What Is FIRST Robotics?
“It’s a competitive sport. It’s a life experience. It’s opportunity. It’s amazing.” FIRST Lego League (FLL) Robotics is organized under the auspices of F.I.R.S.T. (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a program that has received recognition by the US Congress Committee on Education and Labor as a model program. According to FIRST, “FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®) introduces young people, ages 9 to 16 (grades 4-10), to the fun and excitement of science and technology while building self-confidence, knowledge, and valuable career and life skills. FLL challenges kids to think like scientists and engineers. Alongside adult Mentors, FLL teams solve problems using engineering concepts, presentation techniques, and robots.”
For further information, please visit First Lego League's website , or, for information about FIRST as a whole, please see the page FIRST AT A GLANCE, watch the introductory video by Keanu Reeves, and explore their website.
“The FIRST ® LEGO® League: SPORT FOR THE MIND” introduces what FLL teams do:
FLL Teams:
FLL Children:
For further information, please visit First Lego League's website , or, for information about FIRST as a whole, please see the page FIRST AT A GLANCE, watch the introductory video by Keanu Reeves, and explore their website.
“The FIRST ® LEGO® League: SPORT FOR THE MIND” introduces what FLL teams do:
FLL Teams:
- Apply math and science concepts to research, design, build, and program autonomous robots
- Use LEGO MINDSTORMS® technologies
- Gain hands-on experience solving real-world problems
- Learn from and interact with adult Mentors
- Work as a group to overcome obstacles and meet challenges
FLL Children:
- Solve real-world engineering challenges
- Learn teamwork skills
- Build self-confidence, knowledge, and career and life skills
- Research challenges facing today’s scientists
- Design, build, and program autonomous robots
- Use LEGO MINDSTORMS® technologies
- Engage with their community
- May compete in tournaments and present their solutions to a panel of judges
According to the longitudinal study of FLL conducted by Brandeis University, “FLL participants reported positive impacts on interests, knowledge, and skills. More than 85% of team members reported that, as a result of FLL, they wanted to learn more about science and technology (89%), computers and robotics (93%), and how science and technology could be used to solve real-world problems (88%)”, “Participants also reported being more academically motivated, with 89% more interested in doing well at school”, and “Over 90% of participants also reported a better understanding of the role of science and technology in solving everyday problems and increased insights into their own strengths. Most participants (over 90%) also reported gains in life and workplace-related skills including the ability to work with others on a team, find information, manage time, use trial and error to solve problems, and make presentations. “
Why FIRST?
F.I.R.S.T. (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, http://www.usfirst.org/ ) has received recognition by the US Congress Committee on Education and Labor as a model program. FIRST was founded by the renowned entrepreneur and inventor, Dean Kamen, who founded several successful technology companies, including Segway. The mission of F.I.R.S.T. is, “To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders”, said Dean Kamen.
FIRST inspires students to think like scientists and engineers, builds their self-esteem and confidence, and develops teamwork and leadership skills, while promoting “gracious professionalism” among the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. FIRST Robotics competitions demand intense brainstorming to solve complex problems as a team under tight time constraints. The process fosters intellectual bonding and teamwork that has been equated to the exemplary teamwork among the top-notch engineering teams of Silicon Valley’s high-technology companies. FLL has about 23,000 teams in 80 countries at the First Lego League (FLL) level.
For the purpose of planning, here is some helpful information for parents extracted from FLL's website:
F.I.R.S.T. (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, http://www.usfirst.org/ ) has received recognition by the US Congress Committee on Education and Labor as a model program. FIRST was founded by the renowned entrepreneur and inventor, Dean Kamen, who founded several successful technology companies, including Segway. The mission of F.I.R.S.T. is, “To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders”, said Dean Kamen.
FIRST inspires students to think like scientists and engineers, builds their self-esteem and confidence, and develops teamwork and leadership skills, while promoting “gracious professionalism” among the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. FIRST Robotics competitions demand intense brainstorming to solve complex problems as a team under tight time constraints. The process fosters intellectual bonding and teamwork that has been equated to the exemplary teamwork among the top-notch engineering teams of Silicon Valley’s high-technology companies. FLL has about 23,000 teams in 80 countries at the First Lego League (FLL) level.
For the purpose of planning, here is some helpful information for parents extracted from FLL's website:
What can I expect from FLL?
Each year FLL releases the Challenge in early Fall. Teams may start to meet before then, but the Challenge release day is when teams learn the details of this year’s Challenge and really start working. Teams usually meet one (1) or two (2) times per week for six (6) to eight (8) weeks. How long your team meets may depend on many factors such as when your team plans to attend a tournament. Tournament dates vary from region to region, so your coach will need to check the schedule. Your team’s coach may adjust the number and length of the meetings as needed. Check with the coach if you have any questions about the meeting schedule.Many teams spend time at each meeting working on all three (3) parts of the FLL experience: The Core Values, the Robot Game, and the Project. Some teams choose to divide into sub-teams so that different groups are working on different tasks. Throughout the season, your child might work with teammates on tasks such as:
Each year FLL releases the Challenge in early Fall. Teams may start to meet before then, but the Challenge release day is when teams learn the details of this year’s Challenge and really start working. Teams usually meet one (1) or two (2) times per week for six (6) to eight (8) weeks. How long your team meets may depend on many factors such as when your team plans to attend a tournament. Tournament dates vary from region to region, so your coach will need to check the schedule. Your team’s coach may adjust the number and length of the meetings as needed. Check with the coach if you have any questions about the meeting schedule.Many teams spend time at each meeting working on all three (3) parts of the FLL experience: The Core Values, the Robot Game, and the Project. Some teams choose to divide into sub-teams so that different groups are working on different tasks. Throughout the season, your child might work with teammates on tasks such as:
- Building a LEGO MINDSTORMS robot and attachments
- Programming the robot to move on its own and perform missions •Learning about engineering and physics concepts (sometimes learning them the hard way)
- Testing different designs and making adjustments
- Learning about the Challenge theme
- Choosing a real-world problem to research
- Inventing a solution to the problem the team chose
- Presenting the team’s solution to other people
We plan to have teams of six to ten students each. The students are recommended to have:
Students will learn:
- Math and Science Aptitude
- Creative thinking and problem solving ability
- Interest in computing and in LEGO or other mechanical toys
- Communication and debate skills
Students will learn:
- Basic concepts in computer programming and algorithms (using graphical programming language), basic data structures, conditional logic, iterative logic. Intermediate concepts, including multi-tasking.
- Basic concepts in classical mechanics – linear/rotational motion and forces, gear-ratios, conversion between rotational and linear motion. Geometric and trigonometric calculation of robot path.
- Project planning, task break-down, work organization, and execution of the project – individually and as a team.
- Collaborative problem solving through intense, brainstorming team-work - exchange complex design ideas in the abstract, debate their pros and cons, and build upon one another’s ideas as team, in the spirit of Gracious Professionalism as fostered by FIRST.