Mad Monkeys, other teams meet challenge of running robots for space mission

By THERESA HOGUE
Staff writer

CORVALLIS -- In 20 years, the students gathered in the cafeteria of Westland Middle School on Saturday might be watching the first humans land on Mars as they huddle around their flat screen monitors. Or better yet, one of them might be stepping out of a spacecraft onto the red planet itself.

For now, it's the stuff of daydreams and science fiction novels, but the elementary and middle school students who attended the FIRST LEGO League tournament in Corvallis are already making plans to visit Mars. Teams from across the state gathered at Westland to compete in a robotics event that combines computer programming with LEGO know-how, in a Mars-themed event.

The organization FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Information) joined with LEGO three years ago to create a fun, learning activity to introduce children to the basic concepts of engineering and science, especially girls and minorities.

"They don't get a lot of exposure to what engineering might be," said Roger Swanson, who is a state-level member of Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program.

Most robotics toys are aimed at middle-class adolescent boys, and the program aims to expand access to robotic technology and know-how beyond that group.

This year's competition is called "Mission to Mars," and ties in with NASA's upcoming non-manned Mars landing. Teams bought LEGO robot kits and learned how to build and program their robots to create different Mars-related tasks, such as launching off platforms, gathering equipment and even clearing space dust off solar panels.

Instead of building robotic vehicles controlled by remotes, these robots are programmed by their creators to do a series of tasks without the operator's assistance, meaning students have to learn how to program as well as build.

In the gymnasium, groups gathered to demonstrate how well they'd programmed and built their robotic vehicles. Corvallis team Mad Monkeys from Mars gathered around the event table, waving flags and cheering on their representatives, Cody Levien and Jack Sattell. One of the students held a large stuffed monkey mascot on his back.

Cody and Jack performed the first set of operations smoothly, as their little robot raced across the table and adeptly retrieved their first target. The next task didn't go as smoothly, as the red ball they tried to launch missed its target. They also had trouble going down a ramp, and instead had to launch themselves off the pad, but the strong little machine did well.

Finally, they parked their vehicle in a red Mars crater, just nine seconds before the alarm sounded. Team leader Keith Levien encouraged his students as they walked off the floor, "Hey, somebody has to go first."

After settling into an empty classroom, the team went over their next task, a presentation of Mars vehicle models they were preparing to demonstrate to a panel of judges.

Seventh-grader Chris Bolte showed off the three vehicles his team had created.

"We were trying to construct robots to go to Mars and retrieve (broken) robots or fix them on the spot," he said, showing off the LEGO medic vehicle they'd built.

Jack Sattell explained the origins of the team's odd name, Mad Monkeys from Mars.

"We were messing around with the name because monkey is a cool word," he said. The brainstorming eventually blossomed into the crazy name, which the team wore proudly on their shirts.

Keith Levien was one of the adults guiding the team, and was pleased with how the morning was going, even though about half of what the robots were programmed to do didn't quite work.

"Sometimes it's pretty tense," he said of the LEGO competitions. "If the robot doesn't work, there are some tears."

But so far, there was only laughter.

For more information on Oregon Robotics, see www.ortop.org

FIRST LEGO TOURNEY

Judges awarded trophies to teams in seven categories and the top teams were awarded certificates and invitations to attend the state tournament Jan. 17 at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.

Trophy winners were:

Robot Design: Cutten Gearheads, Eureka, Calif.

Research Presentation: Mad Monkeys from Mars, Corvallis

Teamwork: Calapooia Creators, Calapooia Middle School, Albany

Robot Performance Award: Chupacabras, Emerald Valley School, Eugene

Young Team Award: Roseburg Renegade Robotics

Rookie Team: Xaviers, Corvallis

Director's Trophy: Psycho Pirates, Siuslaw Middle School, Florence

Certificate winners were:

Roseburg Renegade Robotics

Xaviers, Corvallis

Psycho Pirates, Siuslaw Middle School, Florence

Terriers Team No. 1, Sutherlin Middle School

Electronic Executioners, Calapooia Middle School, Albany

Mad Monkeys from Mars, Corvallis

Cutten Gearheads, Eureka, Calif.

Robotic Dolphins, Freshwater School, Elkton

Reporter Theresa Hogue can be contacted at theresa.hogue@lee.net or 758-9526.