1. Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program
I. Introductory Workshop for ORTOP’s FIRST ® LEGO® League Program
2017
Opening doors to the worlds of science and technology for Oregon’s youth

2. Instructor Contacts Ken Cone Terry Alexander kencone@gmail.com
(503)
Terry Alexander
(503)
Jim Ryan
Roger Swanson

3. ORTOP Program Manager Loridee Wetzel loridee-wetzel@ortop.org

4. Today’s Goal
Provide an understanding of the ORTOP and FIRST ® LEGO® League programs
Show the value these programs bring to our youth
Demonstrate the fun and excitement by building and programming a LEGO® robot
Explain the opportunities for your (or your friends’) involvement

5. Agenda Introductions Our motivations
The ORTOP and FIRST ® LEGO® League Programs
Build a LEGO® robot and try it out
More on FIRST ® LEGO® League Teams
Simple programming of your robot
Along the way: A tour of last season’s Animal Allies Challenge Set

6. The Problem
Fast growing demand for engineers, technicians, and other technologists
Slow growing supply of young people interested in technology, especially among women and minorities
How do we expose youngsters to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) at an early age so they might pursue such a course in later studies?

7. The Opportunity with FIRST®
Programs from FIRST ®(For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)
FIRST ® LEGO® League Jr.: K – 3rd grade, initial ORTOP pilot in 2006
FIRST ® LEGO® League: 4th – 8th grade, started by ORTOP in 2001
FIRST ® Tech Challenge: 7th – 12th grades, initial ORTOP pilot in 2006
FIRST ® Robotics Competition: 9th – 12th grades, added as an ORTOP program in 2016
"To create a world where science and technology are celebrated.. where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes"

8. The Opportunity -- FIRST ® LEGO® League
Targets 4th – 8th grades (9-14 year olds)
Uses relatively inexpensive LEGO® robotics kits
Defines a mini engineering project based on real-world problems
Features hands-on experience and multi-disciplinary teamwork
Show these youth that STEM studies can be fun

9. ORTOP (Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program)
Opening doors to the worlds of science and technology for Oregon’s youth
Runs all four FIRST ® programs in Oregon
We welcome teams from counties adjoining Oregon’s borders
Connected to the Chancellor’s Office of the Oregon University System starting in 2001
Became an independent non-profit corporation effective 7/1/2014
Heavily volunteer based

10. Additional ORTOP Goals
Reach out to girls and minorities
Look for partners that can help: Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, 4H, etc.
Special outreach to schools and community organizations with the demographics that fit our focus
Team financial support so cost does not limit participation
Every team that registers gets to participate in a tournament
Success for a team is working together through the season and showcasing their results in a tournament
SUCCESS = PARTICIPATION

11. Build a Robot
Let’s take a break from all this talking and get out the LEGO® kits to have some fun building onto the EV3 robot!

12. Before We Start The EV3 Motors with built-in rotation sensors Sensors
Outputs(A,B,C,D)
Inputs (1,2,3,4)
Buttons
USB port
Motors with built-in rotation sensors
Sensors
Touch sensor, color sensor, ultrasonic (distance) sensor, gyro sensor

13. Finish the Sample Robot
We have built the foundation of an EV3 robot that you will use throughout the workshops
Follow pages in the booklet in your kit to build the tool motor
Follow pages to insert the tool motor into your base robot

14. What Is a FIRST ® LEGO® League Team?
4-10 youngsters each
Grades 4th through 8th (Ages 9-14)
Led by coach and mentor
Coach – adult with overall responsibility for the team
Mentor – technical expertise
Sources of teams
Schools
Community groups
Neighborhoods

15. The FIRST ® LEGO® League Team Experience
Miniature engineering project team stressing
Creativity and teamwork
Engineering principles: requirements, alternatives, rapid prototyping, testing, …
Hands-on problem solving
Context is a real-world situation
Illustrates multiple roles: Designers, Builders, Programmers, Sales and Marketing
Insights into possible careers
The youngsters do the work – FIRST ® LEGO® League Coaches’ Promise and Core Values

16. FIRST ® LEGO® League Team Costs
Start-up Costs
FIRST ® LEGO® League EV3 Robot Set: $469.95
Materials for table: Around $50
Yearly Costs
FIRST ® LEGO® League Team Registration Fee: $225
Oregon Qualifying Tournament Fee: See next slide
Oregon Championship Tournament Fee: See next slide
Challenge Set: $75
Misc. including batteries, shipping: $50-$100
First-year total: $970 - $1360
Subsequent years total: $450 - $840

17. ORTOP FIRST ® LEGO® League Fees
We are continuing the fees used last year.
We have set a “requested fee” rate that comes closer to our actual costs of running a tournament.
Teams can request a discount when registering for a Qualifying Tournament in October:
Include the AMOUNT of discount requested.
Include a REASON for the request.

18. ORTOP FIRST ® LEGO® League Fees (cont.)
Qualifying Tournaments
Requested fee: $200
Discount can be up to $100
Championship Tournaments – about 25% of teams are invited
Requested fee: $240
Discount can be up to $120
Additional “Team Financial Support” is available as in the past

19. Possible Sources of Team Funding
Team Member Dues
Having some portion of costs picked up by team members gives a sense of commitment
Fundraising Activities
Team Sponsors
ORTOP Team Financial Support 19 19

20. Other Funding Sources
Keep your eye on the FIRST ® LEGO® League Oregon Updates that ORTOP provides as periodic mailings for news on new funding opportunities.

21. The Team Timeline April – Sept.: Teams form
Registration with FIRST ® is open now – registration materials found on FIRST ® website
Mid May: Robot kits begin to ship
Mid May: Applications for ORTOP Team Financial Support are available
June – Sept.: ORTOP workshops
July – Aug.: Challenge Sets begin to ship
Aug. 29: The Hydro Dynamics Challenge is released
Teams develop their solutions for ~3 mo.
Culminating event is the Tournament
Qualifying tournaments in early December
Championship tournaments in January

22. Team Registration
National registration through FIRST ® :
May through end of September or when the max is reached
$225 FIRST ® LEGO® League registration fee
Coaches Handbook:
Optional ordering of kits
First-Come-First-Served, so REGISTER EARLY!! 22 22

23. FIRST ® Youth Protection Program(YPP)
Two Lead Coaches/Mentors from each team must be trained in the provisions of the FIRST ® YPP
Undergo YPP training provided by FIRST ®
Obtain Youth Protection Clearance (YPC) through FIRST ®, which involves a criminal background and sex offender registry check
Conduct a team safety meeting early in the season

24. Purchases after Registration
Two adult coaches must have completed the YPP steps
FIRST ® LEGO® League registration fee must be paid
Then a link directly to LEGO® Education is provided to allow purchase of other FIRST ® LEGO® League materials

25. Optional Purchases after Registration
FIRST ® LEGO® League EV3 Robot Set: $469.95
Hydro Dynamics Challenge Set: $75
Extra parts: rechargeable battery and charger, motors, and sensors (color, touch, gyro, and ultrasonic)
They don’t ship until they are paid 25 25

26. ORTOP State QT Registration
Takes place early October 2017
$100 - $200 fee for Qualifying Tournaments
We notify all coaches that have registered with FIRST ® LEGO® League in Oregon
Provide list of Qualifying Tournaments
Ask for 3 Qualifying Tournament choices in priority order
We assign teams to Qualifying Tournaments
REGISTER EARLY!!
$120 - $240 for a Championship Tournament, if qualified 26 26

27. Tournament Structure
Less focus on competition and more on showcasing the team’s learning and results
Qualifying Tournaments
Around teams each
Organized by Qualifying Tournament volunteers with support from ORTOP
24 in 2016: Bend, Grants Pass, Hood River, LaGrande, McMinnville, Myrtle Creek, Corvallis, Salem, The Dalles, and Portland Metro area 10
Championship Tournaments for 2016 season
~120 teams at two Championship Tournaments at Glencoe High School in Hillsboro in March, 2017

28. Tournaments Exhibit Students’ Achievements
Three opportunities to demonstrate robot on the Challenge playing field
Interaction with Robot Design Judging Panel
Presentation to Project Judging Panel
General presentation area specified by FIRST ® LEGO® League to enhance learning about the year’s theme
Requires research by the team
Develops presentation skills (the opportunity for the developing sales and marketing youngsters)
Core Values Judging Panel

29. Tournament Awards Number of awards depends on size of tournament
Highest level awards (the Champions Awards) and invitations to Championship Tournaments require good results in Robot Design, Project, Core Values, and Robot Performance
Other awards also recognize outstanding performance in each of the 4 categories
ORTOP Young Team and Rookie Team awards are given at Championship Tournaments
Participation awards for all teams

30. Plans for 2017 Theme: Hydro Dynamics
~500 teams with more than 3200 youngsters
Around Qualifying Tournaments
Held first two weekends in December
teams per tournament
Expect same locations as last year
2 Championship Tournaments of about 60 teams each in January, 2017
Continued focus on outreach to girls & minorities
More sponsors

31. Volunteer Opportunities
Coaches
Mentors
ORTOP Planning Committee
Qualifying Tournament Planning
Tournament Staffing
Financial Support

32. Let’s get back to our robots and learn how to make them do something!
EV3 Programming
Let’s get back to our robots and learn how to make them do something!
All Workshop Materials:

33. EV3 Programming
Use the EV3 Basics document to learn the principles of EV3 programming.
Read the document together as a team.
When you get to the numbered steps, do what the step says on your laptop.
Please work to get through Lab 3 on page 11.
Go on to Lab 4 if you have time while we wait for the other teams to finish.
Please take time at home to study the material starting on page 13.

34. More on the EV3 Brick Name USB Connected Wireless Status Battery Level
Tabs on Screen
1 – Run Recent
2 – File Navigation
3 – Brick Apps
4 – Settings
1 – Back Button
2 – Center Button
3 – Left, Right, Up, Down Buttons

35. Reflected Light Final Exam
You use the EV3 Port View and measure
White: 68
Green: 38
Black: 25
Wait block configured as Color Sensor – Compare – Reflected Light Intensity
Use < as comparison operator
What happens with each threshold?

36. Reflected Light Final Exam
Threshold value > 68
Threshold between 38 and 68
Threshold between 25 and 38
Threshold < 25
White: 68
Green: 38
Black: 25

37. Reflected Light Final Exam: Answers
Threshold value > 68
Never starts
Threshold between 38 and 68
Stops on green or black
Threshold between 25 and 38
Stops only on black
Threshold < 25
Never stops
White: 68
Green: 38
Black: 25

38. What Did You Learn? Projects are key organizing mechanism
Downloading a project downloads all programs
Program flow of control
Flow stays in block until conditions of block are met
With motor on block flow goes immediately to next block

39. What Did You Learn? Color sensor needs a trigger value
Use Port View on EV3 to read the values returned by different colors.
You may need a magnifying glass and flashlight 

40. What Did You Learn? The robot does exactly what you tell it to do.
The robot is almost always “right” even though it doesn’t appear to be doing what you told it to do.
Are the ports right?
Have you downloaded the project after making changes?
Are you running the right program?

41. What Did You Learn?
The robots compute very fast – consider a program that does:
Turn on the motors
Go into a loop for 1 second
Turn off the motors
Display the number of times the loop was executed on the robot’s screen
How many times will that loop be executed?

42. More than 7500 times in that one second!
And the Answer Is …
More than 7500 times in that one second!

43. Contact Us Web site: http://www.ortop.org
Phone: