Fox Valley Robotics kicks off 21st season with open house Aug. 20-21
Registration is open for Fox Valley Robotics and Batavia Robotics' 21st season with new robotics challenges for kids in first to 12th grades.
The LegoWolves Division for first- to third-graders will take on the new challenge "SuperPowered."
These young kids will work with Lego pieces to construct a robotics model which relates to their current challenge which involves exploring the world of energy - where it comes from, how it is used, and problems in the their communities. The kids will culminate their season in March in an event which celebrates their hard work and fun they had displaying their robotic models and poster boards about energy sources and energy consumers.
The fourth- to eighth-grade LegoDogs Division will be working on FIRST's "SuperPowered."
Kids will use teamwork and imagination to solve problems involving sustainable energy. Limited only by their imaginations these teams will try to provide direction for a better future for everyone.
This year's energy theme addresses global challenges related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #7 - focused on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
In the SuperPowered Challenge, teams will build, test, and program an autonomous robot using Lego Mindstorms to solve a set of missions as well as research, develop, and share their innovative "energy" solutions.
In the eighth- to 12th-grade Coyotes Division, there are two different competitions that the kids can participate. The VEX Spin Up is played on a 12-foot by 12-foot square field. Two alliances - one "red" and one "blue" - composed of two teams each, compete in matches consisting of a fifteen-second autonomous period followed by 105 seconds of driver-controlled play. The object of this fast-paced game is to attain a higher score than the opposing alliance by tossing discs in high and low goals, rotating spinners, and seeing how much field space the robot can cover at the end of the game.
The other challenge for the Coyotes Division will be presented from FIRST and is released in early September.
The goals of these 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. "Imagination is their only limitation."
Informational meetings for those interested in joining are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 20, at 3 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 21, at 1 p.m. at Rotolo Middle School, 1501 S. Raddant, Batavia. Enter at doors N11. The organization hosts events monthly October through February with 30-60 teams attending in different robotic challenges.
The Fox Valley Robotics and Batavia Robotics is celebrating their 21st 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 STEM-based 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 more information, visit www.foxvalleyrobotics.com.