Sep 14 2006
Teams from 21 schools across Kent have entered the Kent Regional Final of FIRST LEGO® League (FLL) 2006.
The theme for this year’s event, which will be launched at the University of Kent’s Canterbury campus on Tuesday 19 September, is Nano Quest.
FLL is an international programme for children aged nine – 16 years that combines a hands-on, interactive robotics programme with a sports-like atmosphere using LEGO® programmable bricks, either the familiar RCX or, new this year, the NXT controller. Teams consist of seven – 10 players with the focus on team-building, problem-solving, creativity and analytical thinking. As part of the challenge, teams must research, plan, build, programme and test a fully autonomous robot capable of accomplishing that challenge – within eight weeks.
For Nano Quest, the teams will explore traditional sciences at the molecular level to uncover the amazing potential within them to create new products and solutions previously unimaginable, even in fiction. Each team will operate at one billion times magnification to discover the secrets and new potential of everyday things. They will build and program a robot to accomplish fantastic, unbelievable missions in a fun team environment, and research and present their own creative applications of nanotechnology to improve people’s lives.
The winners of the Kent regional final will go on to the National Finals at Birmingham University on 27 January 2007. Over 7000 teams are taking part worldwide.
The Kent schools are: Brockhill Park Performing Arts College (Hythe); The Canterbury High School; Chaucer Technology School (Canterbury); Christ Church CE High School (Ashford); Clarendon House Grammar School (Ramsgate); Dartford Technology College; Ellington School for Girls Ramsgate); Gravesend Grammar School; The Hereson School (Broadstairs); Kent College (Canterbury); King Ethelbert School (Birchington); Maidstone Grammar School for Girls; The Marlowe Academy (Ramsgate); The North School (Ashford); Oakwood Park Grammar School (Maidstone); Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School (Faversham); St Anselm’s Catholic School (Canterbury); Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys (Canterbury); Sir Roger Manwood’s School (Sandwich); Tonbridge Grammar School; Walmer Science College (Deal).
Janet Linington, Kent FLL Challenge co-ordinator and Lecturer in Computing at the University of Kent, said, ‘We are delighted that 21 schools have registered for this year’s event, including five partner schools. Of the 21, 15 have returned from last year and six are new. Nano Quest promises to be a thrilling competition!’
Sponsored by SETPOINT Kent and Medway, the event is hosted by the Computing Laboratory at the University of Kent. The launch will take place on Tuesday 19 September, 4.30pm – 6.30pm, in Room SW101, Computing Laboratory, University of Kent.