FIRST Robotics Competition

This is no easy or ordinary task for an elementary or middle school student.

The theme is transportation, the name of the game is “Smart Move” and the object is to create a robot that can compete a series of tasks on a 4-foot by 8-foot field.

It’s the first of four judged competitions scheduled as part of a FIRST Lego League Robotics Tournament, sponsored by BAE Bishop Brady High School Robotics Team 1517, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Concord school, 25 Columbus Ave.

Members of the school’s robotics team, along with mentors and volunteers, organize the event annually for younger students and tackle details ranging from setting up the playing fields to acting as referees and judges. FIRST Lego League, initiated by inventor Dean Kamen in Manchester, is designed to introduce elementary and middle-school students to real-world engineering challenges by building LEGO-based robots that tackle goals on a themed playing surface.

“The event runs from 9 a.m., when we have the opening ceremony, to the robot performance finals, which will be around 2:30 p.m.,” said Debra Slocum, event spokeswoman and robotics mentor. “We are the largest New Hampshire regional with 22 teams attending.”

In addition to the thrill of competition, the robotics events encourage kids to apply math and science concepts to real-life experiences, research challenges facing today’s scientists and learn critical thinking, team-building and presentation skills.

FIRST Robotics Competition Saturday’s event will feature a handful of contests.

“The first is ‘Technical Presentation’,” Slocum said. “This is where the teams bring their robots to a room ... and the students discuss their programing and building techniques with judges.

“The second (competition) is ‘Teamwork.’ In this part the team is put in a room and asked to complete a project without prior knowledge of the problem. Judges watch the team react and work together,” she said. “Finally, the other aspect of the competition is ‘Research Presentation.’ Teams are required to do research in the area of transportation and actually visit with a company or government agency. They then do a report and present a visual presentation of their research and conclusions.”

Awards will be given for each division as well as for championship honors for an all-around stellar performance. Teams placing first or winning the championship award will be given the opportunity to participate in the state championships at Bedford High School on Dec. 6, where they will vie for the chance to go to the world championships in Atlanta in April. There is no admission fee to attend Saturday’s competition.