ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Despite an early-morning snow storm that spread snow and frozen rain across the region, 125 middle school students from around Maryland showed up to compete in the FIRST LEGO League Challenge at the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command
headquarters Jan. 21.
It was the organization's first time hosting the event's qualifying rounds. Thirteen teams competed for the top four positions which advance to the championship at UMBC next weekend.
FLL is a LEGO robotics program for 6 to 14-year-olds designed to get children excited about science and technology while teaching them employment and life skills. FIRST means: For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. The FIRST mission is to design accessible and innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology and engineering.
Every September FLL releases a challenge based on a real-world scientific topic. Each challenge had three parts: the Robot Match, the Project, and the FLL Core Values. Teams of up to 10 children with one adult coach participate by programming an autonomous robot to score points on a themed playing field (Robot Match), developing a solution to a problem (Project), all guided by the FLL Core Values.
Then the students meet for regional tournaments to share their knowledge, compare ideas and display their robots. This year's challenge, Food Factor, was focused on keeping foods safe.
Christina Bryant, ATEC recruitment and outreach program coordinator, said the day-long event consisted of research and presentation challenges in the morning during which teams were judged on Project and Core Values and on Technical Know-How in the afternoon, as teams pitted their robots against the clock. They were tasked to perform 15 "missions" in 2.5 minutes
on a themed playing field.
"They were challenged to find an innovative solution to a problem that was presented to them by researching and solving it in teams," Bryant said, noting that FLL Core Values stresses
working as teams, with friendly competition and mutual gain as its goals.
"Trying to tackle a problem as one works in concert with STEM principles," she explained.
Several participants said they enjoyed the challenge.
Harford Day School "Dragon Bots" teammates, 13-year-old eighth-graders Sonal and Carter, said they learned a lot.
"It's really been interesting and fun," Sonal said, adding that she's interested in science and technology.
"This was my first time and I really like it," said Carter. "I love technology and I plan to go into mathematics or engineering."
Two other 13-year olds, Rosano and Adrian from Walker Mill Middle School in Prince Georges County, said they were glad they made it.
"This morning was difficult getting here but I found the Project and research part pretty challenging," said Adrian, adding that he'd like to "go into medical technology."
Rosano said that she was enjoying her second FLL.
"I've done it once before and I enjoyed it both times, though this time I would have liked more time to practice.
"I'm not sure what I want to be" she said. "I just like the challenge."
"An event such as this sends the right signals to the community and families to show how important they are to the test and evaluation community," said Brig. Gen. Leslie Smith, commander of the 20th Support Command (CBRNE). "Through teamwork, and motivation these kids are having fun while they're learning. It's good to see that. In ten years or less, they'll get to replace us. For now, we've got to keep motivating and pushing one team, one city, one Family."
Supporting organizations included the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command(RDECOM; U.S. Army Evaluation Center(AEC); U.S. Army Research Laboratory(ARL);
Aberdeen Test Center(ATC); U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command(CECOM); U.S. Army
Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC); U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency (CMA); and the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC).
For more information about FLL, visit the website firstlegoleague.org.
Social Sharing