or technical presentation and skips the match for which they are scheduled. We will be having make up rounds around lunchtime and before the end of the day to make sure that any team which missed their match has a chance to make it up and therefore have a score on the board for each round (whether it is 3 or 4).
TEAM REPRESENTATIVES AT PIT TABLES
Please ensure that there is at least one team representative at your pit table at all times. This person should be aware of where the team is in case any judges or queuers come to get your team. Queuers will be coming around to get your team for the robot matches, research judging and technical judging throughout the day. It is therefore very important that a representative is at your tables at all times.
USE OF THE ULTRASONIC SENSOR (NXT ROBOTS):
If your team is working with the NXT Ultrasonic Sensor, we remind you about the warning on page 25 of the NXT User Guide: "Note that two or more Ultrasonic Sensors operating in the same room may interfere with each other's readings." Use of this sensor is at the team's own risk, since tournaments cannot control this interference and cannot conduct rematches. If you do use this sensor, LEGO recommends that you mount it as low as possible on the robot, that you do not use it while aimed at the other team, and that you use it for as little time as possible
BATTERIES:
Be sure to bring extras, and importantly, when changing batteries remove and replace batteries one at a time in as short a time as you can to avoid losing your programs on the RCX. If you are using an NXT robot with the rechargeable battery, make sure that you bring the appropriate charger and spare batteries in case you need to swap out your existing battery.
PLUG-INS FOR COMPUTERS:
There will be nine power stations with electrical outlets for computers in the pit area. We are not able to provide outlets at each team's pit table. Everyone's cooperation in use of the outlets will be very important. Please come with well-charged computers and know how to put your computer on stand-by mode.
We have been informed that some teams have occupied these areas for long periods of time. If you have trouble getting access to these areas inform our representatives at the Volunteer Sign-in/Team Info table across the way from Registration sign-in and they will send someone over.
PRACTICE TABLES:
There will be practice tables set up. These tend to get crowded. Though you do not have to bring your field set-up kit and mat, some teams find some space to set up on the floor to avoid the crowds at the practice tables. People involved in FLL are very accommodating so feel free to ask someone to share their mat.
GAME TABLE LIGHTING:
The lighting in the Riverbank Park gym is bright and uniform throughout. The pit, the practice tables, and the game tables are all going to be in the same gym subject to the same high-level, uniform illumination. Therefore, we will not be providing fluorescent lighting over the game tables. If your team's robot is using the light sensor, you will need to recalibrate to the ambient lighting at the practice tables upon your arrival.
LUNCH AND SNACKS:
The park snack bar will be open. It is small, the selection is limited and the lines were VERY long last year. The park has also invited outside street food vendors to be on site. However, cold/bad weather will cut down on their participation. There are a number of eating places a few blocks walk away on Broadway. Teams may bring their lunches and refreshments and eat in the stands or at their team pit tables.
PLEASE urge your team to dispose of trash in the containers that are to be available throughout the gym.
We will have a list of local eateries available for you.
RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS:
Teams that indicate that they are making a research presentation on their "Team Information Form" handed in upon registration will be scheduled for a research presentation. The presentations will be made in the Cultural Education Hall, adjoining the gymnasium. Teams will have 5 minutes to make their presentations to the judges. Every effort will be made to avoid scheduling a team's presentation at the same time as their robotic match. You might consider, however, having a one set of kids be presenters and another set be robot drivers – just in case. The schedule of matches and presentations will be posted throughout the venue.
Presenters need to be self-sufficient re AV equipment for their presentation-- meaning, teams have to provide any AV equipment they intend to use -- an electrical outlet, however, will be provided.
TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS:
Those teams wishing to be considered for the ROBOT DESIGN AWARD will be able to present their robot to a panel of judges at presentations during the day.
Teams wishing to be considered for the ROBOT DESIGN AWARD must indicate that they are making a technical presentation on their "Team Information Form" handed in upon registration. The teams will be scheduled for a technical presentation. The presentations will be made in the Cultural Education Hall, adjoining the gymnasium.
A game table will be available so that each team may demonstrate and explain their robot's capacities and how the team arrived at their design. Teams will have 5 minutes to tell the panel of judges about their robots' design and programming as well as demonstrate their robots' operation and answer questions from the judges.
Every effort will be made to avoid scheduling a team's presentation at the same time as their robotic match.
ROBOT PERFORMANCE SCORING:
It is our plan to give each team at least three opportunities to complete their missions. Robot performance awards will be based on the highest score resulting from the teams' matches. Additional matches will be used to break ties for 1st, 2nd or 3rd places. If time permits, we may be able to run a fourth round and base winning Robot Performance scores on the best of four matches instead of only three.
REFEREEING AND SCORING:
FLL is a human endeavor involving dedicated individuals wanting to do the absolute best they can. "Gracious professionalism" is the standard for the day. All scoring questions and disputes are to be resolved by the Head Referee. The Head Referees decisions are final. Team members may ask to review their score sheets before they leave the game table. Video will not be considered for review purposes (this ain't the NFL).
Any team that has received a "Paper Ruling" from FLL in Manchester should bring the ruling to the Head Referee table before the beginning of matches at 10:00am. (Don't worry – if you don't know what this is, you don't have one).
DOWNLOADING PROGRAMS FROM COMPUTERS TO ROBOTS:
We are told that if two teams are close to each other and attempting to down load programs via their infra-links (RCX), its possible for there to be interference which might scramble a program being loaded on the RCX. We therefore suggest that you bring a small cardboard box with which to shield your robot and tower when downloading programs. If you are using the NXT robot, downloading programs via Bluetooth is strictly prohibited in any competition, judging, or pit areas. Please make sure that you disable your robot's Bluetooth feature in order to make sure that your programs do not get erased or overwritten.
PARKING:
AHHHHH - we saved the best for last -- the directions below will get you to the park entrance at Riverside Drive and West 145th Street.
CARS and VANS -- Drive into the park, past the information booth at the 145th St. entrance, over the bridge and to the circle and a look for a Park Ranger giving out parking permits and maps to the lot located on the lower level, below the park. Then follow the map to the parking lot. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR UNATTENDED AT THE CIRCLE – IT WILL BE TICKETED. It is a long walk back upstairs from the lot to the gym. You may want to drop off your stuff and kids (WITH AN ADULT) when you get your parking permit from the ranger on the park level. To get to the lot, you'll have to go back out on to the streets, follow the directions carefully - we do mean carefully –they're not that easy to follow. Assuming you find your way to the lot (a little dark humor there), park your car, take the elevator or stairs (six flights - good aerobic workout to start the day) and walk back up to the gym. THIS WILL TAKE SOME TIME - perhaps as much as 10 minutes. Not an ideal arrangement, but you've made it this far, no need to despair now!!.
BUSES - Drive into the park, past the information booth at the 145th St. entrance, over the bridge and to the circle where a Park Ranger will direct you to the bus unload area. Buses will then park on Riverside Dr. or 12th Avenue, space permitting.
DIRECTIONS TO RIVERBANK STATE PARK:
See: http://nysparks.state.ny.us
** By bus: From Bronx - Cross-town BX19 to Riverbank.
From Manhattan - M11 Bus directly into the park.
** By subway: Westside IRT #9 (skip service) to 145th Street. Walk one block west.
** By car from the NYS Thruway: Take Major Deegan Expressway South; exit at the 155th Street Bridge, turn right & bear right off the bridge onto 155th Street, continue straight to Broadway, turn left and continue to 145th Street, turn right and continue down the hill one black to the entrance of the park.
** By car from New Jersey: Take George Washington Bridge (lower level) to
Henry Hudson Parkway South, bear left and exit at Riverside Drive, continue South on Riverside Drive to 145th Street, turn right to enter the park.
By car from Long Island: Take Whitestone Bridge to Cross-Bronx Expressway, take Westside Highway exit, bear left to Riverside Drive exit, turn right off the exit and continue straight to Riverside Drive to 145th Street. Turn right into the park.
--
Have a good day
Norm
Pack-A-Watt to go to City-Wide Tournament
By Ava Busto Schiff and Bradley Shapiro
It’s easy enough to know about what’s going on with Packer sports teams like soccer and basketball – ones that are announced about in chapel and are made up entirely of middle-school students. It’s much less common to hear about after-school activities that are the exact opposite. The teams are comprised of middle and lower school students, and their progress isn’t announced in chapel. These are teams like fencing and robotics. The former of this set is pretty self-explanatory: school teams fencing against other school teams much like a track meet or a soccer game. The latter, however, isn’t quite as simple. The Packer robotics team, who have named themselves Pack-A-Watt, is Packer’s representative to the FLL (First LEGO League). This means that Pack-A-Watt builds robots out of LEGO products and goes to a tournament where they plug in a pre-tailored command into their robot’s computer so that it can do a set of tasks based on the year’s theme (each year there’s a new one). This year’s theme was energy conservation, and robots were required to complete assignments such as moving oil barrels, pushing cars and trucks, gathering uranium and corn harvesting plants, and placing power lines, windmills and waterwheels.
But FLL feels that kids should not just know how to make and program robots, but that they should get something out of the experience. That’s why at tournaments like the one held on Saturday at Brooklyn Tech High school, teams are able to advance to the next round, in this case the city-wide, in multiple ways including team spirit, teamwork, robot design, robot programming, how many tasks you do and how well you do them, and research presentation. Before going into the details of each award, let’s examine the hierarchy of the FLL. There are three tournaments. The regional, the city-wide, and the national. The regional is the preliminary tournament that weeds out sixteen schools from each borough, as to narrow the search for the FLL champion. I am happy to report that Pack-A-Watt has passed through this tournament. The city-wide takes out the best of the best and pits them against each other to see who is truly worthy of the honor of going to nationals. Pack-A-Watt will be going to the city-wide at Riverbank State Park on January 26th. The national tournament is the ultimate battle between the ultimate warriors of the FLL. Set in Atlanta, the national will crown the winner, and hopefully, that will be us!
Now let’s take a look at the different awards and, more importantly, the one Pack-A-Watt earned. Robot building: Let’s face it, building with LEGOs is not that simple. The team who makes the best robot – even if that robot doesn’t score a single point! – can go to the next round. Robot programming: A good robot is nice, but it’s not the sword, it’s the swordsman. Programming the NXT or RCX (the LEGO computer) is hard work, and FLL honors that by letting the best programmed robot’s team advance to the next round. Performance: This is what FLL is known for: put your robot on a table and it gets two and a h
alf minutes to complete as many challenges and wrack up as much points as possible. The top five point-worthy teams get the honor of the next tournament. Team spirit: Sometimes that best way to not be beaten is to accept defeat. If you are a real mascot for your school, or just shrug off defeat as a learning experience to be applied next time, you may well win the spirit award. Despite Matthew’s chicken dance at the end of the tournament, Pack-A-Watt strangely did not win this award. Teamwork: The twin sister of team spirit, this award goes to whoever’s team supports each other the most, even when someone doesn’t get a single point (because there’s always next round! [Each team gets four tries to get as much points as possible]). The last – and in many coaches opinion, hardest – award goes to whichever team a) chooses an interesting topic to research relating to the annual theme (we did “How much power does an average four-person brownstone use and how do you use less?”), b) spends the most time and effort into this research project and how factually correct is it, and c) how creatively and effectively you display this information (Pack-A-Watt did a skit in which a dog becomes an environmental superhero so that he could help the MacIntyre family become green with little financial disruption). Pack-A-Watt won first place for their research, and we hope to see many people on January 26th at Riverbank State Park to help push Pack-A-Watt into the national tournament.
Teams Confirmed for Riverbank
The following teams have confirmed their attendance at Riverbank State Park on Jan. 26, 2008.
If your team qualified for Riverbank but you are not on this list, send an email to Norm, normsco@gmail.com confirming. List the names of the coach(es) and include the number of team members and the number of adults and other children attending from your school.
0083 CS 66 X CS66 B.R.A.T.S
0196 PS/IS 123 X Solargy
0268 MS 101X Maritime Academy The Power Solvers
0332 IS 24 SI Rogue Leaders
0394 MS 67Q Energize 67
0449 PS 372 K Power Punks
0506 Pablo Casals MS 181x The RoboCopz
0573 IS 125 Q Mr. Roboto
0705 Globe School for Environmental Research GLOBE Masters
0707 Globe School for Environmental Research GLOBE Masters
0844 St. Edmund Elementary School Nerd Herd
0845 MS 302 X MS302 Tech Squad
0948 Brics-2-Bots Cyberbots-Techs
0990 IS 34 SI Techno Eagles
0992 IS 34 SI Stell Talons
1435 Packer Collegiate Inst. Pack-a-Watt
1447 Trevor Day School The Little Dragons
1472 PS 58 The Carroll School Black Hornets
1475 PS 58 The Carroll School Robot Shockers
1634 ESMT IS 190 X Team X
1822 MS 118 X Pacers
1863 IS 119 Q TopGearz
1911 PS 76X The Bennington School 76ers
1995 IS 75 SI Panthers 1
1996 IS 75 SI Panthers 2
2070 PS 11K Mission 11
2154 PS 121 X Storm Throopers
2235 Coen Micro Bots
2258 IS 27 SI Mustangs 2
2349 PS 103 x RoboStingers
2350 PS 103 x RoboBeez
2395 RMS @ I. S. 192 Robo Fusion 192
2627 Little Red School House LREI Knights
3126 Edward Bleeker JHS 185 Stars
3628 IS 383 K Philippa Schuyler MS MS Skybox
3840 Bric-2-Bots Cyberots-Engineers
3874 MS 216Q George Ryan Ryan Lions
4815 Frederick Douglass Academy FDA LEGO Raiders
4817 Frederick Douglass Academy FDA LEGO Junior Raiders
4850 Manhattan Academy of Technology PS126/MAT/ChinatownYMCA MATobot
5148 PS 304X DragonBots
5517 IS 119 Q TopGearz
5689 PS 81 K PS 81 RoboKids.com
5744 PS 108X Energy All-Stars
6115 Manhattan East School for Academics and Art MS 224 Thing 2
6482 Little Red School House LREI
If your team qualified for Riverbank but you are not on this list, send an email to Norm, normsco@gmail.com confirming. List the names of the coach(es) and include the number of team members and the number of adults and other children attending from your school.
0083 CS 66 X CS66 B.R.A.T.S
0196 PS/IS 123 X Solargy
0268 MS 101X Maritime Academy The Power Solvers
0332 IS 24 SI Rogue Leaders
0394 MS 67Q Energize 67
0449 PS 372 K Power Punks
0506 Pablo Casals MS 181x The RoboCopz
0573 IS 125 Q Mr. Roboto
0705 Globe School for Environmental Research GLOBE Masters
0707 Globe School for Environmental Research GLOBE Masters
0844 St. Edmund Elementary School Nerd Herd
0845 MS 302 X MS302 Tech Squad
0948 Brics-2-Bots Cyberbots-Techs
0990 IS 34 SI Techno Eagles
0992 IS 34 SI Stell Talons
1435 Packer Collegiate Inst. Pack-a-Watt
1447 Trevor Day School The Little Dragons
1472 PS 58 The Carroll School Black Hornets
1475 PS 58 The Carroll School Robot Shockers
1634 ESMT IS 190 X Team X
1822 MS 118 X Pacers
1863 IS 119 Q TopGearz
1911 PS 76X The Bennington School 76ers
1995 IS 75 SI Panthers 1
1996 IS 75 SI Panthers 2
2070 PS 11K Mission 11
2154 PS 121 X Storm Throopers
2235 Coen Micro Bots
2258 IS 27 SI Mustangs 2
2349 PS 103 x RoboStingers
2350 PS 103 x RoboBeez
2395 RMS @ I. S. 192 Robo Fusion 192
2627 Little Red School House LREI Knights
3126 Edward Bleeker JHS 185 Stars
3628 IS 383 K Philippa Schuyler MS MS Skybox
3840 Bric-2-Bots Cyberots-Engineers
3874 MS 216Q George Ryan Ryan Lions
4815 Frederick Douglass Academy FDA LEGO Raiders
4817 Frederick Douglass Academy FDA LEGO Junior Raiders
4850 Manhattan Academy of Technology PS126/MAT/ChinatownYMCA MATobot
5148 PS 304X DragonBots
5517 IS 119 Q TopGearz
5689 PS 81 K PS 81 RoboKids.com
5744 PS 108X Energy All-Stars
6115 Manhattan East School for Academics and Art MS 224 Thing 2
6482 Little Red School House LREI
Organizing Your LEGOs
Marc Couture from Wisconsin asks:
Do any of you who have NXT kits and use them to teach robotics to classes have an organization system for keeping parts in order?
Has anyone developed sorting guides for different trays?
I would appreciate knowing about any experiences and suggestions from those who have had to deal with this.
Responses on the FLL Partner Listserve:
Tom from Maine:
Thomas Bickford
Maine Robotics
Marc
I see lots of good methods folks have answered with already and I have some comments below. I would like to say when I instituted 'points' for each team this made more difference that the details of the sorting method, although a good sorting method was necessary too.
There were points available at the end of each session for teams that got all the parts back in the correct bins, enforced by a scan by me at the end of each class. And then I had small rewards for the team with the most points after a few sessions. The competition to get a perfect cleanup score was fierce!
I had a system with printed pictures for each compartment, similar to Steve but not as advanced. I love Steve's small boxes in a big box so you have small bins for small parts. The key to those systems I found after about 4-5 iterations was 1) Similar parts together in a bin, but what is similar is the key. Group by function for parts that the kids know what they do like wheels. Group by type for most 'vanilla' LEGO, but sometimes you need 2 bins, separated by size so a 2x2 isn't lost at the bottom underneath 2x10s. And group by appearance parts that
kids won't know what they do at a glance (or like most LEGO has multiple functions); for example all the shaft connector pieces. Also, note that the box you choose should have shallow compartments, ideally with rounded corners so fingers can get small parts out.
And finally, maybe a better solution is to click similar pieces together but so they come apart eaily, I just found this gem of an article about sorting LEGO. This would allow much more accurate estimate of what was missing each time too since the height of stacks would be consistent.
http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/efficientlego
Will Scarbrough
Do any of you who have NXT kits and use them to teach robotics to classes have an organization system for keeping parts in order?
Has anyone developed sorting guides for different trays?
I would appreciate knowing about any experiences and suggestions from those who have had to deal with this.
Responses on the FLL Partner Listserve:
Tom from Maine:
Hi Marc,
We've been sorting/organizing for years. First with the RCX and then with the NXTs.
We use the large boxes for large items (wheels/long connector rods/basic bricks/NXTs and chargers/motors).
Then we use Plano or Shimano lure boxes (clear plastic, rectangular boxes of varying sizes, with adjustable dividers). We've gotten them online, from WalMart, from Dick's Sporting Goods, and from local fishing supply stores.
The medium size (8-1/2 x 14 x 1-3/4") and the larger (9-1/4 x 16 x 3") seem to suite best.
We use a boxes for:
axles and barrel connectors
connectors
angle connectors
small bricks (1x1, 1x2, up to 2x2)
small plates (up to the 2x4 plate)
NXT connectors (not sure of the names...)
Sensors
Gears
Misc (people/flex tubes/doors/windows...)
Shimano website for their utility boxes:
Plano website for their utility boxes:
Hope that helps,
Tom
The large boxes I was referring to are the ones the NXT or RCX kits come in. They are a good size and stackable.
We use them for:
large 2x plates
large plates (bigger than 2x)
bricks (bigger than 2x4)
Wires
Motors
Connecting arms (larger than 5 hole)
Beams (larger than 1x4)
NXTs
We've got about 25-30 kits and we only use the trays (from the kits) when we have to sort. Since they are prone to disruption and hence need for resorting, we don't use them with groups or kids.
The Plano/Shimano (or other brand) boxes are not very expensive. If you buy more than a few kits you should invest the 40-60 dollars it would take to get a small pile of these utility boxes.
If you go looking for boxes locally, I recommend that you make sure the lids can fold back all the way (so you can put another box on top of the lid). We got a few one time that would only open slightly past vertical and then you have all your parts laid out with lids sticki
ng up in the air (not very neat).
ng up in the air (not very neat).Tom
Thomas Bickford
Maine Robotics
Thanks, I've picked up some Plano trays as well. What I was thinking about doing was to create new templates (like what come in the NXT kits) for the Plano boxes that show students what goes where and the proper inventory quantitiy so that any child at the end of a program can conduct a quick sort and inventory of what they have. Does this seem practical? Of course once I move parts from the NXT kit into other trays the original templates are no longer accurate and should be reworked for the revised items and counts. Just trying to determine if it is worth it. Seems like in the long run it would pay off. Also looking to see if anyone out there has a system they have tested and proved efficient.
Hi Marc,
I've been using such a system for RCX classes and summer camp for several years, and more recently for NXT classes. You can see the system I use at:
I also have building instructions with parts lists keyed to the storage system, so the kids can find their parts quickly. I've found that having a storage system like this makes it possible for kids to complete an entire robotics project (and put it away) in a 2 hour class period, which is important for many of my classes.
Steve Putz
www.RoboticsLearning.com
I see lots of good methods folks have answered with already and I have some comments below. I would like to say when I instituted 'points' for each team this made more difference that the details of the sorting method, although a good sorting method was necessary too.
There were points available at the end of each session for teams that got all the parts back in the correct bins, enforced by a scan by me at the end of each class. And then I had small rewards for the team with the most points after a few sessions. The competition to get a perfect cleanup score was fierce!
I had a system with printed pictures for each compartment, similar to Steve but not as advanced. I love Steve's small boxes in a big box so you have small bins for small parts. The key to those systems I found after about 4-5 iterations was 1) Similar parts together in a bin, but what is similar is the key. Group by function for parts that the kids know what they do like wheels. Group by type for most 'vanilla' LEGO, but sometimes you need 2 bins, separated by size so a 2x2 isn't lost at the bottom underneath 2x10s. And group by appearance parts that
kids won't know what they do at a glance (or like most LEGO has multiple functions); for example all the shaft connector pieces. Also, note that the box you choose should have shallow compartments, ideally with rounded corners so fingers can get small parts out.
And finally, maybe a better solution is to click similar pieces together but so they come apart eaily, I just found this gem of an article about sorting LEGO. This would allow much more accurate estimate of what was missing each time too since the height of stacks would be consistent.
http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/efficientlego
Will Scarbrough
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