FIRST Columbus LEGO December Qualifier

Here is my "Thank You" video tribute to all of the parents, mentors, coaches, faculty and staff who made this year's FLL/JFLL event at CSU such a success. I couldn't have done it without you!



Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and good luck in 2011!

Jeanette and Frank Braski

CSU Regional Qualifier Results

Congratulations to all the teams who attended and participated in the Columbus State University TSYS School of Computer Science FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Qualifier and Jr. FLL Exposition! 

This year’s FIRST LEGO League challenge, Body Forward, tasked students with learning about the human body’s different systems to come up with bio-medical engineering solutions for today’s healthcare problems.


21 teams from across the state of Georgia convened at Columbus State’s Cunningham Center for Leadership Development this last Saturday to show off their research projects and compete for awards and the chance to move on to a “Super Regional” competition in January.  It was a great day to see healthcare and related medical robots, research and team work – each of the teams were wonderful, exemplifying the FLL Core Values.

Congratulations and a big thank you to all the CSU faculty, TSYS staff and student ACM and Campus Nerd volunteers who put on a great tournament.  Pictured in most of the team photos is distinguished department chairperson, Dr. Wayne Summers of CSU, and me, Frank Braski, volunteer FLL Operational Partner.

Special Thanks to JFLL Team 438 Robo Raptors for sharing their Turbo 3000 Electric Wheelchair with us!

I have shared pictures from the tournament here... if you have others you'd like to share, you can add them there, too!   http://picasaweb.google.com/Mr.Braski

Overall Champion's Awards

This award recognizes a team that embodies the FLL experience, by fully embracing our Core Values while achieving excellence and innovation in both the Robot Game and Project.  It is the highest honor a team can win.

1. 4690 - T-City JETS, Thomasville City Schools, Thomasville
2. 11545 - DREAM BionicBoyz - St.Elmo Elementary, Columbus
3. 4254 - FPD Red - First Presbyterian Day School, Macon

Research Project Awards

Teams must conduct research on a challenge related topic of their choice, come up with an innovation solution and present it to Judges and others in the community.

1. 6290 - LEGO Powers - Koinonia Home School Cooperative, Americus
2. 11543 - DREAM Girls "7 of Hearts" - St. Elmo Elementary, Columbus
3. 5033 - Brooks County Middle School TSA - Robot Rage, Quittman

Robot Technical Award

The technical robot award recognizes teams demonstrated knowledge of their robot, unique or innovative designs or solutions to this year’s robot game challenge.  Programming, solution approach and use of sensors is included in this category.

1. 4800 - Jagwires - Bonaire Middle School, Bonaire
2. 5260 - Roaring Lion Brainiacs - E.A. White Elementary, Ft. Benning
3. 6719 - Metallic Mustangs - Gardner Newman Middle School, La Grange

Core Values / Teamwork Awards

Teams are reviewed by a panel of judges in three main categories:  Inspiration, Teamwork, and Gracious Professionalism, Respect and Coopertition (the ability to compete and cooperate/help each other simultaneously).

1. 3893 - Smart Girls - Girls, Inc., Columbus
2. 6227 - The Brainiaks - Laurens County, Dulblin
3. 4253 - FPD Black - First Presbyterian Day School, Macon  

Robot Game Performance / Top Score

This award recognizes a team that scores the most points during the Robot Game.  Teams have a chance to compete in at least three 2.5 minute matches and their highest score counts.

1. 4254 - FPD Red - First Presbyterian Day School, Macon - Top Score of 165 (twice!)

Teams qualifying for the Super Regional to be held at Star Base Robins in Warner Robins at the Air Force Musem on Saturday, January 8th, 2011:

• 4254 - FPD Red - First Presbyterian Day School, Macon
• 4253 - FPD Black - First Presbyterian Day School, Macon
• 4690 - T-City JETS - Thomasville City Schools, Thomasville
• 4800 - Jagwires - Bonaire Middle School, Bonaire
• 5260 - Roaring Lion Brainiacs - E.A. White Elementary, Ft. Benning
• 6290 - LEGO Powers - Koinonia Home School Cooperative, Americus
• 6719 - Metallic Mustangs - Gardner Middle Scool, La Grange
• 11545 - DREAM BionicBoyz - St. Elmo Elementary, Columbus

In addition, several other awards were presented, two to local youth and one to a couple of coaches from Quitman.


Outstanding Volunteer Award - The FLL program would not exist without its volunteers. This award honors an extraordinary volunteer(s) whose dedication to the FLL program has a positive impact on the team experience.

Jason Cornwell, a CSU Graduate Assistant, of Warner Robins received the Outstanding Volunteer Award. He has been mentoring teams, teaching LEGO Mindstorms Activ8 camps and helping Mr. Braski prepare for and run the tournament for the last two years.

Adult Coach / Mentor Award - Many teams reach significant milestones thanks to their close relationship with an adult mentor. This award goes to the coach or mentor whose wisdom, guidance, and devotion are most clearly evident in the team’s discussion with the judges.

This year’s recipients are a husband and wife team that have been coaching and mentoring the teams from Quitman in Brooks County. Tyler and Michelle Sorrells were surprised by this honor by their team who shared their stories of being inspired and impressed by their teamwork and dedication.

Young Adult Mentor Award - FLL presents this award to the young adult, high school or college mentor whose support, impact, inspiration, and guidance are most clearly evident in the team’s discussion with the judges.

This year’s Young Adult Mentor Award goes to Ebone Monk of Columbus High School.  Ebone is one of several Columbus High school's FIRST Robotics mentors, which included Pranam Chatterjee, Priyanka Chatterjee, David Howard, Emily Takagi, Streit Cunningham, and David Ren.

CSU TSYS School of Computer Science FLL Qualifier and JFLL Expo

I'm very much looking forward to seeing all of you at the CSU FLL Qualifier and JFLL Expo on December 11th!

It will be at the CSU Cunningham Center - http://ccld.colstate.edu/ for maps and directions.

Here is the general schedule for the day:

8:00 – Volunteer Check In / Setup
8:00 - 10:00 - Chick-fil-A selling breakfast
8:30 - Teams Check In
8:45 - Coaches Meeting
9:00 - Judges / Ref Meeting
9:15 - 9:30 - Kick-Off / Welcome
9:30 - 11:10 - Robot Round 1 (2 Table Matches )
9:30 - 12:15 - Research Presentations
9:30 - 11:20 - Technical Briefings
9:30 - 11:20 - Teamwork Judging
11:00 - 2:30 - Chick-fil-A selling Lunch
11:20 - 12:10 - Doubles Round 2 (4 Tables)
12:30 - 2:10 - Round 3 (2 Tables)
2:20 - 3:25 - Wii Sports, Dance & Video Party
3:25 - $5 Raffle & Prizes
3:30 - Awards Ceremony & Close
4:00 - Clean Up

Forsyth Qualifier Results

The Forsyth FLL Qualifier was held this last weekend with great success... They hosted 32 teams and ran 5 rounds! Here are the results from that day:

Champions (Top 3 Overall)

1. 21 Team Super Awesome
2. 5293 Daves Creek Doc Bots
3. 5296 Haw Creek Team 1

Research Project / Presentation

1. 5295 Blind Wizards
2. 1414 FSA IgKnighterZ
3. 10228 Manna Robotics

 Robot Design / Technical

1. 1882 Team Five Guys
2. 9097 FSA Jabberwockies
3. 8024 Robotics on Fire

 Core Values / Teamwork

1. 9455 Biomedical Knights
2. 6143 Sharon Roboknights
3. 11129 Sawnee Chiefs 4

Robot Performance / Top Score for the Day - 245!

High robot score for the day was 245 point for veteran Team Super Awesome. This (if memory serves me correctly, comes from a team that could score 400 at last year's state championship...) 2nd highest was 195 and third was 175.

  

13 teams from Forsyth are going to the Gwinnett Super Qualifier in January.

21 - Team Super Awesome
574 - Techno Wolves
1414 - FSA IgKnighterZ
5293 - Daves Creek Doc Bot
5295 - Blind Wizards
5296 - Haw Creek Team 1
5298 - Techo-JAG
5299 - Vickery Creek MS
6143 - Sharon Roboknights
7222 - FSA Mindstormers
8024 - Robotics on Fire
9455 - Biomedical Knights
10228 - Manna Robotics

   

Congratulations to all the teams that participated!!!

Gwinnett Qualifier Results

Quick Qualifier Update...  Here are some resutls from the FLL Qualifier held last weekend at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center.

 

For pics and inspiration, check out their pictures here: GWHC Qualifier Pictures

Champions (Top 3 Overall)

1. 678 Kick'N'Bots
2. 478 Sparbots - Congrats to Athens Academy, my brother's team!
3. 5512 Invictobots

Research Project / Presentation

1. 4493 PiBots
2. 5963 Titans
3. 1148 Blazers

Robot Design / Technical

1. 259 The Determinators
2. 4333 Hebron Engineers
3. 4899 Nebo Lego LifeSavers

Core Values / Teamwork

1. 2885 Architects
2. 5852 Robo Racers I
3. 8948 Blazers2

Performance - Top Score for the day - 185!

• High robot score for the day was 185 from team 4333 Hebron Engineers.

Advancing to Super Regional

 

259 - The Determinators

478 - Sparbots

678 - Kick'N'Bots

4493 - PiBots

4899 - Nebo Lego LifeSavers

5512 - Invictobots

5861 - The Green Team
5852 - Robo Racers I
8948 - Blazers2

 

Congratulations to these teams and all the teams that participated!

FIRST Time-Qualifier Jitters?

Here's a little help for FIRST time FLLers... Much of this is based on experience and contributions from many of the great folks on the GA FLL Support group on Yahoo!.


It is not the robot score that lets you advance. We have seen teams come in one of the last places on the robot game advance when a team at the top of the robot game did not. The advancement is based on the Champion's Award criteria: 1/4 robot game, 1/4 Project Judging, 1/4 Technical Judging, and 1/4 Teamwork/FLL Values.

It is better to have the team run fewer programs that work well than a lot that do not score. Also, practice, practice, practice within the time limits. 5 minutes TOTAL for Research Presentation. 5 minutes TOTAL for Technical Presentation. 2.5 minutes MAX for the robot rounds.

Have the kids print out their programs to bring to their technical presentation and share with the judges. As long as the judges can tell what kind of blocks they are (Move, Wait, etc.)the main “program” with the blocks is just fine. They don't need the detail of every individual block. If the kids want to go above and beyond they can add comments to give more details about their program. They can add comments by clicking on the comment tool at the top of the screen (it looks like a little cartoon talk balloon), then click on the programming area where you want to start adding the text and type away. To exit the commenting, click on the pointer tool (the upward pointing arrow to the left of the comment tool button).

Trophies and Awards are not what matter. The students' learning is the important thing and I am sure they have learned a lot. Remind them that the judges want to hear about the struggles and the trials as much as the successes. That is the journey of what they learned.

We have seen teams qualify for the next level when they were ready to pack up at a Regional, so go no matter where your team is at this point.

DO NOT FOCUS ON THE ROBOT SCORE! From another coach, “Last year was my first year and our teams didn't do too well score wise in the robot game but they still progressed. One team did well in the research and the other team did well in teamwork and technical. Just encourage the kids to do their best with what they have done.”

As a rookie team it is probably daunting to see there are a total of 400 points available and not have that many missions done. Relax... you probably are in the same boat as a lot of teams. Just have the kids concentrate on mastering the missions they HAVE DONE up to this point and practice some timed 2:30 minute runs. Consistency with less missions is better than inconsistency with more missions.

Also, test your robot operators by "sabotaging" the table before their runs. For example, if they are going for cells, turn one halfway so their robot would snag it. The kids need to remember to check the table set up before their runs. They don't get a "do over" if the table isn't set up correctly because they are ultimately responsible for checking it.

From another coach, “I would add to beware of battery fatigue. Last year we noticed a general trend of dropping scores as the day advanced. Our team thinks that's from running on a low battery. Our robot seems a lot less accurate when the power is weak. When it's too high, it can be a little jumpy, but one practice run seems to put it in the zone.”

Keep those batteries fresh - that's not easy to do when the kids want to make practice runs!

Special thanks to James Trobaugh, Lydia Kedzierski, Mary Roberts and Beth Reichle for contributing to this list!

Kell Qualifier Results

Congratulations to all the teams, judges, referees, and other volunteers that attended the FLL Qualifier at Kell High School today. We have our first results for the 2010 Body Forward Season. Here are the results:


Champions (Top 3 Overall)

1. 2895 - Radically Original Builders of Technology
2. 121 - Transformers
3. 149 - RoboKids

Research Project / Presentation

1. 2014 - Cyber Swat
2. 2004 - Blazer Bots
3. 1883 - Bio Bots

Robot Design / Technical

1. 28 - Brick Busters
2. 3857 - Wildcats #1 
3. 6148 - Dragons

Core Values / Teamwork

1. 7945 - Lego Legionaires
2. 4005 - Shock Doctors
3. 116 - Chalker Blockers #1

Performance - Top Score of the day - 295

• Team 28 - Brick Busters scored a High Score of 295.

Qualifying for Super Regionals in January 2011.

• 121 Transformers
• 149 RoboKids
• 2004 Blazer Bots
• 2014 Cyber Swat
• 2895 Radically Original Builders of Technology
• 4005 Shock Doctors
• 7945 Lego Legionaires

Pilot Judging and Awards this year in Georgia

I got an update on judging and awards for our regional that I wanted to pass along this fine Veterans Day. 
Glod bless all of our service men and ewmen and the people that support them.

 

We will be giving, along with each of the other regional qualifiers: 

 

• 1st, 2nd, 3rd Overall Research Project & Innovative Solution
• 1st, 2nd, 3rd Overall Teamwork / Core Values & Gracious Professionalism
• 1st, 2nd, 3rd Overall Robot Technical Design, Presentation & Performance

and

• 1st only (top score) for Robot Performance (It is included in the Overall Robot score)

The Super Regionals will be different.  How, I don't know.

 

We will use a 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 distribution of weight for each category.

The Project is 1/3 of the team's total score.

 

The Teamwork/Core Values is 1/3 of the team's total score.

The Robot is 1/3 of the team's total score. That makes the Robot Performance 1/6 and the judged Robot portion 1/6.

 

We will advance 1/3 of teams attending a Qualifier to a Super Regional.

There will be 2 Alternate teams in addition to the 1/3 should there be available room.  The Alternates MIGHT go to a Super Regional and should not take apart their robot, but there is no guarantee...

 

There will bw 3 Super Regionals.  Ours in Warner Robins, the other two in North Georgia.  (In/near Atlanta)

 

Jeff Rosen will place some of the Alternate Teams (possibly the highest scoring) in Super Regionals as well as the numbers dictate.

 

Happy Veterans Day!

Exceptional Early Solutions Preview of Robot Challenge

I debated whether or not to share this video, but since it is public I think it makes an amazing point worth sharing...  The White Wolves have put together a heck of a sequence!  Kudos to them and their creative genius.



Initially, I was hesitant to post this... afterall, for some teams, especially NEW teams, you might just think, well, heck, we can't do all that!  There's no WAY we can beat that!  Might as well not even bother... right?

WRONG!!!  That's not even the point!

Imagine you're on the White Wolves... let's pretend maybe you're a new team member, or even, let's say you're a new coach of an established team... would you advise AGAINST posting this?  Why or why not?

Why post such a video?  To brag?  To gloat?  To show how awesome your solution is?  Why do it now?  Entire WEEKS (in some cases a full month) before some will even go to their first competition?

Maybe it is some of those very worst of human reasons, but maybe it is because you want to be challenged yourself, and you want others to benefit from your work to see what else can be done?

Perhaps they were Jeffersonian in their post.

"He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. That ideas should freely spread from one to another over the globe, for the moral and mutual instruction of man, and improvement of his condition, seems to have been peculiarly and benevolently designed by nature, when she made them, like fire, expansible over all space, without lessening their density in any point, and like the air in which we breathe, move, and have our physical being, incapable of confinement or exclusive appropriation."

- Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to Isaac McPherson, 1813 as cited in Kock & Peden, 1972

On the one hand, they could have kept their mission solutions a secret and saved them for their "big day".  Surely, they will likely do very well in the competition, provided they can achieve a similar run...

And this is where the counter-intuitive notion of "gracious professionalism" comes in...  By publishing this video and thereby releasing their trade secrets and IP (Intellectual Property as you should now know if you've been researching patents) they are paving the way for even more innovation and creative solutions.  Afterall, as Lightning McQueen quipped in Cars, (paraphrased here) "What's the fun of beating the competition by a full lap?"  I mean, 400 points with 40+ seconds to spare?  We want some drama, right?  :-)

Anyway, my hat is off to the White Wolves.  That took some pretty good engineering, some great building (I especially like the use of gravity) and is an excellent example of good use of strategy in combining missions, sequencing and use of strategic objects as "leave-behinds".  Remember, the rules say nothing about you not being able to do that!

Speaking of "Gracious Professionalism", (be sure and watch the video) ask your team what they'd do or say or how they'd react if they saw such a display during one of their rounds...  Then ask them about what they'd say or do with a team that didn't even complete one mission, or didn't want to come to the tournament...  This is also something good to think about.  Remember, you never know who could be a "mystery" judge, and the referees provide input into the overall teamwork scores, too.

If you haven't already, make sure you're team knows the FLL Core Values.

One more thing ... I heard from another partner that used to tell parents of team members that they had three jobs to do at a tournament:

1. Beam with pride.  And take lots of pictures... (I find this one to be practically automatic.)
2. Cheer! Cheer for all the teams!  (Especially the new teams and young ones...)
3. Talk to the other teams. (It's great for all teams to be able to share their stories and describe what they've done with both robot and project.)

Good luck to all the teams!

Body Forward Possible Solution Inspiration

Here's a great video out of Hong Kong (I believe) that shows one possible solution (there are millions!) to each of the Body Forward Missions.  Let your mind piece these possibilities together in different orders to see how one can achieve 400!

Great Overview of the FLL Body Forward 2010 Challenge

If you're like many new teams, it is overwhelming knowing even where to begin with the challenges of FIRST LEGO League.  It is a LOT to absorb.  Some have likened it to "drinking from a firehose".  I can attest to this.  Which is why it is so good to have plenty of time and lots of help on a team to divide and conquer and READ, READ, READ everything you can about the challenge.

To give your brain a rest and satisfy some of the more immediate needs for visual understanding I highly suggest YouTube.  There is a playlist for Body Forward videos.  You'd be amazed by what you can learn on YouTube.  Of course, there and seemingly hundreds of millions of truly inane time wasters out there, but that's why I liken the Internet to the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden... it has everything, but you have to be careful what you ask for and not everything may be as it seems...  ;-)

Anyway, here are a couple of videos to get you started:

• FLL Body Forward Missions & Point Values - Visually, non-verbally shows you the missions, and desired objectives with their associated point values.  Simple and straightforward. 

Remember to teach your team about K.I.S.S.! (As an technology systems engineer I can assure you this is VERY true!)  My favorite quote on the subject comes paraphrased from Einstein...

"Everything should be as simple as possible, and no simpler."

If you have any gifted wisecracks on your team trying to over complicate matters, you may challenge them to find out what  lex parsimoniae means.  (Hint: Occam's Razor)

• FLRobotics Body Forward Overview - The Legooners of Florida created this great "edutainment" stop motion clip to both educate and inform about the game and some of the nuances of scoring.  NICELY DONE!

 
Well that's it for this morning, I have to go be an overshceduled father!  :-D

FIRST World Festival 2010 in Atlanta, GA

This weekend (beginning today) is the FIRST World Festival at the Georgia Dome. If you get a chance, go and watch teams from all over the world compete. This is the last year it will be in Atlanta for at least 3 more years. Beginning next year, the World Festival will be in St. Louis for 3 years.

Find information here: http://www.usfirst.org/aboutus/content.aspx?id=4190 or go to http://www.usfirst.org/  and look for the link to the FIRST Championships in Atlanta on the home page. It will take you to that link above and from there you can find information about FLL, FTC, and FRC for the weekend.