Synopses & Reviews
FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is an international program for kids ages 9 to 14 that combines a hands-on, interactive robotics program and research presentation with a sports-like atmosphere. Authors James Floyd Kelly and Jonathan Daudelin-both participants in numerous FIRST LEGO League competitions-have teamed up to bring coaches, teachers, parents, and students an all-in-one guide to FLL.
Written for both rookie and experienced teams, FIRST LEGO League: The Unofficial Guide includes in-depth coverage of topics like team formation and organization, robot building and programming, and the basics of getting involved with FLL. Before the authors delve into the specifics of robot and team building, they reveal the fascinating history of the FIRST organization and the sometimes puzzling structure of the FLL competition. Using a combination of real-life stories and candid commentary from actual FLL teams, as well as recollections of their own experiences, they offer an abundance of helpful guidance and dependable building and programming examples.
FIRST LEGO League: The Unofficial Guide explores the complex workings and structure of the FLL competition, including its four key components: Robot Game, Technical Interview, Project, and Teamwork. You'll learn how to:
- Organize, recruit, and manage a team
- Find equipment, mentors, and funding
- Design, build, and program winning robots
- Tackle each of the four FLL components-from Robot Game to Teamwork
- Use strategies and techniques from FLL masters to increase your scores
No matter what your role in the FLL competition, FIRST LEGO League: The Unofficial Guide will make you a better competitor, builder, designer, and team member. The only ingredient you need to add is your competitive spirit!
Synopsis
FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is an international program for kids ages 9-14 that combines a hands-on, interactive robotics program and research presentation with a sports-like atmosphere. "FIRST LEGO League: The Unofficial Guide" is the go-to source for coaches, teachers, parents, and students participating in the FLL competition. Written for both rookie and experienced teams, the book covers a variety of topics, including team formation and organization, robot building and programming, and more. "FIRST LEGO League" goes into great detail about the structure of the FLL competition, focusing on the four key judging areas: Robot Game, Technical, Project, and Teamwork. Filled with practical advice and real building and programming examples, as well as candid commentary from veteran teams, this is the book that your team needs whether you're just starting out or have been competing (and winning) for years.
About the Author
James Floyd Kelly is a freelance writer living in Atlanta, Georgia, with degrees in English and Industrial Engineering. A long-time Lego Mindstorms developer, he is editor-in-chief of the world's most popular Lego blog, thenxtstep.com, which continues to draw an estimated 30,000+ readers monthly, and is a regular contributor to the Lego Mindstorm development team. James Kelly has written on topics including robotics, building custom computers and free software. His most recent book, Don't Spend a Dime: The Path to Low-Cost Computing, is the first book on free software to be published in four years. When not writing, he and his wife enjoy watching their little boy discover all kinds of new and exciting things about the world.
James Floyd Kelly is a member of the Mindstorms Developers Program and has access to the beta software and hardware. He maintains a blog dedicated to NXT.
He was accepted as a member of the beta team for testing of the new Mindstorms NXT. He created the #1 Mindstorms NXT blog in January 2006, and it continues to draw an estimated 30,000+ readers monthly for news, updates, and information on NXT. Readers and fans of NXT know his name and that he is actively involved in promoting NXT as well as teaching kids and adults how to design, build, and program robots using the new kit.-->
Jonathan Daudelin has been competing in FLL since age 13. In 2007, his team won the First Place Robot Performance and First Place Innovative Robot awards at the World Festival after their robot achieved perfect scores in all three rounds. He is a contributor to The NXT Step blog and a co-author of "The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book" (No Starch) and "The NXT Robotics Competition Workbook" (self-published).
Table of Contents
Dedication; Letter from Dean Kamen; Acknowledgments; Introduction; How This Book Is Organized; Chapter 1: What Is FIRST LEGO League?; 1.1 FIRST and the FIRST Robotics Competition; 1.2 FIRST Robotics Competition; 1.3 FIRST Tech Challenge (Formerly FIRST VEX Challenge); 1.4 FIRST VEX Challenge; 1.5 FIRST LEGO League; 1.6 Junior FIRST LEGO League; 1.7 Where Does LEGO MINDSTORMS Fit In?; 1.8 What Is the LEGO Group's Involvement?; 1.9 What Are the Differences Between the Two Versions?; 1.10 What About the FLL Competition Mat and Models?; 1.11 Conclusion; Chapter 2: How FLL Works; 2.1 Tournaments; 2.2 Robot Game; 2.3 The Project; 2.4 Robot Design; 2.5 Teamwork; Chapter 3: Guidelines and Rules; 3.1 Mission Descriptions; 3.2 Robot Game Rules; 3.3 Q&A and the Forum; 3.4 Guidelines for Other Categories; 3.5 Rubrics; Chapter 4: Finding Equipment, Mentors, and Funding; 4.1 Equipment and Supplies; 4.2 Funding; 4.3 Team Mentors; 4.4 Gathering Resources Early; Chapter 5: Starting or Building a Team; 5.1 Methods for Starting a New FLL Team; 5.2 Getting Started; 5.3 Announcing Formation of a Team; 5.4 Accepting Team Member Applications; 5.5 Selecting Final Team Members; 5.6 Announcing Your Selections; 5.7 Holding Your First Team Meeting; 5.8 Adding New Members to an Existing Team; 5.9 Building Your Team; 5.10 A Team Is Born; Chapter 6: Managing Your Team; 6.1 Team Structures; 6.2 FLL Team Roles; 6.3 Having Fun; 6.4 Making Decisions and Voting; 6.5 Team Progress Tracking; Chapter 7: The Team Experience; 7.1 Encourage Your Team; 7.2 Encourage and Share with Other Teams; 7.3 Share Your Experience; 7.4 Give Back; 7.5 Methods for Sharing Your Experiences; 7.6 The FLL Journey; Chapter 8: Coaching a Team; 8.1 The Coach's Responsibility; 8.2 Online Tools for the Busy Coach; Chapter 9: NXT vs. RIS; 9.1 Robotics Invention System; 9.2 NXT; 9.3 The Bricks; 9.4 Batteries; 9.5 Sensors; 9.6 Motors; 9.7 Construction Pieces; 9.8 Base Kits; 9.9 Availability; 9.10 Choosing a System; Chapter 10: Basic Building; 10.1 Using Existing Models; 10.2 Building from a "Foundation"; 10.3 Building with Modular Design; 10.4 Bracing Your Design; 10.5 Gears!; 10.6 Treads, Ball Casters, and Wheels; 10.7 Building with the Brick; 10.8 Motors; 10.9 Sensors; 10.10 Working with Cables; 10.11 Useful Connectors; 10.12 Up Next . . .; Chapter 11: Building Techniques for the Robot Game; 11.1 Aiming Methods; 11.2 Approaches to Handling Table Variety; 11.3 Useful Pieces; 11.4 Documentation of Your Design; 11.5 Chassis, Attachments, and Bays; 11.6 Web Resources; Chapter 12: Sensors; 12.1 FLL-Approved Electronics; 12.2 NXT Controller; 12.3 NXT Motors and the Built-in Rotation Sensor; 12.4 Rotation Confusion; 12.5 Touch Sensor; 12.6 Light Sensor; 12.7 Ultrasonic Sensor; 12.8 Sensors vs. No Sensors; 12.9 Sensing a Trend; Chapter 13: Getting Organized for Programming; 13.1 File-Naming Conventions; 13.2 Back Up Your Programs and Data; 13.3 Robot Mission; 13.4 Summary; Chapter 14: NXT-G Programming Concepts; 14.1 Key NXT-G Blocks; 14.2 Secret Power Blocks: Variable and File Access; 14.3 Sensor Programming Techniques; 14.4 Summary; Chapter 15: The Project; 15.1 Choose a Topic; 15.2 Research the Topic; 15.3 Research Using the Internet; 15.4 Personal Interviews; 15.5 Libraries; 15.6 Field Trips; 15.7 Discoveries and Inventions; 15.8 Present Your Research; 15.9 Community Outreach; Chapter 16: Tournaments and Beyond; 16.1 Pretournament Preparation; 16.2 Set Up the Pit; 16.3 Judging Sessions; 16.4 Robot Matches; 16.5 Awards Ceremony; 16.6 Celebration; 16.7 How to Handle Awards; 16.8 Other Tournaments; 16.9 Robotics Workshops; 16.10 Preparing for Next Season; 16.11 Some Final Thoughts; Resources; Colophon; Updates;