First Lego League

The FIRST LEGO League ( FLL) is a global education program of Lego and other sponsors. It is designed to provide children and young people aged 10 to 16 years ( in USA / Canada 9-14 years ) access to science and technology. The annual highlight of the program is a veranstalteter at local, regional and national level competition in which the teams to show off their previously developed in the weeks Lego Mindstorms robot and assessed by a jury. The competitions are every year a new theme (eg nanotechnology, climate change, biomedical engineering or food safety), which not only refers to the field of knowledge, the teams deal with that in the preparation time especially, but also the course and the difficult technical tasks inspired the have to deal with the robots. The idea of ​​global education program comes from the American non -profit organization FIRST ( For Interest and Recognition of Science and Technology ) and the Lego. In Central Europe, the competition under the auspices of the nonprofit association HANDS on TECHNOLOGY eV is performed.

The FLL task

Each year FLL to a specific motto. 2014 is " FLL World Class " because it was in this competition for the future of learning. The FLL consists of two main parts: the Robot Game and research. In the Robot Game plan, build, program and test an autonomous robot teams, who must complete a series of tasks. When doing research teams conduct research to a real problem that has something to do with the annual theme, design a solution and present their findings. At least 8 weeks, all FLL teams deal with the solution of the tasks of robotic games and compiling their research. Each team consists of 5 to 10 children and adolescents is guided by at least one adult coach. Teams play on preparation time at a regional competition and compare their performance with other teams.

Review Categories

In preparation, the teams focus on the design and programming of a robot and the research presentation. In an FLL competition, the teams are still rated in the two other categories robot design and teamwork of jurors. In addition, a special jury prize for special endurance is awarded. Each team starts in a FLL Regional Tournament in its vicinity and tried there to achieve the best possible performance in the various categories. The best team in each category will also receive a end of the day of the competition at the awards ceremony a FLL Cup. The trophies from FLL represent the values ​​and goals of the global FLL. The children are independent of the country in which they compete for the competition, judged in the same rating categories.

FLL Champion

This trophy is awarded to the overall success and for the implementation of the values ​​of FLL. It assesses the extent to which children and young people inspire others and motivate participants, providing them with access to the exciting world of science and technology and at the same time show respect, commitment and impressive professionalism. The winning team is a role model for the FLL program. The FLL Champion is made up to a quarter each of the ratings of the individual categories: robot design, teamwork, research and presentation Robot Game.

Robot Game

The robot built for competition must consist solely of Lego components, while the number of non-electronic Lego parts used is unlimited, electronic parts and engines, however, may only be mounted in a predetermined amount. As the foundation of the Lego Mindstorms system is used: RCX or NXT. The teams have to try in the period between the publication of the competition tasks in early September and the Regional competition in which they participate, to design a robot that can solve as many of the tasks safely ( time approx 7-10 weeks). There is every year a new playing field (about 240 cm × 115 cm), positioned on the structures out of Lego. On the pitch of the robot as many of the tasks set within 150 seconds must now solve autonomously. He must not be touched as long as the robot moves on the field. After the time a referee gives the points, while the maximum score per task depends on the difficulty of the respective order. Each team will compete in three preliminary rounds for the Robot Game. In each match, the team has the chance to collect as many points. No match is related to the previous related - it only counts the match with the highest score. The calculated score points go directly into the assessment of the FLL Champions. The best teams get on to the quarter or semi-finals. In the quarter - and semifinal there is only one round. The reached points will be counted. Based on these scores, a ranked list is created. The two best teams from the semi-finals qualify for the final.

Research

In addition to building a robot of each team must address a scientific problem - the FLL research. The research task is thematically in a close relative to the annual competition theme. A good team in this category is characterized by high quality research, innovative solutions and creative presentation. The presentation of the research project before a jury of experts should be about 5 - 10 minutes and will be at 25 % in the standings.

Robot Design

In addition to the performance of the Robot Game and the construction and programming of the robot by a separate jury is put under the microscope. An excellent robot must have an innovative and robust design that is well adapted to the programming of the robot.

Teamwork

For success in FLL Teamwork is essential and is a major requirement in any team dar. teams, show the enthusiasm and sportsmanship as well as extraordinary respect for their own team members and the most support and assistance to other FLL teams can be distinguished here. They prove in addition also confidence, motivation and the ability to solve problems.

Special Jury Award

The judges at the FLL competitions, special teams excel that are characteristic for either by special endurance in preparation eg complicated situations to master without abandoning or because they have become accepted as a newcomer team against experienced FLL teams and were able to achieve good results in the competition.

Qualification levels

The competition takes place nationally and internationally at various levels. From the regional competition, the best teams qualify further to the next higher level. Currently these are within FLL Central Europe various qualifying competitions (FLL Semi Finals ) in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and Eastern Europe (CZ, H, PL, SK). Of the FLL Semi Finals every year can qualify the best teams for the Central European final.

At the international level it goes from there to the FLL World Festival (a kind of World Cup) in the spring in St. Louis, Mississippi, USA and other open international competitions such as FIRST LEGO League Open Championships qualify. This was the first time in the competition year 2005/2006 in Eindhoven, held the Netherlands and in the following years 2006/2007 in Bodo, Norway, 2007/2008 in Tokyo, Japan, 2008/2009 in Copenhagen, 2009/2010 in Istanbul ( Open European Championship ) and Kaohsiung, Taiwan ( Open International Championship ), 2010/2011 in Delft, The Netherlands ( Open European Championship ). The Open European Championship 2011/2012 took place in June 2012 in Mannheim, Germany and instead of 8 - 10th May 2013 were 54 teams from 35 countries at the Heinz Nixdorf Museums Forum in Paderborn at OEC 2012/13 as a guest. The next Open European Championship ( OEC ) is the end of May in Pamplona (Spain ) to take place.

History of the competition

The annual FLL competition theme is always a topic of research, science and technology. So it is 2014 ( late August ) to the learning of the future in the competition " FLL World Class ". The topics of FLL are reflected both in the design of the playing field ( Robot Game for tasks ), and in the research contract. Previous themes were:

  • 2013: Natures Fury ( natural disasters, eliminate )
  • 2012: ( improve quality of life of older people ) Senior Solutions
  • 2011: Food Factor (food safety in focus)
  • 2010: Body Forward ( exploring the exciting world of biomedicine )
  • 2009: Smart Move - Transport in Transition ( How can you safely and efficiently transport? )
  • 2008: Climate Connections ( Our climate is changing, how do we respond? )
  • 2007: Power Puzzle ( How to ensure the world's energy supply?)
  • 2006: Nano Quest ( How can we nanometer-sized particles help to solve problems? )
  • 2005: Ocean Odyssey (Help for the seas and the resident animals and plants )
  • 2004: No Limits ( No Limits for people with physical or mental limitations )
  • 2003: Adventure Mars ( A Mars landing must be performed )
  • 2002: City Sights (solutions for a secure standard of living in big cities )
  • 2001: Arctic Impact ( supply of a polar station ) - first pilot competition in Germany
  • 2000: Volcanic Panic ( evacuation measures before a volcanic eruption )
  • 1999: First Contact ( rescue a stranded space station )
Lego Mindstorms#RCX Lego Mindstorms NXT
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