Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program

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. Ken Cone ken_cone@ous.edu 503-725-2918 Jim Ryan james.r.ryan@intel.com 971-215-6087 Scott Stanko scott.stanko@intel.com (971) 215-9677 Roger Swanson swanson@hevanet.com 503-297-1824 Instructor Contacts

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) • Runs the FLL program in Oregon and the surrounding counties • Connected to the Chancellor’s Office of the Oregon University System • Heavily volunteer based Opening doors to the worlds of science and technology for Oregon’s youth

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 • 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 WhatThey’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. 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 Tournament Awards

19. ORTOP Growth

20. ORTOP Minority Report

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 CommunityPartners • 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 • http://www.ortop.org/res.htm#REG • ESCO – “Robotics Mentorships as a Developmental Career Opportunity”

29. Contact Us Web site: http://www.ortop.org Email: questions@ortop.org Phone: 503-725-2920

30. Before We Start • The NXT • 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.