FIRST LEGO League Challenge
POWER PUZZLE
Alternative Energy Resources - Meeting the Global Demand How do our personal energy choices to heat our homes, fuel our cars, charge our cell phones, power our computers, or even download music to our iPods impact the environment, economy, and life around the globe? Which resources should we use and why? Explore how energy production and consumption choices affect the planet and our quality of life today, tomorrow, and for future generations. Can FIRST LEGO League teams find the ultimate solution to this global Power Puzzle?
Details will be announced in September 2007 on the FIRST LEGO League web site.
Junior FIRST LEGO League teams will use the Power Puzzle theme used by FIRST LEGO League teams but it will be designed at an age appropriate level. Junior FIRST LEGO League teams do not use robotics in their solution but can use LEGO motors powered by battery packs. The details of the JFLL Challenge Challenge is available to registered JFLL teams. In brief, JFLL teams will be asked to chose either a classroom or a kitchen that the team uses and figure out what things in that room use power. The team will conduct an energy audit and look for ways energy is being wasted. The team also focus on a specific energy source and build a LEGO model of the room that includes one simple machine. The team will also be required to create a Show Me poster highlighting their work.
FIRST Tech Challenge
For information on the FIRST Tech Challenge, including schedule and other information please click here
FLL Schedule
We plan to hold over 22 Qualifying Tournaments in Oregon and SW Washington in December 2007. These tournaments will serve as qualifiers for the two Championship Tournaments in January 2008.
| May 1 | FLL team registration & kit ordering opens |
| June-Sept | ORTOP Workshops for coaches & mentors |
| Aug 1 | Field Setup kits being to ship |
| Sept. | FLL team registration closes when all slots are filled |
| Sept. 5 | International Challenge released |
| Oct. 1 | ORTOP Qualifying Tournament registration opens |
| Oct. 12 | ORTOP Qualifying Tournament registration closes |
| Dec. 2007 | ORTOP Qualifying Tournaments at locations throughout Oregon & SW Washington |
| Jan 19 & 20, 2008 | ORTOP Championship Tournaments -- 20-25% of teams will be invited to attend one of these tournaments based on qualifying tournaments |
Color Key for schedule above
Handled by FIRST in Manchester, NH
Handled by ORTOP in Beaverton, OR
The Championship Tournament for the 2007 season will be held in January 2008.
For the Junior FIRST LEGO League Schedule Info please click here.
FLL Awards
The details of the award structure for the Fall 2007 season have not been finalized. Following is a list of the award categories that we we used for the 2006 Season including the State Tournament in January 2007. Only some of these categories were awarded at the Local Tournaments in December but all the principles were considered during the judging process. For a list of the awards used at the 2006 Local Tournaments click here.
2006 State Championship Tournament Awards
Overall Team Performance Awards
- The Champion's Award (previously the Director's Award) is the most prestigious of the awards. It encompasses the aspects of the Robot Design Award, the Robot Performance Award, the Project Award, and the Teamwork Award.
- The Young Team Award is like the Director's Award except that it is restricted to teams made up of children 11 years old and younger.
- The Rookie Team Award is like the Director's Award except that it is restricted to teams that have never participated in an FLL tournament before.
Robot Design Award
Judges look for teams whose work stands out for its innovation, dependability, or both. To assess innovation, the judges watch the robots work, looking for things that make them say "Wow!" and they interview team members to reveal the less obvious unique and inventive ideas. To assess dependability, the judges interview the teams to learn what solid principles and best practices were used to reduce variability and errors, then consider the most consistent teams from among those that ranked highly.
- The Innovative Design Award is presented to the team that best demonstrates their ability to use a creative design, component or unique strategy of play producing the most original approach when solving the challenge missions.
- The Programming Award is presented to the team exhibiting the best understanding and application of sound programming principles, producing the most innovative programs to run the robot's missions.
- The Dependability Award (previously the Consistency Award) is presented to the team whose design is most likely to produce predictable results in a variety of circumstances.
Robot Performance Award
This award is based on the number of points the team's robot achieves in the performance rounds on the competitive field during the tournament.
Project Award
The Project Award is presented to the team whose quality research, innovative solutions and creative presentation best reflect an in-depth understanding of the various scientific disciplines and issues involved with the Challenge Project.
- The Research Quality Award is presented to team that uses and understands diverse resources to formulate an in-depth & thorough explanation of the team's point of view and solution to the Research Assignment.
- The Innovative Solution Award is presented to the team that produces the most thought provoking and innovative solution, including how and why it was chosen.
- The Creative Presentation Award is presented to the team that gives the most imaginative, creative presentation demonstrating the team's research and solution.
Teamwork Award
This award is given to the team that best demonstrates extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit, exceptional partnership, and the utmost respect to their own teammates, and in their support and encouragement of fellow teams. The team presented this trophy demonstrates confidence, energy, enthusiasm, problem solving skills, respect of others, and strong team interaction and group dynamics.
JUNIOR FIRST LEGO League Awards
Every Junior FIRST LEGO League Team participating in an JFLL Expo receives a recognition certificate for the unique and outstanding qualities of their project.
ORTOP FLL Registration
After qualifying tournament registration is completed in mid-October 2007 we will display a table that gives the Qualifying Tournament for each team. If you have questions about these assignments, please send an email message to locals@ortop.org or call 503-725-2920.
About 20% of the teams at each Qualifying Tournament will be invited to the Champtinship Tournament. Those teams that do well enough at an ORTOP Qualifier to be invited to the Champtinship Tournament will not be required to pay an additional registration fee.
Junior FIRST LEGO League Registration
Teams register at the national Junior FIRST LEGO League site. ORTOP will contact teams registered with national JFLL and provide JFLL Expo information. ORTOP is formulating plans for expanding their JFLL Expo program.