Creativity & Challenge (Lego Mindstorms)

The FIRST LEGO League (FLL) just keeps on growing! In 2006 there were more than 80,000 team members in 40 countries around the world as well as thousands of volunteer adults from schools, universities and companies, many of whom were team mentors. In the UK alone there were 400 teams attending 25 Regional Tournaments, the winners of which went through to the biggest UK Final yet, at the University of Birmingham. Six UK finalists then went onto international competitions in Atlanta USA and Bodø Norway.

The FLL is now in its 10th year. Previous Challenges have been into Space, under the Oceans, on the Arctic ice and within the Nanotechnology world. This year FLL teams once again investigated a very topical technology -

How do our personal energy choices to heat our homes, fuel our cars, charge our cell phones, power our computers, or even download music to our iPods impact the environment, economy, and life around the globe? Which resources should we use and why? Explore how energy production and consumption choices affect the planet and our quality of life today, tomorrow, and for future generations.

To prepare for the 2008 FLL challenge, Redcar & Cleveland CLC organised a pilot project on the theme of the energy challenge. There was a training day for team coaches on the 24th January and the main event took place on Friday 6th June 2008.

Team members had to:

• Programme a robot to fulfil tasks relating to the Challenge using LEGO MINDSTORMS technology.
• Research and prepare a Presentation on this year's theme.

The following primary schools accepted the available places on the CLC's pilot project.

Badger Hill Primary School
Errington Primary School
Normanby Primary School
Ormesby Primary School

View a video of the finals day below:

The Lego Mindstorms Robot