About the Authors

James J. Trobaugh is an experienced coach and leader in the FIRST LEGO League. He is author of the acclaimed book Winning Design! (Apress, 2010), which focuses on the physical aspects of LEGO MINDSTORMS robot design. James has been involved with the FIRST LEGO League since 2004 as coach for Team Super Awesome, and as a technical judge at LEGO World Festival. He is also the FIRST LEGO League Director of the Forsyth Alliance in Forsyth County, Georgia.

James started out as a LEGO hobbyist. He founded the North Georgia LEGO Train Club in 1998. He finds LEGO robotics to be a natural blending of his LEGO hobby and his day job as a software architect. An added bonus is the joy of sharing his love of technology not only with his own children, but with kids in general.

Mannie Lowe is currently the FIRST program manager for the Center for Mathematics and Science Education at the University of Mississippi. He is responsible for the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) program for Mississippi, having held these same responsibilities in Georgia the previous seven years. Mannie is a firm believer in the mission of FIRST and how it can impact students into a better way of life. He has coached and mentored several FTC, FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), and FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams to award-winning seasons.

Mannie acts as a resource to many other coaches and mentors throughout the country. He is a partner in YES!—Youth Engaged in Science, a Georgia-based educational enrichment program that teaches engaging, hands-on technology programs for children of all ages using robotics, science, mathematics, and computers. Mannie is passionate about providing opportunities for kids to move into engineering, science, and technical education on the way to careers that will improve the lives of all.