SPS Rockin' Robots

When the summer stretches long before you, fill your time with some robotics activities! Visit lego.com and look around the web site for info and ideas. Google “nxt tutorials” to keep your programming skills sharp. If you find a good site, email the link to me at mrsunger@verizon.net and I will send it out to the robotics group. And then clean your room! (Your mother will thank you!)
Here’s hoping for a smooth course ahead, Mrs. U

Here are some ideas you can use to increase skills before next season.
a) to familiarize yourself with programming or refresh your skill at programming, go to
http://www.ortop.org/NXT_Tutorial/html/essentials.html for an online NXT Tutorial

b) google First Lego League and look around at the web site. You can familiarize yourself with the theme for next year’s season and maybe get a few project ideas.

Here’s hoping for a smooth course ahead,

Mrs. U.

A wonderful time was had by all at the RI FLL State Championship at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. Here are some videos of the competition courtesy of Mr. Sylvester:

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BwgugEUfFMa6Y2NiNjdlMDktYTA0Ni00NDkwLWI5MmItYzUxNTlhMWE3YTdm

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BwgugEUfFMa6ZGQyYmE3ZmMtMGE5ZS00ZGU1LTk5NjItYWQ5MDY2NjlmYjY3

The Robotics Club will be meeting for two more sessions before our annual state competition. We hope that all will attend to give us support. The competition will be at Roger Williams University Fieldhouse at noon on Jan 14. Team members need to be there by 8am, but the public is invited to watch the robots complete their missions from noon to 3 pm. It is loud, fun, and exciting! But here is a fair warning…if you come once you may be hooked!

Here’s hoping for a smooth course ahead,

Mrs. U.

Meetings of the Rockin’ Robots are going well. Our project is coming along. We had a performance of the “LunchBox Skit” and for mid-November it is in great shape! Our robot “Turtle Taco” performed his first mission and we expect the pace to pick-up for programming other missions as well! We are working on team work values. Although it is difficult to always be cheerful and helpful after a long day at school, we are constantly reminded that being a team means looking out for teamates. We strive to include all team members and listen to all ideas. In my opinion, the best lesson learned in robotics is teamwork!

We had terrific meetings so far this year! Thanks to all for the cooperation and team spirit shown. Please see your email regarding the URI event on Oct. 29. It promises to be fascinating!

Here’s hoping for a smooth course ahead,

Mrs. U.

Hi all,
I have a few important pieces of info to pass along. First, it is helpful for all Rockin’ Robots to familiarize yourself with our robot missions for this year. Here is a youtube link for you. Remember to ask your parent’s permission before going on youtube if that is the rule in your house!!!
(Food Factor Game Video
After many requests, FLL Game Designer Scott Evans made a video outlining the missions for Food Factor. As Scott says about 40 times in this video, watching the video is not a substitution for reading the game rules. Watch this video a few times to familiarize yourself with the missions!
http://www.youtube.com/user/FLLGlobal?feature=mhee#p/c/0/RC1IbIgu3os

Second, I have info from Mary Johnson (one of the organizers of our RI Tournament) regarding our Food Factor “Meet the Experts” Day at URI. THIS EVENT IS TOTALLY OPTIONAL. Transportation is on your own, and we know that weekends are so busy, but I promise that if you go, you will have a great time! Last year’s event at RIC was an awesome display of area researchers who talked about the latest and greatest Biotechnology research. This year the emphasis will be on safe handling and transport of food. It is captivating for kids and adults alike! Important note: Parents are asked to volunteer for this event, and we welcome your help, but volunteering for the URI event is totally optional. However, we are asking that every student in our club provide one parent or friend to volunteer 4 hours at the RI Tournament on January 14.  There will be more info about this coming to you in the next few weeks.  So maybe you can just attend the URI event, enjoy yourself, and save your volunteer time for the RI Championship. I don’t want to ask too much of you, knowing that we have so much “on our plates.”  Here is the letter from Mary:

Hi Everyone,

We’re looking forward to meeting all of you at the FLL RI “Meet the Food Factor Experts” event at the University of Rhode Island on 10/29/11.

So far, 140 team members have registered for this event, and we’re expecting that number to exceed 200 team members. To keep this free event running smoothly, we are hoping that some of your team parents who plan to attend will volunteer to serve as “room monitors” so that our presenters can relax and share information, knowing that there is another adult in the room and in charge.

For those who didn’t attend our similar Body Forward event last year at Rhode Island College, the format of this event includes Welcoming Remarks followed by 30-minute talks by our experts in classrooms throughout the URI CELS building. Teams can choose which speaker the want to hear. (All talks will be repeated in the 2nd 30-minute session, so each student will hear 2 of the speakers.) Teams do not have to remain together—they can split up and go to different talks. We will then gather everyone together for a keynote talk by Mike Vidal from Nordson, who will demonstrate the robots Nordson manufactures for the food industry.

If you are willing to volunteer for the URI event, I can email a link that will connect you to the organizers of the event.  But just to reiterate, we do need you to volunteer for part of the day on Jan 14.  And don’t worry, all parents will be able to see their child compete.  Volunteering that day will be a pleasant way to pass the time and you will not miss the robot game competition!

Lastly, Here are some other links to peruse. It is worthwhile to look them over, show them to your parents, and if you have any questions, contact me at mrsunger@verizon.net

FLL Food Factor Challenge Documents: http://firstlegoleague.org/challenge/2011foodfactor

FLL Food Factor Robot Game Updates: http://firstlegoleague.org/challenge/robotgameupdates
(see Update #12 for how to fix the models that are pulling the mat up!)

We will finish building the mission models at our next meeting and begin to design and build the robot. Check snack schedules and come ready to have fun!

Here’s hoping for a smooth course ahead,
Mrs. U

Hi all,

We finished our housekeeping (sorting Lego pieces) and viewed videos about past FLL tournaments.  We also started working on our project related to the FOOD FACTOR theme.  Next week get ready to build our mission models!  Maddie, you are now in the snack rotation (my apologies for mistakenly omitting your name).  See you Wednesday…

Here’s hoping for a smooth course ahead,

Mrs. U