Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program

I. Introductory Workshop

2006

Opening doors to the worlds of science and technology for Oregon’s youth

Instructor Contacts

Ken Cone [email protected]

503-725-2918 Jim Ryan [email protected]

971-215-6087 Scott Stanko [email protected]

(971) 215-9677 Roger Swanson [email protected]

503-297-1824

Today’s Goal

    Provide an understanding of the ORTOP and FLL programs Show the value these programs bring to our youth Demonstrate the fun and excitement the programs generate Explain the opportunities for your involvement

Agenda

      Introductions Our motivations The ORTOP and FLL Programs A live Lego Robotics Demo Build a Lego robot and try it out Simple programming of your robot

The Problem

  The local economy has created a large number of technology jobs Number of our young people interested in technology growing too slowly especially among our young women and minority groups

The Root Causes

    Technology perceived as hard -- only for “geniuses” Media portrays Technologists as “nerds”  Poor communication skills  Overly serious/isolated Young people know very little about technical careers  Few/No engineering courses in K-12  Few/No role models available The reality is hard for them to visualize

The Reality

    We are regular people with a variety of personal characteristics Teamwork rather than isolation is mandatory for success We work on important, real-world problems to produce:   Consumer products Medical solutions   Buildings & bridges Ocean ecology is the theme for 2005 Great potential for salaries/benefits

The Opportunity -- FLL

  Program from FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)  FLL (FIRST Lego League) targets 9-14 year olds    Uses relatively inexpensive Lego robotics kits Defines a mini engineering project based on real world problems Features hands-on experience and multi disciplinary teamwork Show these youth engineering can be fun

FIRST Philosophy

”[We] share the philosophy that children learn best by doing hands-on, minds-on activities which challenge their intellect and creativity. The FLL program accomplishes this task in a healthy environment and shows kids that they can succeed where they may have never thought they could." Dean Kamen, FIRST Founder

ORTOP

(Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program)

Opening doors to the worlds of science and technology for Oregon’s youth

   Runs the FLL program in Oregon and the surrounding counties Connected to the Chancellor’s Office of the Oregon University System Heavily volunteer based

Additional ORTOP Focus

   Reach out to girls and minorities   Look for partners that can help: Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, 4H, etc.

Special outreach to schools and community organizations with the demographics that fit our focus Every team that registers gets to participate Success for a team is participation

What Is an FLL Team?

    4-10 youngsters each Ages 9-14 Led by coach and mentor  Coach – adult with overall responsibility for the team  Mentor – technical expertise Sources of teams   Schools Community groups  Neighborhoods

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The FLL Team Experience

Miniature engineering project team stressing   Creativity and teamwork Engineering principles: requirements, alternatives, rapid prototyping, testing, … Hands-on problem solving Context is a real-world situation Illustrates multiple roles: Designers, Builders, Programmers, Sales and Marketing Insights into possible careers The youngsters do the work – FLL Coaches’ Honor Code and Team Promise

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FLL Team Costs

Start-up Costs   Robotics Kit: $260 - $280 Materials for table: $50-$100  Team Challenge Activity Pack: $30 Yearly Costs  National Registration Fee: $150    State Registration Fee: $50 Field Setup Kit: $65 Misc. including batteries, shipping: $50-$100 First-year total: $655-$775 Subsequent years total: $315-$365

The Team Timeline

      Teams form in April – September Registration with FLL is May – September ORTOP workshops May – September The Challenge is released in mid-Sept.

Teams develop their solutions for ~3 mo.

 The real learning in the program  Robot design, programming, and presentation Culminating event is the Tournament   Local tournaments in early December State tournament in January

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Tournament Structure

Less focus on competition and more on showcasing the team’s learning and results Local Tournaments   Around 20 teams each Organized by local tournament teams with support from ORTOP  16 in 2005: Vancouver, Bend, Roseburg, LaGrande, Corvallis, Klamath Falls, and 10 around Portland State Tournament   80 teams at Liberty High School in Hillsboro Best teams from the Local Tournaments

Showing What They’ve Learned

   At least two opportunities to demonstrate robot on the Challenge playing field Interaction with Technical Judging Panel Presentation to Presentation Judging Panel  General presentation area specified by FLL to enhance learning about the year’s theme   Requires research by the team Develops presentation skills (the opportunity for the developing sales and marketing youngsters)

Tournament Awards

    Director’s Award Robot Performance Robot Design    Innovative Design Robot Consistency Programming Project Presentation   Research Quality Innovative Solution  Creative Presentation     Teamwork Young Team Rookie Team Medallions for all teams

ORTOP Growth

Teams Team Members Locals 2001 65 484 0 Teams at State 65 2002 144 1056 2 Regionals 78 2003 222 1592 10 78 2004 261 1826 14 2005 330 2262 16 77 79

ORTOP Minority Report

Girls African Americans Latinos Native Americans 2001 102 2002 2003 2004 2005 313 493 548 675 16 20 1 42 54 31 66 108 48 55 132 32 66 214 24

Our 2005 Sponsors

Title Sponsor – Intel Platinum Sponsor – RadiSys Gold Sponsors   Julie and William Reiersgaard Ted Wheeler     The Catlin Gabel School IBM Inspiration Software Mentor Graphics

Our 2005 Sponsors (cont.)

Silver Sponsors  Priscilla Chou with a matching grant from C.M. Capital Foundation  June and William Lattin     McMenamins phtech Software Association of Oregon Tektronix

Our 2005 Sponsors (cont.)

Supporting Sponsors   ADP AEA      First Tech Credit Union FEI Company LSI Logic Mbtech Vernier

2005 Community Partners

      Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Girl Scouts, Columbia River Council OMSI -- Oregon Museum of Science & Industry Oregon University System PARTS – Portland Area Robotics Society Oregon and Washington 4-H

Plans for 2006

      Theme: Nano Quest Challenge ~400 teams with more than 2800 youngsters 20 Local Tournaments averaging 20 teams  Planning 2 in Vancouver and Bend  Add one more in Portland and Willamette Valley State Finals Tournament of 80 teams Continued focus on outreach to girls and minorities More sponsors

Volunteer Opportunities

      Coaches Mentors ORTOP Planning Committee Local Tournament Planning Tournament Staffing Financial Support

Our Mailing Lists

   Totally voluntary, and you can opt out ortopvol  All volunteers   One way from ORTOP to our volunteers We add you when you volunteer ortopcm  Coaches and mentors   Communication among that group and with ORTOP We add you when you complete a workshop

Next Steps

  Sign-up for another workshop    II. Coaching/Mentoring Techniques Workshop III. Robotics Techniques Workshop [email protected]

ESCO – “Robotics Mentorships as a Developmental Career Opportunity”

Contact Us

Web site: http://www.ortop.org

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 503-725-2920

Before We Start

    The RCX   Outputs(A,B,C) Inputs (1,2,3)   Buttons (On, Program, Run) Infrared port Motors Sensors  Touch sensor, light sensor, rotation sensor Enable the default programs

Build the Roverbot

     Follow pages 12-17 in the Constructopedia Run Program 1 and see the Roverbot in action (RCX Basics, Program 1) Add two touch sensors to Inputs 1 and 3 and drive your Roverbot with Program 2 (RCX Basics, Program 2) Add the light sensor on pages 34 and 35 and connect to Input 2 Use Program 3 to experiment with the light sensor (RCX Basics, Program 3)

Programming with Robolab

     Load the firmware into the RCX Pilot 1 – Very limited Pilot 2 – Drive forward for 4 seconds Pilot 3  Go in a circle until touch sensor is touched  Go forward and stop on black line Pilot 4 – Drive in a square