The Next Step- our journey to State!

 After winning the regional tournament, the next step is the state competition. But to do that, we need to look at what we did well, did ok at, and what needs attention.  The judging score sheets from our 3 areas of judging- robot design, teamwork/core values and research- really helped understand what the judges saw adn where we can add attention to work harder. 
    In our robot game, we got 6th place overall and that's a matter of luck sometimes, but also of having a solid plan and better robot placement to start the missions off on.  Looking at the robot design judges' comments, we see we can improve ourselves by having fewer attachments and getting the attachments we do have to do more things.  That's the focus of the next meeting- attachment and solid runs!
    When we reviewed the research section, where the team did the best in scoring, we see that they can let the judges know they used 4 sources of information and that we need to try to share our research with more than 2 groups.   Mostly it was about sharing the information with the judges so they knew what the team had accomplished.  We think adding a paper that lists our sources of information and who we've shared the skit with would also be helpful to the judges and improve 2 of the 4 scores that weren't perfect.
   In teamwork, we talked about how well they did do, and that complimenting each other so the judges can HEAR them would be helpful.    That is a spontaneous task, and it can be hard to "train" for, but there are certainly things we can do to show that they work like a team and respect each other at all times like the teams exhibits during the meetings.
    So we have just 3 more weeks before competition, so the robot game is our focus.  Doing better at that should send us into the top tier again at state.  Wish us luck! (LOT and lots of luck.)

E.I

In the recent event, the Electrical Invaders have won 1st place over all  in the First Lego League Robotics composition, out of 15 other teams.   They will be going to State /J.M.U in December. The team says, "I feel so amazing! I can not believe we got this far."  Grabbing the trophy, they all worked together to succeed in the competition.  Once again there is no "I" in team- or in lego.  The team agreed that we would share the trophy so there would not be any complications or unhappiness between the team.  The order for sharing the trophy will go :Ezra , Abby , Grace , Olivia ,Robert ,& then Dylan. They all agreed to pass it on every time they meet for Lego Robotics. The robot unfortunately made a number of mistakes, but the team still walks in victory.

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Our visits with the experts

Here are some historical captures of events from the recent past :)

Dr. Meyer in his office showing R, E, and D one his insect trays

 Dr. Meyer is an entymologist at the Christopher Newport  University. He met with part of the E.I crew,  answering all their questions on both bug and bat behaviors. 
      Then Dr. Meyer showed the students some of his insect collection, and talked about proper archiving and the need for insect repellent tabs in your insect boards.
       

 

  Dr. Meyer helped the EI team work out the size of the trough they wanted for the bats, learned about edging it to prevent other animals form using it and during that discussion Dylan came up with the  idea for bright lights to attract the bats to the tough. 

Dr. Judy M meet with the kids in the lobby of the Va Living Museum to discuss their latest idea for the White Nose Syndrome cure for bats.  It's wasn't great news at the start, as the kids learned their latest idea of using the anti-fungal additive to a water trough wasn't going to work.  But the kids had done a lot of research on WNS and kept asking questions until it occurred to Ezra to use one of their ideas (the aerosol spray concept) to hold a vaccine to reach the bats as they came out of the cave.  Turns out a Geomyces vaccine is one of the better ideas researchers have, but they don't have a good delivery method.
  The kids regrouped after thanking Dr. Judy and voted to ditch the trough and bright lights from their cure concept.   They liked the idea of spraying the cure.  Robert and Olivia mentioned using an ultrasonic sensor to turn on and off the spray as the bats came in and out.  Abby added that it could be set on a timer so it didn't go off during the day when other animals might go in or out of the caves.  Ezra liked the idea of the timer and, knowing that bats fly at dusk, suggested it should be connected remotely to the weather stations so that the timer would adjust to the growing and shrinking hours of daylight.
  A new idea is born and really best of all, the new idea and change of cure slipped into the practiced skit quite nicely.  A lot of participants lines didn't have to change at all.  Great research guys.

SO far......

So far- you guys have completed 11 missions!
Truck grab (95% success rate)
corn harvester (100% of the time the corn hits the mat, less of the time it ends up back in base)
the white cooler (a 45% success rate),
the rat mission ( 80% success rate),
the yellow ball, (99% success rate),
Blue ball (95% success rate),
the fish grab (about 90% success rate),
pink virus tray tip (about 85% success),
blue virus tray spill (98%, but less success right now than that catching the viruses ion the side box)
Table food delivery (99% making it to the table with varied levels of success getting more or less of the food to stay on the table)

In the works is - the ice cream, pizza mission and making it to the east wall.

                 Besides some incredible displays of programming,
                    You created a unique solution to a difficult food and water safety issue.  
                         You emailed and visited experts, using their tips to help your craft a fabulous and meaningful
                              script for your presentation.
                                 You have managed to build your team up & work together as a unit.


 We only have 9 days left before the tournament, but you guys are rocking it!
We need to work on our pre and post judging interviews, and we need to determine which method of robot running we're using at the robot game table- two for the whole time, or switching out to run your favorite missions each session. Looking forward to printing those t-shirts tomorrow!

Some photos from the season

I found these gems emptying my photo card.    Working, working, working. 

Youtube video of robot game missions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvdTbTf4G0k
Here is an 8 minute video of AWESOME.  It goes through each and every one of the missions and tells you how to score points.  I hope everyone will take time to watch it.

Today's accomplishments

 The team redefined and narrowed their research project due to expert's comments.   The new research focus will be so\eely on curing WNS from bats to save the water system from pesticides and help prevent overuse of chemicals on food.  
 They came to some decisions on the plot and basis of their skit outline.  It's sure to be another funny one!  Can't wait to hear all  your director's notes next week.

   Olivia accomplished the first successful mission trip after the meeting ended!  She and Grace built a stupendous grabber arm that reaches out and captures the truck's wheel.  It ran 3 times consequentially after the film ended! 
       One down, 7 to go:)

Offical missions and point system

http://firstlegoleague.org/challenge/foodfactorrobotgame

 Go here to see the mission rules, game board and points.

The new Electrical Invaders team

The Electrical Invaders has began again and the teammates are again existed to show what they have to offer to the world .This time they have. new members in E.I ,Grace ,
Abby and Luke , who is the idea giver in E. I .They have also  have special jobs. Grace the Historian and Co  Photographer , Olivia the Blogger and also the Photographer ., Dylan and Robert  as head builders ,Dylan being  Team leader , and Ezra being the Co Blogger .

.  Here are the notes from Electrical Invaders that Grace took down. (Thanks for a job well done, Grace.)   Here are the categories and experts

Bats	Dome	Water treatment	Bugs
Va Living museum	biodome researchers	water treatment plant in NN	entomologist
Zoo (perhaps Norfolk)	Farmers	farmers	exterminators
animal laboratory facility	botanists		farmers
biologist	biologist
NN park - (Ezra will contact them.)	architects
farmers

. 

They are so happy to have new teammates and new tacks for E. I.

About the Electrical Invaders!

       The Electrical Invaders, also known as E.I, began in 2010 with Mrs. Brandy Bergenstock as our coach. A group of young, talented, homeschooled students began meeting every week to build robots and exercise team cooperation. The Electrical Invaders won an award for outstanding research gathering. They have shown great collaboration, creativity and intelligence in their tournaments. Each member plays an important role in the team. Each one contributing something different, whether it be technical skills or creative ideas.
           The team members were Dylan, Robert, Grayson,  Ezra, Colton and Olivia . Ezra was the outgoing personality of the team. He was a very good leader and he worked very hard to encourage ideas and put them into action. Dylan always had great ideas to share, and the team loved to use them. He has inspired the ideas for the construction and programming the robots.  Robert always had a fresh perspective. He is the technical brains of the group, always one step ahead of the process. Colton was the encouragement of the team. No matter how frustrated we become with our projects, he is always motivated the team to keep going! Grayson was very supportive. You could always count on him to look out for his team and support their ideas. Olivia is the glue of the team; she makes sure the team gets along. She has also designed the shirts and programmed the robots.
   2011 Lego Robotics is just starting, and there are new team members that are super exited.  The new members are Grace and Abby. Welcome Grace and Abby!!!