Oregon Robotics
Tournament
and Outreach Program
I. Introductory Workshop for
ORTOP’s FLL Program
2014
Opening doors to the worlds of science
and technology for Oregon’s youth
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Instructor Contacts
Ken Cone
ken_cone@ous.edu
(503) 415-1465
Terry Hamm
terry.hamm@gmail.com
(503) 720-5157
Dale Jordan
Dale_A_Jordan@msn.com
Jim Ryan
james.r.ryan@intel.com
971-215-6087
Roger Swanson
swanson@hevanet.com
503-297-1824
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ORTOP Project Administrator
Cathy Swider
Cathy_Swider@ous.edu
(503) 725-2920
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Today’s Goal
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Provide an understanding of the ORTOP
and FLL 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
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Agenda
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Introductions
Our motivations
The ORTOP and FLL Programs
Build a LEGO® robot and try it out
More on FLL Teams
Simple programming of your robot
Along the way: A complete Nature’s Fury field
set-up kit
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The Problem
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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?
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The Opportunity with FIRST®
"To create a
world where
science and
technology
are
celebrated..
where
young
people
dream of
becoming
science and
technology
heroes"
Programs from FIRST ®(For Inspiration and
Recognition of Science and Technology)
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Jr.FLL (Junior FIRST ® LEGO® League) 6-9 yearolds – initial ORTOP pilot in 2006
FLL (FIRST ® LEGO® League) 9-14 year olds –
started by ORTOP in 2001
FTC (FIRST ® Tech Challenge) for high school
students – initial ORTOP pilot in 2006
FRC (FIRST ® Robotics Competition) for high
school students – not an ORTOP program but
active in Oregon
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The Opportunity -- FLL
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FIRST ® LEGO® League (FLL)
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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 multidisciplinary teamwork
Show these youth that STEM studies
can be fun
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ORTOP (Oregon Robotics
Tournament and Outreach Program)
Opening doors to the worlds of science
and technology for Oregon’s youth
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Runs the FLL (as well as Jr.FLL and FTC) program
in Oregon and southwest Washington
Connected to the Chancellor’s Office of the
Oregon University System since 2001
Moving to an independent non-profit corporation
effective 7/1/2014
Heavily volunteer based
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Additional ORTOP Goals
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Reach out to girls and minorities
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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
Scholarship program 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
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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!
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Before We Start
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The EV3
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Outputs(A,B,C,D)
Inputs (1,2,3,4)
Buttons
USB port
Motors with built-in rotation sensors
Sensors
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Touch sensor, color sensor, ultrasonic
(distance) sensor, gyro sensor
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Finish the Sample Robot
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We have built the foundation of an EV3 robot
that you will use throughout the workshops
Follow pages 54-60 in the booklet in your kit
to build the tool motor
Follow pages 64-67 to insert the tool motor
into your base robot
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What Is an FLL
Team?
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4-10 youngsters each
Ages 9-14
Led by coach and mentor
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Coach – adult with overall responsibility for the
team
Mentor – technical expertise
Sources of teams
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Schools
Community groups
Neighborhoods
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The FLL Team Experience
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Miniature engineering project team stressing
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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’
Promise and FLL Core Values
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FLL Team Costs
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Start-up Costs
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Yearly Costs
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FLL EV3 Robot Set: $499, or
FLL NXT Robot Set: $435
Materials for table: Around $50
FLL Team Registration Fee: $225
Oregon Qualifying Tournament Fee: $80-100
Oregon Championship Tournament Fee: $80-100
Field Setup Kit: $75
Misc. including batteries, shipping: $50-$100
First-year total: $995-1149
Subsequent years total: $510-$600
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Possible Sources of
Team Funding
Having some portion of
costs picked up by team
members gives a sense
of commitment
Team Member Dues
Fundraising
Activities
Team
Sponsors
Team Support info -- http://www.ortop.org/fll/resTeamSupport.htm
ORTOP Team support
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The Team Timeline
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April – Sept.: Teams form
May: Registration with FLL opens –registration
materials begin to ship
June – Sept.: ORTOP workshops
Aug.: Robot and field set-up kits begin to ship
Aug. 26: The World Class Challenge is released
Teams develop their solutions for ~3 mo.
Culminating event is the Tournament
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Qualifying tournaments in early December
Championship tournaments in January
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Team Registration
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National registration through FLL:
https://my.usfirst.org/fll/tims/site.lasso
May through end of September or when the
max is reached
$225 FLL registration fee
Receive Coaches Handbook, web forum access,
DVDs on FIRST® and FLL, and support
Optional ordering of kits
First-Come-First-Served, so REGISTER EARLY!!
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FIRST Youth Protection
Program (YYP)
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New from FIRST this year
Two Lead Coaches/Mentors from each
team must be trained in the provisions
of the FIRST YPP
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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
http://www.usfirst.org/aboutus/youth-protection-program
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Purchases after Registration
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Two adult coaches must have
completed the YPP steps
FIRST FLL registration fee must be paid
Then a link directly to LEGO Education
is provided to allow purchase of other
FLL materials
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Optional Purchases
after Registration
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FLL EV3 Robot Set: $499, or
FLL NXT Robot Set: $435
Field set-up kit: $75
Extra parts: rechargeable battery and
charger, motors, and sensors (color,
touch, gyro, and ultrasonic)
They don’t ship until they are paid
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ORTOP State QT Registration
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Takes place early October 2014
ORTOP Tournament fees
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We notify all coaches that have registered
with FLL in Oregon and SW Washington
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$80-100 for a Qualifying Tournament
$80-100 for a Championship Tournament
Provide list of Qualifying Tournaments
Ask for 3 Qualifying Tournament choices in
priority order
We assign teams to Qualifying Tournaments
Register early!!
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Tournament
Structure
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Less focus on competition and more on
showcasing the team’s learning and results
Qualifying Tournaments
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Around 15-20 teams each
Organized by Qualifying Tournament volunteers with
support from ORTOP
25 in 2013: Bend, Albany, Hood River, LaGrande,
McMinnville, Medford, Salem, The Dalles, Vancouver,
and Portland Metro area 11
Championship Tournaments for 2013 season
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~120 teams at two Championship Tournaments at
Liberty High School in Hillsboro in January, 2014
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Tournaments Exhibit
Students’ Achievements
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Three opportunities to demonstrate robot on
the Challenge playing field
Interaction with Robot Design Judging Panel
Presentation to Project Judging Panel
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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)
Core Values Judging Panel
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Tournament
Awards
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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
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Plans for 2014
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Theme: World Class
~500 teams with more than 3200 youngsters
Around 24-26 Qualifying Tournaments
 Held first two weekends in December
 15 - 20 teams per tournament
 Expect same locations as last year
2 Championship Tournaments of about 60 teams
each in January, 2015
Continued focus on outreach to girls & minorities
More sponsors
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Volunteer Opportunities
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Coaches
Mentors
ORTOP Planning
Committee
Qualifying Tournament
Planning
Tournament Staffing
Financial Support
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EV3 Programming
Let’s get back to our
robots and learn how to
make them do
something!
All Workshop Materials:
http://www.ortop.org/Workshops
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Before We Start
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The EV3
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Outputs(A,B,C,D)
Inputs (1,2,3,4)
Buttons
USB port
Motors with built-in rotation sensors
Sensors
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Touch sensor, color sensor, ultrasonic sensor,
gyro sensor
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More on the EV3
Wireless Status
Brick Name
USB Connected
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
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Reflected Light Final Exam
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You use the EV3 Port View and measure
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White: 68
Green: 38
Black: 25
Wait block configured as Color Sensor –
Compare – Reflected Light Intensity
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Use < as comparison operator
What happens with each threshold?
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Reflected Light Final Exam
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Threshold
Threshold
Threshold
Threshold
value > 68
between 38 and 68
between 25 and 38
< 25
White: 68
Green: 38
Black: 25
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What Did You Learn?
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Projects are key organizing mechanism
Download a project downloads all
programs
Program flow of control
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Flow stays in block until conditions of block
are met
With motor on block flow goes immediately
to next block
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What Did You Learn?
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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 
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What Did You Learn?
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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.
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Are the ports right?
Have you downloaded the project after
making changes?
Are you running the right program?
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Contact Us
Web site: http://www.ortop.org
Email:
questions@ortop.org
Phone:
(503) 725-2920
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