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FIRST LEGO League
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FIRST LEGO League
by Jonathan Daudelin, James Floyd Kelly
First LEGO League
FIRST LEGO League
Dedication
Letter from Dean Kamen
Acknowledgments
Introduction
How This Book Is Organized
1. What Is FIRST LEGO League?
FIRST and the FIRST Robotics Competition
FIRST Robotics Competition
FIRST Tech Challenge (Formerly FIRST VEX Challenge)
FIRST VEX Challenge
FIRST LEGO League
Themes
The FLL Robot Game
Technical Interview
Project
Teamwork
More on FLL to Come
Junior FIRST LEGO League
Where Does LEGO MINDSTORMS Fit In?
MINDSTORMS Components
The MINDSTORMS Programming Software
What Is the LEGO Group’s Involvement?
What Are the Differences Between the Two Versions?
What About the FLL Competition Mat and Models?
Conclusion
2. How FLL Works
Tournaments
Robot Game
Field Mat
Mission Models
Transferring a Model
Activating a Model
Delivering an Object to a Model
Removing an Object from a Model
The Match
The Project
Research
Presentation
Sharing Your Project with the Community
Robot Design
Teamwork
Team Roles and Responsibilities
Gracious Professionalism
Problem Solving/Team Dynamics
Enthusiasm/Participation
Understanding of FLL Values
Team Challenge
Awards
3. Guidelines and Rules
Mission Descriptions
Analyzing Mission Descriptions
Strategizing with Mission Descriptions
Robot Game Rules
Q&A and the Forum
Guidelines for Other Categories
The Project
Robot Design and Teamwork
Rubrics
4. Finding Equipment, Mentors, and Funding
Equipment and Supplies
Funding
Schools
Government
Parents
Businesses
Fund-Raisers
Team Mentors
Gathering Resources Early
5. Starting or Building a Team
Methods for Starting a New FLL Team
School Programs
After-School Programs
Community and Church Groups
Homeschool Groups
Motivated Parents or Children
Getting Started
Announcing Formation of a Team
Accepting Team Member Applications
Signup Sheet
Printed Application
Interview
Essay
Selecting Final Team Members
Experience and/or Seniority
Unique Skills
Gender Balance
Displayed Interest
Announcing Your Selections
Holding Your First Team Meeting
Introduce Coach, Team Members, Mentors, and Parents
Exchange Contact Information
Discuss Meeting Locations and Schedule
Assign Team Member Roles and Duties
Sign a Team Member Pledge
Don’t Forget the Food!
Adding New Members to an Existing Team
Announce an Invitation for New Members
Accept Team Member Applications
Select New Team Members
Consider a Second Team
Meet with the Returning Team for the First Time
Building Your Team
A Team Is Born
6. Managing Your Team
Team Structures
Team Captain
CEO and Board of Directors
We’re All Equals Here
Robot Team and Research Team
Building Team and Programming Team
Quick Response Teams
Chassis Team and Attachment Team(s)
Team Structure Summary
FLL Team Roles
Team Captain
Co-captains
Building Team Leader
Programming Team Leader
Website Manager
Videographer
Photographer
Blogger
Project Leader
Program and Data Manager
Equipment Manager
Having Fun
Making Decisions and Voting
Number of Members Needed for a Vote
Final Say
Voting
Team Progress Tracking
The Gauge as a Progress Measurement Tool
7. The Team Experience
Encourage Your Team
Encourage and Share with Other Teams
Share Your Experience
Give Back
Methods for Sharing Your Experiences
Websites and Blogs
Diaries and Journals
Photo Albums
Team Posters and Promotional Items
The FLL Journey
8. Coaching a Team
The Coach’s Responsibility
Online Tools for the Busy Coach
Doodle
Google Calendar
Adding Events
Sharing Your Calendar
OpenProj
Organizers Database (Tracking Donations and Contributors)
More Help for the Coach
9. NXT vs. RIS
Robotics Invention System
NXT
The Bricks
The RCX
The NXT Brick
Batteries
Sensors
RIS Sensors
NXT Sensors
Motors
Construction Pieces
RIS Construction Pieces
NXT Construction Pieces
Base Kits
RIS
NXT
Retail Base Kit
Education Kit
Availability
Choosing a System
10. Basic Building
Using Existing Models
Building from a “Foundation”
Building with Modular Design
Bracing Your Design
Types of Braces
Connecting a Brace
Gears!
Gear Chains
Turning Multiple Objects
Joining Gears at Right Angles
Gear Ratios
Gearing Up
Gearing Down
Using Gears on Motors
Treads, Ball Casters, and Wheels
Treads
Ball Casters
Wheels
Four-wheeled Robots
Wheel Size
Traction
Wheel Issues
Building with the Brick
Allowing Access
Using the Brick as a Counterweight
Attaching the Brick to a Robot
Motors
Using Motors as Counterweights
Controlling Motors with Move Blocks
Sensors
Ultrasonic Sensor
Touch Sensor
Object Detection
Input Detection
Light Sensor
Detecting Lines on the Mat
Minimizing Ambient Light Problems
Detecting Objects
Sensing Touch
Working with Cables
Useful Connectors
Hassenpins
Parallel Connectors
Up Next . . .
11. Building Techniques for the Robot Game
Aiming Methods
Approaches to Handling Table Variety
Useful Pieces
Documentation of Your Design
Chassis, Attachments, and Bays
Chassis Design
Size Limitations
Environment Limitations
Mission Model Limitations
Speed and Power
Design Procedure
Temporary Adjustments to Speed and Power
Adaptable Chassis
How It Works
Challenges
Attachments
Nonmotorized vs. Motorized Attachments
Temporary vs. Permanent Attachments
Multipurpose Attachments
Guide Attachments
Size Limitation
Design Procedure
Bays
Motorized Bays
A More Complex Motorized Bay
Bay Design
Web Resources
12. Sensors
FLL-Approved Electronics
NXT Controller
Available Sensor Measurement Options
The Sleep Feature
NXT Motors and the Built-in Rotation Sensor
Rotation Confusion
Touch Sensor
Pressed
Released
Bumped
Light Sensor
Ultrasonic Sensor
Sensors vs. No Sensors
Sensing a Trend
13. Getting Organized for Programming
File-Naming Conventions
Label Your Robots
Assign Mission Numbers or Names
Use Version Numbers and Status Words
Create Longer, Descriptive Names
Back Up Your Programs and Data
Robot Mission
Identify Individual Robot Actions
Convert Individual Actions to Icons
Arrange Icons to Mirror Mission Description
Convert Flowchart to NXT-G
Flowcharts Work
Summary
14. NXT-G Programming Concepts
Key NXT-G Blocks
Move
Loop
Switch
Create a Light Sensor Toggle
Build a Menu System
Wait
Secret Power Blocks: Variable and File Access
Variable Blocks
Create a New Variable
Use Your Variable Block
A More Complex Mission
Modified Mission Solution
The File Access Block
Running Our Modified Mission
Sensor Programming Techniques
Light Sensor Range Reading
Using the Touch Sensor to Combine Two Programs
Creating an Ultrasonic Sensor Toggle
Using Timers for Testing Missions
Summary
15. The Project
Choose a Topic
Research the Topic
Assign Tasks
Record Your Findings
Document Your Sources
Research Using the Internet
Search Engines
Wikipedia
Ask-a-Scientist
Personal Interviews
Libraries
Field Trips
Discoveries and Inventions
Present Your Research
Presentation Components
Presentation Style
Performance Tips
Preparing
Community Outreach
16. Tournaments and Beyond
Pretournament Preparation
Items to Bring
Tape Measure
Laptop (with Robot Programs) and USB Download Cable
Field Mat and Mission Models
Extra Pieces
Extension Cord(s)
Power Expansion Strip
Robot Packing and Storage
Use a Checklist
Set Up the Pit
Judging Sessions
General Performance Tips
Project Session
What Happens
Performance Tips
Technical Interview
What Happens
Performance Tips
Teamwork Session
What Happens
Performance Tips
Robot Matches
How It Works
The Match
Between Matches
Awards Ceremony
Celebration
How to Handle Awards
Other Tournaments
Practice the Project Presentation
Practice Robot Matches
Review Performance(s) at Previous Tournament(s)
Attempt New Missions and/or Refine Current Missions
Take More Action in the Community
Robotics Workshops
LEGO Robot Basics
Competing in FLL
Team Recruitment
Preparing for Next Season
Minicompetitions
Building a Chassis and Bay
Some Final Thoughts
A. Resources
Index
About the Authors
Colophon
B. Updates
Copyright
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Dedication
FIRST LEGO League
James Floyd Kelly
Jonathan Daudelin
Published by
No Starch Press
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