Qualifier Registration Opens

2017-10-23 @ 10:00am

Registration for Qualifiers opens on October 23 at 10:00am.  All qualifier registrations in North Texas take place via the Perot Museum — see https://www.perotmuseum.org/events-and-programs/school-programs/first-lego-league/fll-qualifiers.html for full details and information.

 

You will need the following information available to register:

  • Team number
  • Team name
  • Coach’s name, email and phone number (we will communicate with you via email)
  • Payment

Notes:

  • Qualifier locations are first come, first served. Once a location is filled it will be removed as an option. Teams CANNOT change their qualifying site after registration.
  • Registration is not complete until payment is received. Payments can be made by credit card, check, or purchase order.
  • If paying by credit card, teams may register online. Payment by credit card is strongly recommended and the best way to ensure your spot is held.
  • If paying by check or purchase order, teams must call the Reservation line to register with payment ready to be made. After giving details to Reservations, you must mail in your check or purchase order within 7 days. You may mail your check in early but this does not reserve your spot; you must all Reservations to complete your registration.
  • Include your team’s name and number as well as the coach’s name on your check.
  • An invoice can be generated in advance by contacting fll@perotmuseum.org.
  • Only full and completed registration including payment reserves your spot. Payment must be received by 11:59 p.m. on November 17, 2017 or your team will not be able to compete.
  • Qualifier fees are nonrefundable.

To register for a Qualifier, teams must already be registered with FIRST. Qualifier registration will be handled through the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.

Need an invoice? Email fll@perotmuseum.org with your team name, team number, and billing information.

https://www.perotmuseum.org/events-and-programs/school-programs/first-lego-league/fll-qualifiers.html

 

2017-09-16 0 Comments

Ft Worth FLL Programming Clinic

2017-10-14 @ 10:00am - 5:00pm, Benbrook Public Library

This clinic is for coaches/mentors and up to TWO (2) team members. Venue Space is limited!
Cost:  Free, pre-registration required
Slides – Intermediate FLL programming
Slides – Beginner FLL programming

North Texas FIRST Lego League (FLL) will be holding clinics on programming Mindstorms for FIRST LEGO League.   The clinics are offered all day, with a beginning programming clinic from 10a-1p and intermediate programming clinic from 2p-5p.

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.

In each clinic session we will provide opportunities for attendees to try some (not all) exercises using their own robots and laptops.  Since the venue space will be limited, we will have to limit exercises. We won’t be providing any robots or laptops at the clinics, 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.

For more information about these clinics, please contact Joe Varnell at jvarnell@firstinspires.org .

2017-09-10 0 Comments