1. Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program
I. Introductory Workshop for the Lego Mindstorms NXT
2006
Opening doors to the worlds of science and technology for Oregon’s youth

2. Instructor Contacts Ken Cone ken_cone@ous.edu 503-725-2918
Roger Swanson
Jim Ryan
Scott Stanko
(971)

3. Today’s Goal Provide an understanding of the ORTOP and FLL programs
Show the value these programs bring to our youth
Demonstrate the fun and excitement the programs generate
Explain the opportunities for your involvement

4. Agenda Introductions Our motivations The ORTOP and FLL Programs
A live Lego Robotics Demo
Build a Lego robot and try it out
Simple programming of your robot

5. The Problem
The local economy has created a large number of technology jobs
Number of our young people interested in technology growing too slowly especially among our young women and minority groups

6. The Root Causes Technology perceived as hard -- only for “geniuses”
Media portrays Technologists as “nerds”
Poor communication skills
Overly serious/isolated
Young people know very little about technical careers
Few/No engineering courses in K-12
Few/No role models available
The reality is hard for them to visualize

7. The Reality
We are regular people with a variety of personal characteristics
Teamwork rather than isolation is mandatory for success
We work on important, real-world problems to produce:
Consumer products
Medical solutions
Buildings & bridges
Ocean ecology is the theme for 2005
Great potential for salaries/benefits

8. The Opportunity -- FLL
Program from FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)
FLL (FIRST Lego League) targets 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 engineering can be fun

9. FIRST Philosophy
”[We] share the philosophy that children learn best by doing hands-on, minds-on activities which challenge their intellect and creativity. The FLL program accomplishes this task in a healthy environment and shows kids that they can succeed where they may have never thought they could." Dean Kamen, FIRST Founder

10. ORTOP (Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program)
Opening doors to the worlds of science and technology for Oregon’s youth
Runs the FLL program in Oregon and the surrounding counties
Connected to the Chancellor’s Office of the Oregon University System
Heavily volunteer based

11. Additional ORTOP Focus
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
Every team that registers gets to participate
Success for a team is participation

12. What Is an FLL Team? 4-10 youngsters each 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

13. The FLL 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 – FLL Coaches’ Honor Code and Team Promise

14. FLL Team Costs Start-up Costs Yearly Costs First-year total: $655-$775
Robotics Kit: $260 - $280
Materials for table: $50-$100
Team Challenge Activity Pack: $30
Yearly Costs
National Registration Fee: $150
State Registration Fee: $50
Field Setup Kit: $65
Misc. including batteries, shipping: $50-$100
First-year total: $655-$775
Subsequent years total: $315-$365

15. The Team Timeline Teams form in April – September
Registration with FLL is May – September
ORTOP workshops May – September
The Challenge is released in mid-Sept.
Teams develop their solutions for ~3 mo.
The real learning in the program
Robot design, programming, and presentation
Culminating event is the Tournament
Local tournaments in early December
State tournament in January

16. Tournament Structure
Less focus on competition and more on showcasing the team’s learning and results
Local Tournaments
Around 20 teams each
Organized by local tournament teams with support from ORTOP
16 in 2005: Vancouver, Bend, Roseburg, LaGrande, Corvallis, Klamath Falls, and 10 around Portland
State Tournament
80 teams at Liberty High School in Hillsboro
Best teams from the Local Tournaments

17. Showing What They’ve Learned
At least two opportunities to demonstrate robot on the Challenge playing field
Interaction with Technical Judging Panel
Presentation to Presentation Judging Panel
General presentation area specified by FLL 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)

18. Tournament Awards Director’s Award Robot Performance Robot Design
Innovative Design
Robot Consistency
Programming
Project Presentation
Research Quality
Innovative Solution
Creative Presentation
Teamwork
Young Team
Rookie Team
Medallions for all teams

19. ORTOP Growth
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Teams 65
144
222
261
330
Team Members
484
1056
1592
1826
2262
Locals 2
Regionals 10 14 16
Teams at State 78 77 79

20. ORTOP Minority Report 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Girls 102 313 493 548
675
African Americans 16 42 66 55
Latinos 20 54
108
132
214
Native Americans 1 31 48 32 24

21. Our 2005 Sponsors Title Sponsor – Intel Platinum Sponsor – RadiSys
Gold Sponsors
Julie and William Reiersgaard
Ted Wheeler
The Catlin Gabel School
IBM
Inspiration Software
Mentor Graphics

22. Our 2005 Sponsors (cont.) Silver Sponsors
Priscilla Chou with a matching grant from C.M. Capital Foundation
June and William Lattin
McMenamins
phtech
Software Association of Oregon
Tektronix

23. Our 2005 Sponsors (cont.) Supporting Sponsors ADP AEA
First Tech Credit Union
FEI Company
LSI Logic
Mbtech
Vernier

24. 2005 Community Partners Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland
Girl Scouts, Columbia River Council
OMSI -- Oregon Museum of Science & Industry
Oregon University System
PARTS – Portland Area Robotics Society
Oregon and Washington 4-H

25. Plans for 2006 Theme: Nano Quest Challenge
~400 teams with more than 2800 youngsters
20 Local Tournaments averaging 20 teams
Planning 2 in Vancouver and Bend
Add one more in Portland and Willamette Valley
State Finals Tournament of 80 teams
Continued focus on outreach to girls and minorities
More sponsors

26. Volunteer Opportunities
Coaches
Mentors
ORTOP Planning Committee
Local Tournament Planning
Tournament Staffing
Financial Support

27. Our Mailing Lists Totally voluntary, and you can opt out ortopvol
All volunteers
One way from ORTOP to our volunteers
We add you when you volunteer
ortopcm
Coaches and mentors
Communication among that group and with ORTOP
We add you when you complete a workshop

28. Next Steps Sign-up for another workshop
II. Coaching/Mentoring Techniques Workshop
III. Robotics Techniques Workshop
ESCO – “Robotics Mentorships as a Developmental Career Opportunity”

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

30. Before We Start The NXT Motors Sensors Outputs(A,B,C) Inputs (1,2,3,4)
Buttons (Enter, Back, Left, Right)
USB port
Motors
Sensors
Touch sensor, light sensor, ultrasonic sensor

31. Build the Sample Robot Follow pages 8-22 in the booklet in your kit
Add a light sensor on pages 32-34
Add a touch sensor on pages 40-44
If you have time, go back in the booklet and input directly into the NXT the programs on pages 23, 35, and 45.