Local News: UOIT hosting FIRST LEGO League provincial robotics championships on January 18

Great young minds from across Ontario will explore ways to prepare for natural disasters

OSHAWA, ONTARIO – The best young robotic-inspired minds in Ontario are coming to Oshawa January 18 as the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) plays host to the annual FIRST LEGO League (FLL) provincial championships.FIRST is an acronym that means For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.

 

Nearly 400 students (aged nine to 14), over 1,000 parents, siblings and coaches, and 200 volunteers, judges, and referees will be on hand for the FLL competition, which encourages students to apply math and science concepts to research, design, build and program autonomous robots using Lego Mindstorms software.

 

Despite the young age of the participants, the competition is designed to have teams delve into real-world scientific issues, with this year’s challenge focusing on Nature’s Fury. Competitors will discover and explore innovative solutions to help people prepare, stay safe, or rebuild. Robotic missions include such considerations as emergency vehicles, evacuations, cargo planes, fallen obstacles, reconstruction and more!

 

Teams earned their spots at the championship after taking part in practice tournaments and then one of 22 regional qualifying events from across the province. Once at UOIT, they will be judged in three categories:

 

  • Robot Design – how well a team demonstrates its understanding of robot design through building, programming, strategy and performance.
  • Core Values – how well a team demonstrates the integration of FLL core values in all aspects of the FLL experience.
  • Project – how well a team demonstrates its solution for a real-world problem and the research behind its solution.

 

The Ontario FLL participants are among more than 20,000 teams in more than 70 countries. Winning teams may also qualify to advance to the first-ever FLL International Open in Canada taking place in Toronto, Ontario from June 4 to 7, 2014.

 

The FIRST LEGO League (FLL) provincial championships at UOIT is an event you won’t want to miss!

 

When:

Saturday, January 18

8 a.m. – Judging and practice matches begin

10 a.m. – Opening ceremony

10:30 a.m. – Judging resumes and first official matches begin

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Lunch

1 p.m. – Judging callbacks

2 p.m. – Official robot matches continue (Rounds 2, 3 and 4)

4:30 p.m. – Awards and closing ceremony

 

Where:

University of Ontario Institute of Technology
Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre gymnasiums
2000 Simcoe Street North
Oshawa, Ontario

 

Parking:

Follow Founders Drive south from the Conlin Road stoplights and turn left at the stop sign into Founders Lot 3. Follow the signs to the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre.

 

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