Whats a good score to be aiming for or should we aim for a perfect run?

When the rules state the robot must fit completely into the launch area before launching does that include the space above it?

Essentially I’m trying to figure out if it’s ok if one of the robots arms is slightly across the border at the start as long as the wheels and robot body are in the border, or if we’re meant to imagine the launch area as the ground and the 3d space above it in the shape of the launch area.

Wondering if someone can clarify the rules for me.

I was under the impression that for the competition we’re allowed to write different programs for each launch. For example, run program 1 to complete some tasks and drive to the home area. Position the robot in the home area again and start running program 2. Rinse and repeat.

That seems like the most sensible way to do this to me and I’m not seeing anything in the official rules that says you can’t, but someone else on our team is suggesting that no, it has to be one long continuous program and we aren’t allowed to interrupt it at all during the competition.

Can someone clarify for me? Thanks!

Hi Everyone,

My team has been using Python this year for their FLL missions (instead of word blocks). Each segment of the strategy is saved into different memory slots. We have always had the computers connected to the hubs while working on them. As we prepare for the mission, we have realized that whenever we turn the hub off and on again, all the python programs are erased from the hub memory slots.

We are only able to use the slots while the computer is still connected by bluetooth and have to download each time we start.

Is this expected? I don't think we can have the laptop running during the competition.

Any tips on keeping python programs in the hub memory after turning off?

Thanks.

We're heading there.

On the EV3s I remember having students set motors to lock (vs coast) so they would not relax and lose elevation after a lift. Is there an option to do this with spike prime?

We are doing FLL Explore with Spike Prime sets. Our Lego rep told us it was fine but I'm finding that the main hub appears to be too big to fit in the FLL Explore SubMerged set. Does anyone know if the Spike Prime Hubs are bigger than the Spike Essential Hubs?

many

View Poll

Hi everyone! From what I know the 62.4 wheels and the steel ball caster is a pretty common combo. I've noticed that if I use them, the robot is leaning because of uneven ground levels. Do yall have a fix or trick for this? The lean is pretty big.

I'm a newish coach, and the Challenge Question is pretty broad. Our kids (mostly 4th graders) are hyper focused on solving a problem that I'm not sure is relevant. I don't want to discourage them since they are so gung-ho about it.

They want to deal with how scientists use light and study deep sea (where there is not light) where bright submersible lights could disrupt sea life. Is we it as more of a light pollution issue rather than something that is an obvious "challenge".

Is this really an issue in the spirit of the Challenge Question; a "problem faced by people who explore the oceans"?

Thanks for your feedback!

Win 11 Laptop to EV3 with 1.09E

Unable to connect, no code is requested, if trying to connect it just gives up after 1-3 seconds. Does anybody know how to fix this, I cant see the ev3 as a drive when connected with a cable as well. When clicking on the PC name from the EV3 this "message" occurs.

https://preview.redd.it/66hjyo7q73yd1.jpg?width=2084&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=92a2862b489a7c362d006cff88a782a158405308

My FLL team has run into an issue. Our district uses iPad’s and one student has the programming on his in the Spike app. Obviously we want more students to have it so we’re not reliant on that one kid. When we try to share it comes back as non supported. This is whether they email, airdrop or whatever. Does anyone have advice for us? We’re new this year and so far I haven’t been able to figure that out. Thanks for any help.

Hi,

After getting fed up with Spike, we flashed over to Pybricks. I do see a big improvement in precision, however there appears to be a delay between movement commands.

Has anyone else noticed this or know what I am doing wrong here?

Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone, Its the PySplanner team again. Today we'd like to open a discussion about the classic debate - "EV3 Vs Spike". This is our take on the matter but we think it is very based and has very few exceptions. Nevertheless, We'd like to hear your opinions in the comments and discuss! This base post will include our arguments for why Spike is better:

1. Smaller electronics

The smaller motors, sensors and the hub on spike help build a more compact robot. They also have more comfortable pin connections so also sturdier

2. Universal ports

A small advantage for sure, but it will make sure You always have more options to plug into

3. Hub design and matrix

This can be a very hot take, but we find the light matrix a lot more comfortable to use than the EV3 screen which sometimes isn't bright enough.

4. Faster bootup time

Pretty self explanatory, spike can boot up in 1-2 seconds while EV3 takes 1-2 MINUTES.

5. Built in gyro sensor

Helps save space and ports, also more accurate than EV3's external gyro.

6. Faster CPU

Even though EV3 has 300mhz and spike has 100mhz, from our testing spike can wipe the floor with EV when it comes to math, especially floating point math, which we think is the only CPU intensive task relevant for FLL.

Debunking EV3 Advantages

1. EV3 comes with better casters (metal ones)

This argument is somewhat valid, but we believe that most teams can manage to get metal casters, and even if they can't, the plastic ones aren't too bad.

2. EV3 has 2 more sensor ports

This used to be an advantage EV3 had, but first of all we need to remember the spike built in gyro so we can consider this only 1 extra port (We think the gyro sensor is the best sensor). While the extra port was somewhat relevant in the past, in recent years FIRST nerfed lines extremely hard, so right now there is no real use for more than gyro+2 color sensors, which perfectly fit for spike.

3. The ev3 motors are stronger

While this is true, the spike ecosystem negates that by being lighter and not requiring that strong of motors.

4. The whole spike ecosystem is extremely buggy and unreliable

This is honestly true to a degree so high, it would probably be enough for us to switch to EV3. But there is one possiblity that completely changes that -

PyBricks:

PyBricks is an alternate firmware you can install on your spike prime hub with a USB cable included in the kit. The process of installing it is very easy, and there are plenty of guides and help online. Once you do that - you reach the best FLL software expirience. PyBricks allows you to program in python (Technically micropython but that doesn't matter too much) and in blocks of these exact python functions if you buy pybricks premium. Pybricks has its own IDE in here and it is honestly very comfortable to use. It is faster, more reliable, insanely accurate sensor readings, fast math and boots up in half a second. Battery is also very good. Micropython allows you to have next to no limits, and the whole PyBricks expirience fixes everything wrong with the spike firmware. While it does exist for EV3, it is no longer being updated for a while, and the spike version is much better, newer and more advanced.

With everything said so far, we conclude that the best hub for FLL is the RCX.

/s Its spike

My robot is an Spike Prime that we programm using Python and every turn is different, how can I fix it?

Hi guys, I am a mentor on a FLL team and I was reading into the motor rules today

The rules don’t really clarify, are you allowed to have more than 4 motors present at the table as long as your robot only has 4 connected??

Hi, I recently came across the FIRST program, and am finding a team for my son, who is in 3rd grade.

We are located in the San Francisco Bay Area and are searching for an FLL Explore team nearby. Please let me know if your team has any openings or you would like to form a team. Thanks.

Glitch issues: Programs are good but hubs are losing track of the roll angle.

We (my 8th grade Robotics classes) are building Balance Bots and using proportional control to get a simple Balance Bot to stand on 2 wheels and correct itself proportionately.

Two different groups have the exact same program. One robot never does any correction and refuses to move. Another robot spins the wheels at the same speed in one direction with no regard to the error from the target roll angle. It is, however, calculating the error and doing so wildly different from the code.

We’re currently using a robot to drive straight and make pivot turns, relying primarily on the built-in movement functions. However, how precise are these functions?

We’ve found that using the gyro sensor doesn’t provide the level of accuracy we need. Factors like motor speed, turning angle, and yaw introduce varying degrees of error that need calibration.

So, what’s the most reliable method for achieving precise movements? Would implementing a custom PID control be a better solution?

Our facility will have 4 teams practicing simultaneously, so we will have 4 tables set up. We are looking into solutions to storing the tables during the week when we need to use the rooms for other events.

I've seen designs for folding tables; building those would be easy enough. Our concern is about storing tables vertically (will the challenges fall off, loosen the velcro over time, pull the mat's adhesive off the table, etc.)

Does anybody remove and reattach the challenges every week to store their table vertically? Did that cause any issues? Does anyone leave challenges attached but store their table vertically?

I'm sure we aren't the first to run into this issue, but of the many folding table designs I've found, none of them seem to be stored with challenges attached.

Hello there,

Is there a way to share My Blocks with multiple projects? Our team has created a couple of My Blocks that use the gyro for turning and going straight that we want to use in all projects. It is a bit of a chore to recreate those in every project.

Is there a workflow we're missing? Currently we have projects for each mission. We also have multiple robots and tablets we're using for development, eventually we'll put everything on one tablet for the competition. It doesn't seem like there is an easy way to share My Blocks or projects.

Hello everyone, I'd like to introduce to you all this project made by 3 teams - PySplanner (No, not innovation project).

This project is built by the teams:

Seagulls #2750

RGB

Cloverbots #48816

This project is similar to PythFinder, but with a different take. Our end goal is that this program massively simplifies and improves all motor related functions in the robot, and It is built on pybricks which is widely known to be the "better" firmware for FLL.

Currently we can't give out too much info, But we expect this project to soon be done, and when it will be done we will do a showcase livestream on our YouTube channel, and in addition release videos of new features, and robot design tips in general, so we will be happy if you subscribe to our channel. I will make a post some time before the livestream as a reminder.

Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPAsPZ7UGdvyhqtipVQr7MA

I know this doesn’t really have anything to do with FLL but I don’t know where else I could ask since you guys know a lot about Lego robotics. I want to code my spike prime hubs using python in vs code but I never really understood how to, if I use the pybricks website then I can’t import other modules like threading since it’s not supported and so if I were it simply says ‘No module threading found’. So how do I code my hub so that I can also have modules that have nothing to do with Lego imported, and it still working in python, vs code.

I want to start a team at my daughter's school, they are a charter in Roseville, CA, am I too late to start? I tried to find the orientation sessions but I think they finished in September? I'm a bit lost and there is a lot of info out there. I never did FLL or robotics but have a software/engineer background and really want my kids to have the opportunity.

Our team is getting around ok using simple movement commands, but wanted to incorporate the light sensor. They were able to command their robot to do some movements after hitting a black line (successfully completing mission 5). Then the robot seems to continue doing movements with out stopping. Is it still sensing a dark color maybe? We don't seem to have the code doing a repeat. Also, sorry for the rudimentary explanation of the code. I don't (nor does the other coach) know how to code. Our kids are pretty much doing this on their own with only guidance from us. Is there a way to tell the light sensor to stop sensing? We are trying to tell the robot to stop at a certain point, but it just keeps going.

I've just recently discovered FLL after trying to find something Lego related for my five year old son to join. This seems like a perfect match for us, and I plan on starting a small team after I snoop around for a sponsor (aka Grandpa).

I have a lot to digest and I'm looking forward to being a part of this community and just wanted to say hi.