Learn more about Fox Valley Robotics at info sessions this weekend
The Fox Valley Robotics and Batavia Robotics will be opening registration for its 17th season this year with new robotics challenges for kids in first to 12th grades.
The LegoWolves Division for first- to third-graders will take on space in the new challenge "Mission Moon."
These young kids will work with Lego pieces to construct a robotics model which relates to their current challenge which involves transporting to the moon to build a lunar base, where they make the rules, learn to thrive in the new environment, and explore all that is around them.
The kids will wrap up their season in February in an event which celebrates their hard work and fun they had displaying their robotic models and poster boards.
The fourth- to eighth-grade LegoDogs Division will be working on FIRST's "Into Orbit".
Teams will explore how humans can physically and socially endure long term space exploration. In the "Into Orbit Challenge," teams will build, test, and program an autonomous robot using Lego Mindstorms EV3/NXT to solve a set of missions as well as research, develop, and share their innovative "space" solutions.
In the eighth- to 12th-grade Coyotes Division, there are two different competitions that the kids can participate. The Vex Turning Point Game is played on a 12 by 12-foot square field. Two alliances - one "red" and one "blue" - composed of two teams each, compete in matches consisting of a 15-second autonomous period followed by 105 seconds of driver-controlled play.
The object of the game is to attain a higher score than the opposing alliance by scoring balls, aligning flags, and controlling platforms. The other challenge for the Coyotes Division will be presented from First and is released in early September.
The goals of the above programs are to have the kids "think beyond the box" and to have fun. The programs allow the kids to go beyond simple box instructions and to formulate the why and how on their own with guidance from instructors and mentors.
"Creativity and ingenuity has no limits when it comes to robotics and what these kids can learn and accomplish" says Dee Karabowicz, a mechanical engineer and one of the lead instructors for the organization.
Informational meetings will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17; 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19, at Rotolo Middle School, 1501 S. Raddant in Batavia. Enter at doors N11. The organization hosts competition events in November, December, January, and February, with 30-60 teams attending in different robotic challenges.
The group is celebrating their 17th year of robotics for kids. Batavia Robotics has been around since 2002, and adopted the name Fox Valley Robotics in 2007. As a nonprofit, multi-community based organization, they are recognized by many schools and school districts in the area for their quality programs and provide kids throughout the year the ability to explore the world of robotics with a variety of programs. Registration is now open. For information, visit www.foxvalleyrobotics.com.