The tournament enables middle school students ages 9-14—working together as a team with coaches—to design, program and build fully autonomous robots using the LEGO Mindstorms Robotics invention system.
This is the fifth year of the state tournament. Forty teams participated during last year's tournament.
A current or technological challenge is issued each fall for teams to respond in designing, building and programming their respective robots for the competition. This year's challenge is titled "No Limits," focusing on problems of the physically challenged.
Teams will have eight weeks from the time the challenge is issued to prepare their robot in order to complete various tabletop missions. Team members must take on specific roles and responsibilities in order to accomplish the challenge on time.
All teams in the Tennessee competition will be recognized for excellence in teamwork, problem solving, creativity, design, strategy and leadership. FIRST LEGO League promotes numerous solutions in a competitive, yet friendly environment as students discover the rewards of science and technology.
Registration for the state tournament is open until Sept. 30. Any club, school or organization interested in forming a team can find registration information at the official Tennessee FIRST LEGO League web site at groups.msn.com/TennFLL
The state tournament is co-sponsored by Tennessee Tech, the American Museum of Science and Energy and UT-Battellle, which manages the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the Department of Energy.