FLL Alberta
Forum

Transforming Transportation

Can FIRST LEGO League teams transform the way we look at transportation? The key to the 2009 “Smart Move” Challenge is accessing people, places, goods and services in the safest, most efficient way possible. In this journey, teams will consider many modes of transportation beyond their daily routine and streamline their options by making smart moves!


2010 FLL Tournament Day Schedule

Time Morning Activities Check List
7:00 am Registration begins and Pit opens
Practice begins ("first come, first served")
7:40 am Coach Meeting with Head Referee and Judge Advisor
8:25 am Account for participants: All students, coaches, and spectators
8:30 am Opening Ceremony
  • Welcome Remarks and Guest Speakers
  • Brief Description of FIRST and FLL, Challenge, Team Queuing and Judging Procedures
  • Introduce judges, referees
  • National anthem
9:15 am Presentation schedule begins (Schedules will be given in registration package)

Time Afternoon Activities
11:40 am All Teams assemble in formation to walk in again to the GYM Area
11:50 am Afternoon ceremony walk in commences
12:10 pm First Table match begins
12:15-2:45 pm Robot Competition
2:45-3:00 pm Pit Area Cleanup
3:00 pm Awards Ceremony commences
  • Thanks to sponsors
  • Thanks to judges
  • Awards presentation by Judges and Referees
  • Closing remarks

What is First Lego League?

FIRST was the brainchild of Dean Kamen, President of DEKA Research & Development Corporation and founded in 1989. Soon an alliance between FIRST and the LEGO® Company developed and the FIRST LEGO® League was born.

FLL team members aged 9-16 solve real-world engineering challenges. The projects combine a research presentation and interactive robotics program with a fun atmosphere using LEGO® MINDSTORMS technologies. Teams consist of up to 10 members and focus on such things as team building, problem solving, creativity, and analytical thinking.

FLL is an international organization consisting of 8,847 teams of 88,000 students, ages 9 to 16 from 37 countries.

In the robot game teams design, build, program, and test autonomous robots that must perform a required series of tasks. In addition, teams conduct research and create a technological or engineering solution to an aspect of the challenge and present that solution to a team of dedicated volunteer judges.


FLL prides itself on these world-wide core values:

  • We are a team.
  • We do the work to find the solutions with guidance from our coaches and mentors.
  • We honor the spirit of friendly competition.
  • What we discover is more important than what we win.
  • We share our experiences with others.
  • We display gracious professionalism in everything we do.
  • We have fun.

How does it work?

FLL teams are registered across Canada and they come together to participate in their own regional and/or provincial competition and if successful are invited to participate in the FIRST LEGO League World Festival at the FIRST Championship in Atlanta, GA which takes place every April.


What if the team doesn't master all missions?

Sometimes when teams first begin they find it difficult to accomplish all missions within the tight timelines. There is concern that they will not be able to compete. NOT SO! All teams are welcome to come to the competition and show off their skills and creativity with other like-minded teams. So come join the fun!!


FIRST LEGO® League Growth

Year Program Students Teams Participants' Locations Championship Tournaments
1998 FLL Pilot 2,000 200 9 US states and Denmark 3 Pilots
1999 FIRST Contact 10,000 1,000 35 US states, Singapore, Denmark, China 9
2000 Volcanic Panic 15,000 1,500 42 US states, Singapore, UK, Norway 16
2001 Arctic Impact 17,000 1,700 45 US states, Europe, Asia 19
2002 City Sights 30,000 3,000 44 US states, Denmark, France, Germany, UK 30
2003 Mission Mars 40,000 4,000 Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Holland, South Korea, Scandinavia, Singapore, UK, and the US 46 North America
12 International
2004 No Limits 45,000 4,500 Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Holland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Scandinavia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, and the US 52 North American
12 International
2005 Ocean Odyssey 57,000 7,000 Austria, Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Lithuania, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, the UK, and the US 74 World-wide

FIRST + LEGO = FLL
The Program   The Product   The Challenge