Robozoids

Capturing the journey of the Gurnee Robozoids First Lego League (FLL) Team as they take on the 2012 Challenge, Senior Solutions, in their Rookie Season.

[robozoids]

The team has accomplished a lot in only 10 weeks as is seen by the now completed project boards that will be used at the Palatine Quest Tournament.  Quite impressive for a Rookie Team!

[robozoids]

Dress rehearsals

[robozoids]

Dress Rehearsals

Presentation storyboards have turned into full scripts and slides.  

As a result, today was all about dress rehearsals.  The Robozoids did a number of rehearsals, including new role tags so judges understand the roles being played by each member.  Rehearsals went extremely well and the team has been asked to review there scripts daily leading up to the tournament to be fully prepared for their part and to help other team members.

The team also reviewed the difference between different forms of intellectual property protection including patents, trademarks and copyrights and their proper use.  The InviziAid(TM) is being identified as a trademark to show the teams protection of the intellectual capital associated with their innovation.

One week to go to show the judges the work the team has done over the past 10 weeks . . .

[robozoids]

Scripting our next steps

With the presentation storyboard completed on Sunday, rehearsals were in full force today as the kids worked off of their more formal scripts.  As they became more familiar with the script they shaved their time down from 7:24 to 5:03 with the target being 5:00.  Not bad for the first day with scripts.  All in all, a very enjoyable storyline.

Rehearsals will continue on Sunday when the final presentation slides are expected to be finalized.  This will allow us to get a stronger feel for presentation time as slide materials form a part of the actual presentation.

The kids are encouraged to review their scripts prior to Sunday so we can have effective rehearsals and allow a bit of time for final robot game tweaking.

[robozoids]

Thanks to the Robozoids for all of their ideas and concept artwork that has now lead to finalizing our shirt proofs!  Shirts orders have now been placed and can be expected to come in shortly.  The team will certainly look great in this design.

[robozoids]

The Wonder Ears

After sufficiently progressing the Robozoids Senior Solutions project concept, the InviziAid 'invisible' hearing aid, the team decided it was time to work on the presentation of their project.  Since other work was also under way, the team broke into subteams as they found this is the most efficient way to work together when multiple tasks are required to be done.

One team focused on the development of a skit for the project.  After a lot of discussion on skit concepts it was decided that the skit would be in the model of the old TV show the Wonder Years.  As a result, the skit would have presentation throughout with the interjection of facts from a speaker.  The aim is for this allow for the presentation to be more fun and less presentation as  the skit is the primary element.  A draft skit was storyboarded and assignments given to each of the Robozoids.  The skit was given two run thrus and the team is happy with its structure.  Next, scripts will need to be developed so everyone can study and practice their parts.

Another team focused on reviewing conceptual project boards: team rookie season overview, project overview and robot overview.  Mock ups were developed so side assignments can be given to drive these ideas to completion.

The remaining members focused on completing robot missions and determining if additional design elements and attachments would help that cause.  In the end, a real run thru was completed and at the end of 2:30 the team had accumulated 250 points!  Nice work team!!  It looks like the key for points will be if teams do not do the ball challenge and are able to get the similarity levers parallel.

Two weeks until teh Quest Palatine Tournament . . .

[robozoids]

I don't get to talk to him any more like I use to

A key quote from the Robozoids' InviziAid presentation skit showing the real world impact of hearing loss in seniors and how it effects others.  This quote is from a grandchild talking about his grandfather who is dealing with hearing loss issues.

[robozoids]

Mentor web conference.

[robozoids]

Mentor Night

Tonight, the Robozoids hosted a web conference with guest Mentor Mr. Hiroshi Yamaki, (UL President, Life & Health) as well as partner rookie FLL teams from Spring Grove (Spring Grove Lego Creators) and Schaumburg (Tiger Force 10) that are coached by fellow colleagues from UL.

The night was a huge success in which the kids were extremely engaged as well as well mannered and prepared for the nights events.

As challenge Mentor, Yamaki-san, joining the web conference from New York, provided an overview of the Life & Heath industry as it relates to safe working and living environments.  He introduced safety related issues for medical products and their inclusion in patient care and health care facilities and hospitals.  He then spoke to the teams about safety considerations as they relate to water and food safety including their related supply chains.  Based on growing populations around the world, all of these issues are becoming more and more relevant for the safety of our societies and in particular for seniors.  Yamaki-san also took the time to introduce some new technology trends related to robotics in these same areas.  From remote patient care, to patient management and handling, to administrative assistance and facility guidance robots are playing an increasing role in patient care and smart hospitals.  The teams seemed particularly interested in a discussion about new high tech robotic beds used in hospitals.

Following Yamaki-sans insights he stayed on the conference to provide feedback and expertise related to the teams Senior Solution Project concepts.  Kevin took the lead in presenting the Robozoids InviziAid project concept and supporting evidence while our FLL partner teams presented ideas on assisting seniors with memory loss and protecting seniors from online scams.  All concepts were well received and identified as extremely relevant for the project scope based on provided evidence and experience in the field.  Both Yamaki-san and members from each partner team were active in providing feedback and questions that will help each team evolve their concept before the approaching tournaments.

This event was a great demonstration by all of the FLL core values of Coopertition and Gracious Professionalism.  Great job by all teams.  By the results of tonight's event, we can already say that each team has succeeded in their rookie FLL season to truly grasp the objectives of the First Lego League and its core values.

[robozoids]

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  No regularly scheduled meeting today.  Enjoy the holiday with friends and family and make the most of your time engaging with seniors that you will share the holidays with . . .

[robozoids]

Thanks to team Technical Rage for letting the Robozoids shadow them throughout their Milwaukee tournament held at Marquette High School.  Good luck for moving on to the next level!

[robozoids]

Team road trip to Milwaukee for the Marquette High School Milwaukee First Lego League Senior Solutions tournament.

[robozoids]

November 11th Schedule Update:

In preparation for our upcoming December Tournament, the Robozoids will be attending the MUHS FLL Tournament in Milwaukee, WI on Sunday November 18th.  Interested parents are welcome to join.  If your child can attend, please have them ready to leave at 10AM with a packed lunch.  Following attendance at the tournament, the Robozoids will take any remaining time as part of their regularly scheduled Sunday session.  Pick up of the kids will remain at 6 PM.

"The MUHS/DSHA Hilltopper Robotics team is hosting FIRST LEGO League Regional Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 18, and Sunday, Nov. 18, at Marquette High. Thirty-six elementary and middle school robotics teams will participate each day in this year’s ‘Senior Solutions’ challenge. The events are open to the public. Admission is free.  

Judging will take place from 8:30 a.m. - Noon. Opening ceremonies begin at 12:45 p.m. and the Robot Performance competition will be held from 1:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. in the O’Rourke Performing Arts Hall."

[robozoids]

Blue Quilts Mission Complete!

[robozoids]

Phenomenal

Alex's assessment of finishing not just the first but hte first and second team robot missions in one night.

[robozoids]

"Phenomenal"

After three weeks of robot design concepts and build variations, the team set out to finalize the primary robot game base design with the challenge of accomplishing two robot game missions . . . all in one night.

Today marked the first day that all Robozoids took on their official team roles and focused on accomplishing tasks through role based leadership, support of other team members and focus on the days objectives.  The team was certainly up to the task as teams broke into sub working groups.  Matt led the robot build while Kevin focused on programming.  Leo floated as the support for both as his robot experience allowed each lead to progress their tasks.  Alex and Fritz set out to prioritize mission tasks and approaches to accomplishing them.  Keep in mind that the entire Robozoids team was now under the leadership of Team Captain Alex.  

Despite working extremely diligently, the team was progressing slowly towards their goal with time ticking away.  Then Coach Steve K. stepped in and raised the reward for the night's challenge.  Each team member was asked to write on the board what snack (a.k.a. treat in this case ranging from cheesecake to chocolate cake) they would want as a reward on Thursday if successful.  A focused team now seemed destined to accomplish their objectives as they stepped up efforts and focused like never before.

The robot build came together and it was time to test out some programming.  Initial trial runs were successful in moving the robot, while not in directions anticipated (hello wall).  But unlike earlier in the season, the team now knew how to troubleshoot their actions and make modifications to get the results they desired.  Program and robot modifications continued to tweak small shortcomings that were discovered and to improve reliability and reproducibility (we will now call this Gage R&R).

With time winding down, the team successfully completed their first robot game mission, orange quilts!  This is a milestone the team should be extremely proud of and remember and look back at over time as a team.  But this huge achievement would not stand in the way of the team reaching for the night's objective of two missions.  With attempt after attempt the team came closer and closer to accomplishing the blue quilts mission.  Time ticked closer and closer to the 6PM deadline.  Attempt, 5:45.  Attempt, 5:50.  Attempt, 5:55.  Attempt, 5:58 . . . success!!!!  The cheers from team members rang throughout Gurnee as the Robozoids accomplished the blue quilts mission with one minute left to deadline!  

When asked what the team thought of the night's success, Team Captain Alex summed it all up in one word, "PHENOMENAL".

After all the work put in over the last six weeks to lead to this result, we are extremely proud of the team for coming together and reaching this level of success in one night.  We look forward to seeing what they can accomplish in the weeks to come.  The sky is certainly the limit.

[robozoids]

Trouble in Paradise . . .

Well, the best laid plans are not always successful.  Following Sunday's meeting the team had discussed team roles and come up with a robot concept design.  Today was to result in a robot build, targeted at :30 minutes, and the development of a program to run it along the black trace from home base out to the cardiovascular mission.

After :30 minutes, the NXT had two lego parts and two pins attached.  The team was confused and programming was getting a little frustrating.  Not one of our stellar team sessions for sure.

After regrouping and talking through as a team what it would take to refocus and progress, the team went back to the tasks at hand.  Some theory on wheel movement and the related math of rotation, angle and time were incorporated into some modified programming.  With a little realignment of resources, the robot build started to progress and one portion of the base design was assembled to the satisfaction of the team.

Not every session will lead to great progress.  Today was an example of that.  In fact, an exclamation point was put on the day when Kevin dropped the partially build robot and all assembled pieces broke away from the NXT body.  

Oh well, better luck Sunday.  I think the team is up to the challenge.