Robotics Challenge
The Sonoma County Office of Education in partnership with the California Technology Assistance Project and Lego Education are proud to sponsor the Sonoma County Robotics Challenge. Now in its tenth year, this successful project is designed for students in grades 4-8 who can benefit from hands-on activities in math and science.
The project spans the months of November through April. November, December, and January are spent building capacity among teachers and volunteers who will work with students at local schools. In early February, Robotics Challenge events for the year’s competition are announced.
Each year, there are at least four events that attract interest from beginner through advanced users. Local teams of students meet at schools from February through April to develop responses to the challenges. Support workshops are offered through online Web modules. The culminating experience is the Sonoma County Robotics Challenge, where students in grades 4-8 compete by matching robots and ideas.
This Year’s Event
2013 Sonoma County Robotics Challenge
Saturday, May 4, 2013
9:00am-2:00pm
Elsie Allen High School
599 Bellevue Avenue, Santa Rosa
Prior Year Events
2012 Robotics Challenge | Results and Description
2011 Robotics Challenge |
Results and Description
2010 Robotics Challenge | Results and Description
2008 Robotics Challenge | May 2008 | Grade 4-8 students designed and built robots using Legos and special programming software, then competed in this innovative student event.
Working with NXT Mindstorm Sets
NXT Tutorial
This great NXT video tutorial covers all the basics and is good for new coaches and students.
Projects for NXT 1.0
Here are some free NXT project instructions and programs, including one for Line Following! The site provides opportunities for teams to see projects and learn about programming.
Working with RCX Mindstorm Sets
RCX Programming and Building Ideas
James Isom’s Robotics Lab website
Tips and Tricks
Building Tips
Lesson Plans
Lego Projects for Math and Science
Bots is an instructional unit that exposes grade 5-7 students to the core concepts of mathematical functions using the behavior of Lego Mindstorms robots. It provides concrete motivation for graphing and solving a system of two linear equations.
Robot Plans
TankBot Instructions (pdf)
What and Where to Buy
Two different robotics kits can be used in the annual challenge competition. One kit features the traditional programmable brick known as the RCX, which Lego discontinued in 2009. It is no longer available for purchase. The other option features the new programmable brick known as the NXT.
New Mindstorms Kit Featuring NXT
Contacts
- Francine Merlonghi, Program Technician I
(707) 524-2806, - Rick Phelan, Curriculum/Technology Specialist
(707) 524-2847,
