Robots and kids to try to outwit the vortex Sunday

Designed for students in the age group 14-18, the Batavia FTC League Qualifier is a small team robotics program that requires kids to build a robot using hybrid metal and electronics systems. It begins with the release of the annual game at the beginning of September. Teams of students will design, build, program, test, and troubleshoot a robot to perform the tasks of the game.

The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, at Rotolo Middle School, 1501 S. Raddant Road, Batavia. It is open to the public with free admission.

FIRST Velocity Vortex is played on a 12 ft. x 12 ft. square field with approximately 1 foot high walls and a soft foam mat floor. The field is divided diagonally into a "red" and a "blue" side corresponding to the two alliances. In the center of the field are two goals on a rotatable stand called the Center Vortex.

Two ramps, each with a goal, called the Corner Vortex, are placed in opposite sides of the field. The Center Vortex Goals and Corner Vortexes are alliance specific. There are also four alliance-neutral beacons, two placed on each front wall next to the Corner Vortex. There are floor markings as well as Vision Targets placed on the field walls as reference points for robot navigation.

Mountains consisting of alliance-specific climbing areas and goals are located in two corners of the playing field. Alliance-designated Zip Lines extend from the top of the Mountains to the playing field wall. Two alliance-specific Rescue Beacons in need of "repair" by autonomous robots are located on the playing field perimeter wall.

Alliance specific scoring elements for Velocity Vortex are five small balls called Particles and one large ball called a Cap Ball per alliance. At the start of a match, each alliance has three Particles available for pre-loading and scoring during the Autonomous period. Each alliance can earn up to two more Particles for use during the Driver-Controlled period by claiming Beacons during the Autonomous period.

Two randomly selected teams are paired together as an alliance to play one match against a second alliance. Alliances are designated as either "red" or "blue." Matches have two distinct periods of play: a 30-second Autonomous period followed by a two minute driver-controlled period which includes a 30-second end game.

Alliances earn points by scoring Particles into their alliance's Center Vortex or Corner Vortex. Robots also may claim Beacons for their alliance by triggering them to illuminate their alliance color. There is no limit to the number of times that a Beacon may be triggered. At the end of the game, the color of the Beacon determines the alliance credited for claiming it.

FIRST Tech Challenge has more than 8,000 teams competing internationally. Batavia is hosting one of the Illinois Regional Qualifying competitions with the opportunity for teams to move on to the state competition Feb. 25 in Elgin.

FIRST, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, is an international organization which creates robotics programs for kids of all ages. Visit www.usfirst.org.

Batavia Robotics is a nonprofit organization which has been around the area since 2002. In 2007 to offer the program and incorporate kids from multiple communities, the name of Fox Valley Robotics was added. Today, more than 200 kids participate in three divisions of robotics. The LegoWolves Division is for the first to third grades; the LegoDogs Division is for fourth to eighth grades; and the Coyotes Division is for eighth to 12th graders. For information, visit www.bataviarobotics.com or www.foxvalleyrobotics.com.