This clinic is for coaches/mentors and up to TWO (2) team members. Venue Space Is Limited!
Cost:  Free, pre-registration required
Slides from Clinic

On September 30 from 10am-1pm North Texas FIRST Lego League (FLL) will be hosting a clinic on FLL chassis building and attachments at the Benbrook Public Library.  The clinic will start with an overview of the LEGO building pieces most commonly used for building FLL robots, and then present the design principles important to developing a good chassis and efficient Robot Game execution. The clinic will then demonstrate a wide variety of attachment types and mounting options.

The North Texas FLL Coaches Clinics are free of charge, but we ask that you pre-register for the event. so that we can communicate event details directly to you and have an estimate of attendance size.  Attendance is limited to coaches, mentors, and up to two team members.

For more information about the event, please contact Joe Varnell at jvarnell@firstinspires.org.

The clinic is FULL — registration has closed.  Please consider attending the FCA clinic or Benbrook clinic on Oct 14 instead.

This clinic is for coaches/mentors and up to TWO (2) team members.
Cost:  Free, but currently full and registration has closed.

UT-Dallas will again be holding clinics on programming Mindstorms for FIRST LEGO League.   The clinics are offered all day, with a beginning programming clinic from 9a-12p and intermediate programming clinic from 1p-4p.  This year we are also offering a “master sequencer programming clinic” for advanced teams.

UTD’s Coaches Clinics are free of charge, but we ask that you pre-register for the event (clinic full, registration closed) so that we can communicate event details directly to you and have an estimate of attendance size. Attendance is limited to coaches, mentors, and up to two team members.

In each clinic session we will provide opportunities for attendees to try some (not all) exercises using their own robots and laptops.  We won’t be providing any robots or laptops at the clinics, so you need to bring your own if you want to do that.  Be sure your laptops and robots are fully charged, as there may not be power outlets available.  Also make sure your laptop has the EV3 Mindstorms software already installed on it, and that you’ve been able to get it to communicate with your robot (e.g., with a USB cable).  Even if you’re using an NXT robot, we recommend using the EV3 software to program it.

If you don’t have a robot already, we recommend building the “Educator Vehicle (with attachments)” for the clinics.  This is the robot typically used for demonstrations.  The instructions for this build are included in the EV3 Education Kit, and you can also find a PDF download at the top of http://robotsquare.com/2013/10/01/education-ev3-45544-instruction/ .

Of course, don’t feel as though you need to bring a laptop and robot to the clinics.  Many coaches and members have found that it’s much easier to just watch, listen, take notes, and ask questions.  And it’s always helpful to have people around who can help troubleshoot others’ programs and robots.

In each clinic there is a lot of material to cover in a short period of time, so please arrive on-time and be prepared that we’ll be proceeding at a fairly good pace.

Beginning Programming topics

• Overview of EV3 Programming environment and programming basics
• Motor block basics — moving forward and backward
• Turning using a gyro sensor (EV3 robots only)
• Using “port view” and “view mode” to see sensor values
• Detecting lines, borders, and colors
• Simple My Blocks (creating blocks for turning and missions)

Intermediate Programming topics

• Programming and robot game strategy
• Loops and sensor blocks
• Moving along a heading with gyros
• Line following / edge following
• Specifying distances in centimeters
• Understanding navigation error

Also, Builderdude35 created a YouTube video about using the gyro for driving the robot.

Master Sequencer Program clinic

This clinic is for advanced programmers that are interested in developing a “master sequencer” program for quickly selecting mission runs while in Base.  A master sequencer organizes the programming so that the Robot automatically advances from one mission program to the next without having to look them up in the EV3’s Program Menu.  FLL #27 “Republic of Pi” has successfully used master sequencers in each of its competition seasons to greatly improve Robot Game performance.

This is an advanced programming clinic; attendees are expected to already be familiar with the basics of Mindstorms programming.  In this clinic we will introduce and be using loops, switch blocks, variables, display blocks, character strings, and more.

For more information about these clinics, please contact Patrick Michaud at pmichaud@pobox.com .

Presentation Slides:
Session 1 – Intro and Robot Build
Session 2 – Beginning Programming
Session 3a – Strategy, Chassis, Attachments
Session 3b / 4 – Intermediate Programming

This clinic is for coaches/mentors (adults) ONLY.
Cost:  $30/session, register at UTD Marketplace

Calling all FIRST LEGO League coaches, mentors, and educators! Come brush up on your knowledge & skills during the summer break and hear proven tips for improving team performance.

UT-Dallas is once again offering summer training workshops for coaches and teachers where attendees get hands-on experience building and programming LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robots.  Sessions are facilitated by Dr. Patrick Michaud, renowned FIRST coach with several world-ranked teams.

Workshops will consist of four half-day sessions on September 12-13; each session will cost $30 (thus $120 to attend all four sessions).  UTD will provide the robot materials, computers, and software to be used during the sessions.  (Lunch is not provided, but there are many on-campus options for lunch, and we have refrigerator/microwave for those who wish to bring lunch.)

Space is limited and registration is required — registrations will generally be taken on a first-come first-served basis.

Specific session topics for the FLL workshops include:

September 12 (9a-12n): Intro to FLL and Robot Build
– Introduction to FLL and season overview
– LEGO Mindstorms components
– Basic robot building concepts
– Assemble and test prototype robot

September 12 (1p-4p): Beginning FLL Programming
– Introduce Mindstorms EV3 software
– Robot navigation concepts
– Sensors for detecting lines, borders, colors
– Creating “My Blocks”

September 13 (9a-12n): Chassis, Attachments, Programming
– Review common game challenges
– Intermediate robot building principles
– Techniques for more competitive robots
– Common attachment types and features
– Intermediate programming: My Blocks, loop and sensor blocks, gyro-based navigation

September 13 (1p-4p): Programming and Tournament Prep
– Programming: line following, testing
– Tournament overview
– Tips for improving success in Core Values, Project, and Robot Design judging

To sign up for these workshops, please visit the UTD FIRST Robotics storefront at https://ezpay.utdallas.edu/C20239_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=135, then select one of the available “FLL Coaches Training Workshops”.  Again, space is limited and registration will be generally first-come first-served.

For more information regarding the workshops, please email <patrick.michaud@utdallas.edu>.  We look forward to seeing you at the workshops!

Presentation slides:
Chassis and Attachments Clinic (PDF)

This clinic is for coaches/mentors and up to TWO (2) team members.

On September 23 from 9am-12pm the UT-Dallas Science and Engineering Education Center (UTD/SEEC) will be hosting a clinic on FLL chassis building and attachments.  The clinic will start with an overview of the LEGO building pieces most commonly used for building FLL robots, and then present the design principles important to developing a good chassis and efficient Robot Game execution. The clinic will then demonstrate a wide variety of attachment types and mounting options.

UTD’s Coaches Clinics are free of charge, but we ask that you pre-register for the event. so that we can communicate event details directly to you and have an estimate of attendance size.  Attendance is limited to coaches, mentors, and up to two team members.

Location: The clinic will be held starting at 9am in the Cecil Auditorium in Hoblitzelle Hall (HH 2.402) on the UT-Dallas campus – see attached map. The closest parking to the Cecil Auditorium is in Lot H and Parking Structure 4 (PS4). You can use this Parking Permit to park in any of the GOLD (yellow) or GREEN spaces in these two lots.

• Campus Map (PDF)
• Parking Permit (PDF)

The easiest way to get to these lots is to enter from Waterview Parkway on the west side of campus using either Frank Johnson or Franklyn Jenifer drives.

For more information about the event, please contact Patrick Michaud at pmichaud@pobox.com .

This event is intended for coaches and mentors only.  Please pre-register for the event.

FLL Coaches Clinic Slides

Presented by the Perot Museum and Benbrook Public Library in Benbrook, Texas.   This kickoff provides an introduction for coaches to the FLL® season followed by an informative clinic and discussion on team dynamics and what to expect as a coach or mentor.

The kickoff event is free of charge, but we ask that participants pre-register for the event so that we can communicate event details directly and have an estimate of attendance size.

What are the Kickoffs?

• These are introductory meetings/presentations where we go over many things you’ll need to know about participating in FLL this season.
• Generally there are at least two Kickoff sessions each season.  Each coach/mentor only needs to go to one, and it doesn’t matter which one.  Rookie and veteran coaches are welcome at the events.
• These are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, especially for new coaches/mentors.
• We will go over exactly how the events and competitions run (rules, policies, what to expect), and there will be Robot Game tables and fields set up with experts there to explain the Robot Game missions and rules.
• It’s a great opportunity to meet the North Texas FLL community, get your questions answered in person, and figure out exactly what will be happening for us this season.