Transcript First Annual Oregon Robotics Tournament

Oregon Robotics Tournament
and Outreach Program
I. Introductory Workshop for
ORTOP’s FLL Program
2008
Opening doors to the worlds of science
and technology for Oregon’s youth
Instructor Contacts
Ken Cone
[email protected]
503-821-1134
Jim Ryan
[email protected]
971-215-6087
Dale Jordan
Roger Swanson
[email protected]
503-297-1824
[email protected]
ORTOP Project Administrator
Cathy Swider
[email protected]
(503) 821-1136
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 by
building and programming a LEGO robot
Explain the opportunities for your
involvement
Agenda







Introductions
Our motivations
The ORTOP and FLL Programs
Build a Lego robot and try it out
More on FLL Teams
Simple programming of your robot
Along the way: A complete Power Puzzle field
set-up kit, a Lego NXT Robot Demo, and a
video of a previous tournament
The Problem


Fast growing demand for engineers,
technicians, and other technologists
Slow growing supply of young people
interested in technology, especially
among women and minorities
A Response from ETIC





ETIC – Engineering and Technology Industry
Council
Bruce Schafer is the Executive Director
Established in 1997 by the Oregon Legislature
Mission – Make post-secondary engineering
and technology education a strategic resource
that fuels the Oregon economy and creates
opportunity for all Oregonians
ETIC's current goal – double the annual
number of engineering and computer science
graduates between 1999 and 2013.
The Root Causes


Technology perceived as hard -- only for
“geniuses”
Media portrays Technologists as “nerds”



Young people know very little about technical
careers



Poor communication skills
Overly serious/isolated
Few/No engineering courses in K-12
Few/No role models available
The reality is hard for them to visualize
The Reality


Teamwork rather than isolation is
mandatory for success
We work on important, real-world
problems to produce:





Consumer products
Biomedical solutions
Buildings & bridges
“Climate Connections” is the theme for 2008
Great potential for salaries/benefits
The Opportunity with FIRST
"To create a
world where
science and
technology
are
celebrated..
where
young
people
dream of
becoming
science and
technology
heroes"
Programs from FIRST (For Inspiration and
Recognition of Science and Technology)




JFLL (Junior FIRST Lego League) 6-9 year-olds –
initial ORTOP pilot in 2006
FLL (FIRST LEGO League) 9-14 year olds –
started by ORTOP in 2001
FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) for high school
students – initial ORTOP pilot in 2006
FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) for high school
students – not an ORTOP program but active in
Oregon
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
The Opportunity -- FLL

FIRST LEGO League (FLL)





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 multidisciplinary teamwork
Show these youth that science and
technology can be fun
ORTOP (Oregon Robotics
Tournament and Outreach Program)
Opening doors to the worlds of science
and technology for Oregon’s youth



Runs the FLL (as well as JFLL and FTC)
program in Oregon and southwest
Washington
Connected to the Chancellor’s Office of the
Oregon University System
Heavily volunteer based
Additional ORTOP Outreach

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
Scholarship program so cost does not limit participation
Every team that registers gets to participate in a
tournament
Success for a team is working together through the
season and showcasing their results in a tournament
SUCCESS = PARTICIPATION
Build a Robot
Let’s take a break from all
this talking and get out the
LEGO kits to have some fun
building an NXT robot!
Before We Start

The NXT






Outputs(A,B,C)
Inputs (1,2,3,4)
Buttons (Enter, Back, Left, Right)
USB port
Motors
Sensors

Touch sensor, light sensor, ultrasonic sensor
Build the Sample Robot




Follow pages 8-22 in the booklet in your
kit
Add a light sensor on pages 32-34
Add a touch sensor on pages 40-44
If you have time, go back in the booklet
and input directly into the NXT the
programs on pages 23, 35, and 45.
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
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
FLL Team Costs

Start-up Costs



Yearly Costs






FLL NXT Robot Set: $365
Materials for table: $50-$100
FLL Team Registration Fee: $200
State Registration Fee: $50
Field Setup Kit: $65
Misc. including batteries, shipping: $50-$100
First-year total: $780-$880
Subsequent years total: $365-$415
The Team Timeline





Teams form in April – September
Registration with FLL is May – September
ORTOP workshops June – September
The Challenge is released September 5
Teams develop their solutions for ~3 mo.



The real learning in the program
Robot design, programming, and presentation
Culminating event is the Tournament


Qualifying tournaments in early December
Championship tournaments in January
Tournament
Structure


Less focus on competition and more on
showcasing the team’s learning and results
Qualifying Tournaments




Around 15-20 teams each
Organized by Qualifying Tournament volunteers with
support from ORTOP
20 in 2007: Vancouver, Bend, Roseburg, Salem,
LaGrande, Corvallis, K-Falls, PDX Metro area 11
Championship Tournaments

111 teams at two Championship Tournaments at
Liberty High School in Hillsboro in 2007
Tournaments Exhibit
Students’ Achievements



Three opportunities to demonstrate robot on
the Challenge playing field
Interaction with Technical Judging Panel
Presentation to Project 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)
Teamwork
Tournament
Awards



Champion’s Award
Robot Performance
Robot Design




Innovative Design
Robot Dependability
Programming
Research Project



Research Quality
Innovative Solution
Creative Presentation




Teamwork
Young Team
Rookie Team
Medallions for all teams
Plans for 2008






Theme: Climate Connections
~400 teams with more than 2800 youngsters
20-22 Qualifying Tournaments averaging 20 teams
 Expect same locations as last year
 Would like at least one new location in North
Portland
2 Championship Tournaments of about 60 teams
each
Continued focus on outreach to girls & minorities
More sponsors
Volunteer Opportunities






Coaches
Mentors
ORTOP Planning
Committee
Qualifying Tournament
Planning
Tournament Staffing
Financial Support
NXT Programming
Let’s get back to our
robots and learn how to
make them do
something!
Our Mailing Lists

ortopvol




All volunteers – you can opt out
One way from ORTOP to our volunteers
We add you when you volunteer
ortopcoaches


You are added when you register your
team with FLL
Communication from ORTOP to registered
coaches – very important channel
Next Steps

Sign-up for another workshop





II. Coaching/Mentoring Techniques
Workshop
III. Robotics Techniques Workshop
2Learn2Learn Teamwork Workshop
http://www.ortop.org/res.htm#REG
Handout ESCO – “Robotics Mentorships
as a Developmental Career
Opportunity”
Contact Us
Web site: http://www.ortop.org
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 503-821-1136