First Lego League/VEX IQ
Middle School Competition Robotics
First Lego League (FLL) is a Lego robotics competition for students grades 4 to 8. Teams engage in research, problem-solving, coding and engineering – building and programming a LEGO robot that navigates the missions of a robot game. As part of Challenge, teams also participate in a research project to identify and solve a relevant real-world problem.
Team members must be willing to work on all aspects of the competition and demonstrate the FIRST core values.Innovation: We use creativity and persistence to solve problems.
Impact: We apply what we learn to improve our world.
Inclusion: We respect each other and embrace our differences.
Teamwork: We are stronger when we work together.
Fun: We enjoy and celebrate what we do!
To advance to the next level the team must demonstrate excellent teamwork and respect for each other and the other teams.
Besides the the robot game, the team must complete a research project related to this year’s theme, Submerged. The team must present three posters explaining the innovation project, the robot design, and the team’s journey highlighting the FIRST core values.
All team members are expected to attend regularly the team meetings held on
School days-off from 9 am to 1 pm on September 23, October 24 and 25, November 4 and 5.
Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 to 6:30 August 19, 21; September 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 25, 30; October 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 28, 30.
Students who fail to attend meetings regularly, show disrespect towards instructors, or are unkind to their teammates will be asked to leave the team. Please note that no refunds will be issued under these circumstances.
After the end of the FLL season, we will start working on the VEX IQ Competition.
The VEX IQ Robotics Competition "Rapid Relay" takes place on a 6’ x 8’ rectangular field. In the Teamwork Challenge, two robots form an alliance and work together in 60-second matches to score points collaboratively.
Teams also participate in the Robot Skills Challenge, where a single robot aims to score as many points as possible. This challenge includes two types of matches: Driving Skills Matches, which are entirely driver-controlled, and Autonomous Coding Skills Matches, which are autonomous with minimal human interaction.
Students who succeed in the VEX IQ competition typically exhibit the following qualities and skills:
- Teamwork and Collaboration: Successful students work well with their teammates and other teams, sharing ideas and responsibilities effectively.
- Problem-Solving Skills: They are adept at identifying problems and brainstorming creative solutions, both in the design phase and during the competition.
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in building and programming robots is crucial. Successful students have a good understanding of robotics, mechanics, and coding.
- Strategic Thinking: They develop and execute strategies to maximize their score in both teamwork and skills challenges.
- Communication Skills: Effective communication with team members and mentors is essential. They can clearly convey ideas and provide constructive feedback.
- Adaptability: They can quickly adapt to changes and unexpected challenges during the competition.
- Persistence and Resilience: Successful students are persistent and resilient, learning from failures and setbacks to improve their performance.
- Time Management: They manage their time well, balancing practice, competition preparation, and academic responsibilities.
- Attention to Detail: They pay close attention to the rules and scoring criteria and ensure their robot meets all specifications.
- Sportsmanship: They demonstrate good sportsmanship by respecting competitors, judges, and the integrity of the competition.
By developing these qualities, students can enhance their chances of success in the VEX IQ competition.